A/N-This is my sequel to August 6,1914 and my salute to Veteran's day.
In my chapter August 6, 1914, Bill and Charlene had just discovered a old, run down cemetery on the outskirts of Atlanta that was rundown, needed fixing up and let's see what happens in this story.
Colonel Bill Stillfiled stood in the middle of the cemetery with his unit and on one part of the large place was a group of men mowing grass, raking old leaves, pruning grass and generally just giving richness and dignity back to a place that was a final resting place for many a soul and a soldier who gave his life in a long ago war.
Bill was giving his men some orders on what to do when Charlene said,
"Bill?"
He turns around and he sees his beautiful girlfriend, her friends from the designing firm and Anthony who he had only met briefly.
"Charlene!" They hug and he asks,
"What are all of you guys doing here?"
Charlene looks at her friends and says,
"Well, we heard what you and your troop was doing and we wanted to come and do our part. Is that okay?"
Bill beams with pride and he says,
"Of coarse. My men are down here but this cemetery is so big that all the help you can do is appreciated."
Julia says, "We bought rakes and a lawnmower"
Anthony says,
"I'll go get the lawnmower"
He does and Mary Jo hands out the rakes and after a while of everybody working , Anthony points out to Julia, Suzanne taking a dust cloth and half heartily cleaning the tombstones. Julia goes over to her and asks,
"Suzanne! What are you doing?"
Suzanne looks at her and says,
"I am cleaning the headstones Julia. They are incredibly dusty and grimy! Besides, you guys are doing a good job, I don't see why I need to be doing that; besides, I might break a nail"
Red blood rushes to Julia's face and she says,
"Oh, I will do more than that! You get a some gloves and a rake and get cracking! Mary Jo!"
Mary Jo silently hands Suzanne a rake and Charlene hands her some gloves and Suzanne makes a face but does what her sister has ordered her to do.
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Later, that day everybody stands back and admires their work. The cemetery is clean. No leaves are piled up in the corners of the fence or covering the graves. Vases are picked up and put back on appropriate graves.
And like Suzanne wanted, the headstones are free of dust and grime.
The grass is sharply mowed and trimmed.
Suzanne then says,
"I know I didn't want to do this in the beginning but I really feel good about all of this now"
Julia adds, "I know I do" Everybody agrees then a man in uniform comes and Bill turns around and says,
"General Macy!"
The General and Bill exchange salutes then Macy says,
"I came to see your work Bill and I must say I am proud. Proud as a newborn poppa"
Bill smiles and says,
"Thank you sir. My men did a lot of work but so did these ladies and this man. May I introduce to you Julia Sugarbaker, her sister Suzanne. Mary Jo Shively and Charlene Frazier. This is also Anthony Boueviea."
General Macy shakes all their hands then he says,
"I also bought something for today Colonel"
Bill says,
"Today?"
General Macy then tells them,
"Didn't you all remember? Today is Veteran's day"
They all look at each other in shock and the General has some people bring a huge heart shaped wreath in blood red roses and all of Bill's troops come over Colonel Bill Sheffield's grave and General Macy says,
"We give out thanks to this soldier who gave all for us back in World War 2."
All the soldiers give a salute while Anthony and the bunch stand by proudly for doing their work.
A/N I'm not sure if I spelled Anthony's last name right or not, if not, please forgive me.