A Recognition of the World War I Centennial

Carolyn Kingston and Toni Tasker will guide you as they take two compelling and very different paths of discovery about each of their grandfathers’ lives in the First World War.

For Carolyn the journey began with a book that her mother, Polly Cole, wrote about the life of Marine Major Edward B. Cole. Major Cole was a hero, mortally wounded at Belleau Wood, a key engagement of World War I.

Toni’s journey began with family lore of a “French farm family” who nursed Army Private Calvin Southwick back to health when he fell ill with the Spanish flu during the war.

Join Carolyn and Toni to learn how the Internet opened doors for them to help them discover the people, records and documents that answered many questions.

Carolyn Kingston grew up in Lexington. This evening she will share how a chance meeting through the Internet took her to France, and to a fuller understanding of her grandfather’s life and sacrifice, furthering her commitment to continue the work her mother began by preserving and sharing her family history for future generations.

Lexington resident Toni Tasker credits her career as a physical therapist and educator for the skills she brought to discovering the reality behind the family lore surrounding her grandfather. Motivated by the start of the Centennial celebrations of World War I in France--and as an opportunity to visit France again--she began a several-year journey to uncover the truth behind the family story. Toni will share the paths she took, the resulting deeper understanding of the War, and the friendships she made on this journey.

This event will be held on Tuesday, June 5 at 7:00pm at the Lexington Depot. The cost of the event is $10.00. Pre-registration is strongly recommended by contacting Lexington Community Education at 781 862 8043.