Saint David's Day!

  I accepted an invitation to speak last evening.
  But I didn't know I'd also have to sing!
  For those of you who didn't know yesterday,
March first, was Saint David's Day.
  Saint David is the Patron Saint of Wales and
the Saint David's Society of Wyoming Valley
hosted it's 77th annual Saint David's Day
Banquet.
   This Banquet differs from most you'll ever
attend because...the Welsh are singers!
    Fortunately for me the first song of the
gathering was our National Anthem! I say that
because it was one of the few musical offerings
done in English.
    The Group singing, then Quartets, then Duets
featured many tunes sung in Welsh which has
a dialect all its own!
    It was impressive as all joined in the sing-a-
long. I was reminded of the old Mitch Miller
Show! I was recruited to join a group of
current and former teachers singing one
speciality song. Since it was to the tune of
"In the good old Summertime" I was able to
fake my way through it.
    The Welsh are good eaters too!
    The menu featured stuffed breast of
chicken, baked haddock, baked ham, mashed
potatoes, corn, cole slaw, rolls & butter and
cake!
    Between the music and the meal you'd
think I might be left speechless. But that was
not the case.
    I was able to relate a few stories of Welshmen
who came to America and gained fame in the
"old West." They were not all pretty!
    William Jones, for instance, emigrated to
the United States and decided to make his
living as a soldier.
     Unfortunately he choose to ride with the
7th Cavalry under the command of George
Armstrong Custer and rode right into the
Battle of the Little Bighorn, It did not end
well for Jones.
    Two other famous western brothers had
Welsh heritage although they themselves
were born here. Seven family descendants
were Baptist Ministers. But the brothers
choose a different path in live. You know
them as Frank and Jesse James!
     The speech over....we all sang some
more. There was even a tune or two in
English.
     It was a great evening with a great group
of Welshmen.
     And just when you thought things couldn't
get any better.......they served Welsh Cookies!
      Hope you're all on key and that all your
NEWS is good!