A Marriage in World War II?

Bruce Judson Cheney
Born: October 28, 1917, Dover, New Jersey
Relation to Author: Grandfather

Elizabeth (Betty) Charlotte Paulus
Born: November 23, 1919
Died: December 16, 2009, Randolph, New Jersey
Relation to Author: Grandmother

Marriage: May 23, 1943

This won't be a long post. I just find it interesting to know that Betty Paulus and Bruce Cheney (aka Nana and PopPop) were married during World War II. As my very smart wife says, life goes on. And that is good to know.

It is good to know that people were still getting married despite the uncertainty of the war at that time - the allied invasion of France (D-Day) was one year away and in the Pacific the battle of Midway, a turning point, was one year passed but getting to victory against Japan was a long and hard two years away.

While one might say that American civilian and military deaths were far less than European and Asian countries, it still must have been a trying time. I'm glad there was still time for those at home to live their lives.

I expect to spend a good deal of time on World War II, since it directly impacted many of our ancestors. In future posts, I'll look to learn and write about the people that stayed home and those that served and what their world was like.

Trusting in God Persevere

I bought a key chain in Belfast (which I still use) with the Keenan coat of arms. It says the following on the back about the origins of the name Keenan:

This is the anglicised version of the Gaelic MacFhionnain meaning "son of Fhionnain" from "Fionn" meaning "fair". The census of 1659 lists the variant MacKeenan as a principla name in the barony of Ardee, Co. Louth. Some were historians to the MacGuires of Fermanagh between 1345 and 1508. The motto for Keenan is "Trusting in God persevere".

I don't know much faith to put in this, since it is a key chain from a tourist spot in Belfast (where we found info on a fantastic black cab tour). But then again, it does seem to track pretty closely to something else my uncle found. And I like the idea that we were historians.