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Thursday,
[ERR
July 26,
1990
Life
styles
When President Bush and the other leaders of NA-
TO issued a declaration recently to end four decades of
Cold War, the news was probably even far more excit-
ing for a Kings Mountain man who had only a few
days earlier stood with his Gaston County history stu-
dent and NATO's secretary general in the Situations
Center in beautiful Brussels, the Venice of the North,
where the world is monitored 24 hours a day.
Steve Marlowe will have plenty to tell his
American History students at Hunter Huss High
School when he returns to the classroom this fall.
Marlowe, just back from his first trip to Europe, saw
sights the regular tourist will never see. His once-in-a
lifetime opportunity came when Jamie Smarr, a 1990
graduate of Hunter Huss and a student of Marlowe's,
was among three American students to win an all-ex-
pense trip to Brussels for himself and his teacher
which was sponsored by NATO. Smarr researched 10
questions and wrote a prize winning essay on "The
Importance of NATO."
Steve Marlowe
VISITS NATO
Once In a Lifetime Experience
Kings Mountain's Steve Marlowe Returns From Touring Europe And Visiting NATO
The highlight of Marlowe's trip was meeting with
Dr. Manford Woerner, Secretary General of NATO, in
the office where Woerner meets with President Bush
and where hangs a beautiful painting of modern art
featuring the cross super imposed with a madonna and
child. The three essay winners, from North Carolina,
Missouri and California, and their teachers got the
grand tour or NATO Headquarters, where the students
won impressive medallions. The United States visitors
were in Brussels just before the summit meeting in
London and Marlowe recalled that U. S. Secretary of
State Baker talked on the telephone with Woerner in
his presence. Soviet President Mikhail S. Gorbachev
appears ready to address a meeting of Western al-
liance in December in Brussels.
"Being briefed by NATO was an experience in itself
and seeing the Situations Center where two television
sets are going 24 hours a day, one of them being CNN
from Atlanta, Ga., was an experience I won't forget,"
said Marlowe.
Marlowe described the Secretary General as a per-
sonable German who is no stranger to the television
screens, since he's been featured on most news shows
the last several months talking with the Soviet presi-
dent and also flew to Moscow for talks with
Gorbachev.
THE OLD CITY HALL
An example of medieval architecture | in Europe
Steve teaches Advancement Placement History and
Constitutional Principles and brought back slides and
pictures to share with his students. Smarr plans to ma-
jor in political science, public policy and international
relations at Duke University.
Visits to the two medieval cities of Ghent and
Bruges, and spectacular Paris were also on his
itinerary. Because of his love for museums, castles,
fine paintings and cathedrals, Marlowe wanted to
spend a few extra days in Ghent and Bruges. His
young.student wanted to see Paris. So, before flying
home, they spent their last day in Europe and took the
tourist's quick tour of Paris. : ”
Connie Marlowe may never quit talking about her
husband leaving her at home and going to Paris, but
Steve brought her Brussels lace and their sons, Daniel,
14, and Stewart, 12, Belgium tee shirts and stickers.
Marlowe says it never fails to amaze first-time visi-
tors to Europe. To stun you, as with a physical impact.
You round the corner of a perfectly ordinary street in
Ghent, Brussels, Tournai, Bruges, Antwerp, Mons, in
even a tiny village in Damme and suddenly there rush-
es toward you a mammoth, medieval square. Soaring
belfry towers of the 1200's, flying red and yellow
heraldic flags, giant Gothic cathedrals surging with
vertical lines into the sky above. Turreted town halls
adorned with streaming pennants, people from all over
the world and French, Dutch, German influence in
speech and culture.
He won't miss the 100 m. p. h. rides in a taxi but he
hopes to take a vacation again to Ghent with his fami-
ly.
Traveling in Europe is quite expensive but at this
‘time of year the weather is good with occasional show-
ers. Dinner at nice restaurants costs about $30 a per-
son, so you need to take a lot of American currency to
exchange for Belgium francs. Sightseeing down the
Seine, visiting Notre Dame in Paris are included on the
typical tourist tour. Marlowe says that he was im-
pressed with the clean streets, no "junky looking
streets or junk cars" and it's not unusual to see people
eating dinner at 11 p.m. at side walk cafes and walking
the streets. He rarely saw a policeman on foot, al-
though Belgium ranks one of the highest date rates in
the country for automobile accidents. Marlowe says it
wasn't until 10 to 12 years ago that a driver's license
was required to operate vehicles and he was amazed at
the speed at which cars are driven by, not only by taxi
drivers but by other motorists. "We were picked up by
a couple of German officers from NATO in a van and
traveled the expressway to NATO headquarters at
speeds of up to 100 m. p. h.," he said. "They drove
carefully on the expressway but it was terrifying to get
in a taxi to ride on city streets or interstate in often
times eight lanes of traffic."
Security was tight in Brussels at the Airport, he re-
called. He said another tourist said he had been told
that a fake bomb had been brought on one of the
planes the day before the group returned to Charlotte,
via New York.
Marlowe said that tourists rush to buy tiny bronze
statues called Mannekin Pis, a Brussels symbol of little
boy hero of Brussels, which dates back to the mid
1400's.
"I could have stayed in a museum the whole week,"
said Marlowe, who was fascinated by the medieval ar-
chitecture, the Grand Place of Brussels, the huge mar-
ket square surrounded by medieval buildings and the
most beautiful square in all Europe, one of the sights
to see in Europe, and the exquisite cathedrals. In one
of the cathedrals in the medieval city of Bruge was a
replica of the holy blood of Jesus brought back during
the crusade. Original sculptures, one of Michelangelo
and child, were fascinating and in Ghent he saw the fa-
mous painting in 24 panels by Van Eycks, Adoration
of the Mystic Lambs. :
Marlowe described Ghent as awesome, aged as it is,
a living city, not simply an urban museum, but the
bubbling cauldron of Europe in the Middle Ages.
All the cities of Belgium were fascinating to
Marlowe because of the medieval buildings.
. Although he could speak little French, the language
barrier was no problem. "We encountered our worst
problem with language in Washington, D.C. where we
spent a day before going to Europe. We had stopped at
the State Department and went from there to a fast
food restaurant where we found that everyone spoke
Spanish."
A British Colonel gave them a tour of NATO and
Marlowe found it interesting that so many different
people from all over the world who spoke different
languages could work together.
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) i is
the foundation of Europe's security. The link which the
North Adantic Treaty provides between the security of
Europe and the security of North America enshrined in
the key principle that an attack on one member is con-
sidered an attack on all-has since 1949 provided
Europe with an unprecedented period of peace, stabili-
ty and prosperity. Though there have been many
changes in that time, the NATO Alliance remains the
only realistic way of providing for Europe's security.
"Just go to Europe" is Marlowe's advice to vacation-
ers who like to travel.
The months of July and August are traditionally family reunion times
for many Kings Mountain area families.
"The Old Furnace Picnic" of the Ormand family ranks among the old-
est consecutive reunions in America and the 93rd annual picnic will be
held Saturday at noon at the site of the "old furnace” on Long Creek
Church Road between Kings Mountain and Bessemer City. More than
300 people are expected to come from all over the United States.
Descendants of James Ormand can acquire a new book about their an-
cestry published by Rev. Ben F. Ormand of Brevard.
Sunday at 1 p.m the McGills of Gaston will meet at Boyce Memorial
ARP Church for picnic lunch. This family gathering attracts a large
crowd of descendants each year to St. Luke's Church Road but this year
the reunion is planned at the ARP fellowship hall.
The first reunion of the family of Thomas and Mary Ann Peterson
at KM Depot Center last summer attracted 150 relatives from the two
Carolinas. An even bigger get-to-gether is planned this year in October
at Depot Center. Clan officers are hoping that relatives who know of
others who should be given special invitation call Shirley Hinson, 739-
5984; Bobby Peterson, 739-3043 after 5 p.m.; Sharon Moore, 739-
5974; or Jerry Peterson, 739-3974.
The late Thomas and Mary Ann Peterson were reared in Kings
Mountain and had seven children, 27 grandchildren and a number of
great-grandchildren. Relatives returning for the reunion are asked to
bring family pictures and memorabilia to share with other family mem-
bers. Children of the Petersons are Mrs. John Sanders and the late Mr.
Sanders; the late Simon and Effie Sanders; Mrs. Bertha Spires and the
late Marvin Spires; Fred and Violet Hinson, Mrs. Lucille Peterson
and the late Jack Peterson; Mrs. Katherine Peterson and the late
Walter Peterson; Robert Green and the late Pearl Green.
Clan officers are Bobby Peterson, president; Jerry Peterson, vice
president; Sharon Moore, secretary and Shirley Hinson, treasurer.
More information about the reunion may be had by writing Shirley
Hinson at PO Box 1184, Kings Mountain 28086.
Family reunions are lots of fun, but they can be even more rewarding
with proper planning. Shirley Hinson offers these tips she read in
"Better Homes and Gardens" magazine for planning a winning reunion.
+Set the date early. The sooner the date is set, the better the response.
Designate a leader. One person should assume overall responsibility to
make sure things are accomplished in a timely fashion.
+Let committees do the work. Divide tasks so more people can share
in the preparations but have all report to the leader.
One group can reserve the location, send out invitations and commu-
nicate with the family liaisons; another can coordinate the food; a third
can oversee entertainment, and another should handle cleanup and
garbage patrol.
+Reserve a meeting site early. Unless the reunion will be at someone's
home, the meeting site should be booked as early as possible. A deposit
Around Town
by Lib Stewart
Left to right, Pam Wells Albert, Marsha
ALL IS WELL(S) -
Wells D'Ottavia, Carveth Wells, Marge Wells, Mike Wells, Leona
Wells, Gil Wells.
may be required. Unless the reunion will be held at the family home-
stead, think about choosing a central location that's convenient to the
greatest number of relatives. Alternatively, select an exotic, out-of-the
way locale to make this family reunion vacation that everyone will re-
member. :
+Determine costs. Estimate how much each person needs to pay to
cover expenses. Don't forget such incidentals as garbage bags. Hint:
This Is Reunion Time For KM Families
Normally, the lower the cost, the more people will attend. Try for a price
everyone can afford, but make sure one person is not stuck with a lot of
unpaid bills.
+Send invitations. Inform relatives about who, what, when, where and '
how. Set a date for RSVPs, so that an estimate of attendance can be
made.
+Consider individual interests. Structure gatherings with a balance of
free time to pursue personal interests, combined with planned activities
that bring the gang together.
+Provide activities for each age group.
+Plan the next reunion. Start organizing the next reunion while every-
one basks in the pleasure of this one.
+Send out mementos. Pictures or a newsletter bring back fond memo-
ries of the extended family. Some clans compile family recipes or ge-
nealogical books.
The Lee Wells family of Concord, California attended the recent John
and Britter Wells family reunion at Antioch Community Center near
Grover.
Marge Wells, widow of the late Lee Wells, attended along with their
four children, Marsha, Gilbert, Mike and Pam, who flew in for the
special reunion and to visit their relatives in North and South Carolina. It
had been nearly 30 years since Gil and Marsha had been here and near-
ly 20 for Pam and Mike.
While at the reunion, they met and talked to their relatives. Later they
visted other relatives and friends throughout the Dixon Community and
Kings Mountain. They visited their great-aunt, Leona Wells, on Wells
Road and stayed with Lee's brother, Harold and Lucy Wells, and their
nephew and cousin, Steve and Betsy Wells in the Dixon Community.
The four children returned to California after a four-day visit. Marsha
is married to Greg D'Ottavia, and they have two children, Angie and
Greg. Marsha is a kindergarten teacher.
Gil and his wife, Toni, have two children, Todd and Kerry. Gil, who
is retired from a California food store, is a truck driver around the San
Francisco area. Mike, a Concord, California policeman, and his wife,
Shawn, have two children, Richard and Jenny. Pam is married to Jim .
Albert and they have a small child, Catlin. Pam was the manager of a
fashionable clothing boutique.
Marge continued her visit in Kings Mountain for a week after the
children left. She visited many of Lee's cousins and then flew back to
Concord, California.
While the group were in North Carolina they visted the old Wells
Cemetery, located on the John Lewis Hughes farm on Stewart Road;
saw the old Wells homeplace which is the present home of Mrs. Letha
Stewart and Miss Elizabeth Stewart; and other spots that were in their
_ heritage as descendants of John and Britter Wells.