Here's a little background for when you're at Arlington. About 1941 we were stationed at Fort Myers and lived on "Officers Row" at 26A Lee Avenue, just three houses from the Arlington gate. I was about three at the time and loved seeing the "horkies" go by pulling their caissons. Of course, I was so young I didn't understand the significance of what I was seeing. I was about 50 when we were talking with Mother and she said "...when you and Doris would talk with FDR." What??? Me talk to the President of the United States? I was flabbergasted, but my older sister confirmed the story. Her best friend was the cemetery caretaker's granddaughter and they lived on the grounds. After hours we kids would play among the headstones (sorry for that). After a busy day the President would be driven to the cemetery for some quiet time. My sister said she clearly remembered the first time they met. A big black limo came by and FDR rolled down the rear window and asked her name. She said Doris Finney and he said he was Franklin Roosevelt. She said he knew all of our names and always stopped to chat. Sometimes Gen. George Marshall was with him. Wow!
Mother also recalled "calling on" Mrs. Roosevelt at the White House. All officers' wives were expected to do that. She walked up the driveway and knocked on the front door. It was opened by a butler who took her information and presented a small silver tray on which she placed her calling card. Those cards were used to invite ladies to have tea with the First Lady. It was a different era!
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