Ingrid E. Harmon

My Flower
Some short time ago, (February 4th, 1942), a second little flower was trusted to Hans and Elizabeth Rekus.

There were troubled times in the Deutschland (Germany), but for Liz and Hans, this could not have been a better time.

Many hours during the family time were devoted to naming the "new flower".

After many hours it was settled.

Sylvia Elizabeth Rekus.

Hans was given the happy task of registering the "new flower" with the state. This registration was done in the place where men shared their joy and discussed the names for their "new flowers".

The men discussed and the name of the day was Ingrid. So, Sylvia became Ingrid. Thanks Hans.

Hans was a small business electrical contractor who fell prey in the troubled land in 1944. Liz was left with Evelyn (a friend) and Ingrid to walk the troubled land alone.
Things were made harder because she refused to join the PARTY. She had only been a housewife, now she was a single mother and bread winner.

Ingrid and I shared many hours discussing the times in her country and mine.

We had so many things in common.

She always gave much credit to a Russian man who cared for her and the family.
He saved their lives.

Some years later she had a life changing awakening;
GI's, Jerry, Elvis, and American music down at the GI hangout.

This cost her some beatings and many Jesus Maria's from Liz.
She had been told stories that black men had tails, smelled, had black gums and you would die if they bit you.

Then out of the blue a big black man asked her to dance.

She said she was afraid to say no or yes, but she went for it; finding out the stories she heard just weren't true.

Sometime thereafter she met another GI. He liked country music and seemed very reserved.

Liz almost was so shocked, she about "died" and beat Ingrid until she smiled and said this is my life. She and this GI, AL, married and were entrusted with three little flowers of their own. Sadly one departed as an infant. The other two were Nancy and Michael.

Then it was off to the land of the big BX, "America."

She had to overcome many obstacles in her new land. Speaking no English and something called "TDY' where her GI husband was sent away on military duties,
she had to be the mother and father. She learned to be a mother and a GI wife.
OF COURSE, she made it work.

In 1972 she worked as a protector of the government fund, aka a "cashier" in the chow hall at Lowry Air Force Base.

One night I went into the chow hall for "midnight" chow. Of course with good customer service she spoke to me. I went back many more times and most often we spoke to each other. Then she was gone.

I was sad because she was the only lady I knew in Denver because I was newly stationed here. I found out much later she got a full time job and was saving to buy a home.

Some 2.5 years later we met again and we talked and talked but we both had problems:
WIFE, HUSBAND, AND CHILDREN.

Much water went over the dam. We continued to talk, object, and plan.

She had DEMANDS, AND CHANGES, for me. I was a southern man and thought men gave the orders.

Soon I learned I gave the orders I was told to give.

Believe it or not, I began to like how she managed me and the family.

I came to call this family satisfaction because it was clear we both had a part to play to make a long time family.

We never spent a lot of time praising each other for doing their job, but we never let anyone nor anything come between what we believed was the right thing to do.

Now this story will continue but she has stepped aside for now.

Many tears have fallen, and many sleepless nights and troubled hearts have hurt.

We don't know what to do. Is it time for us to put our hurt, sadness and tears aside, and say,
"not our will but the will of GOD be done?"

To ask help for the living, because she, is in a better place.

"My Flower."

Ingrid Harmon is survived by a large family that loves her:
Eugene Harmon, Husband; Nancy Ballester, Daughter, and grandson Ethan.
Michael Cohoon, Son, Vera Cohoon, Daughter-in-law, with grandchildren Joshua and Alicia, and great-grandchildren, Brayden and Makayla.
Daughters Lisa, Donna, Kim, and Terry, along with 15 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren.



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