Page 32 - April 2022 Issue.indd

The Sands of at a yard sale. No diamonds, rubies, fi rst The right side of the card had a short
edition Twains, or gold coins though, the but poignant sentiment, printed on the
Preston hope of all those that buy abandoned sympathy card it said, “With sincere
and long forgotten storage lockers. sympathy to you in your sorrow” and
handwritten beneath that these words,
Submitted by When Marty got home Ruth, his wife,
“Just been informed of Alan’s death in
William C. Schaff ner spied the small box and decided to Normandy, France.” The note was signed

explore the contents. In it she found
Note: This is a true story, however the by Major Eddie R. Gardiner, Major,

an envelope, with a stamp she didn’t
persons’ names Marty, Paul, and Mary U.S.A.
remember ever seeing before, a 3 cent
are fi ctitious.
“Win the War” stamp. The postmark Now, here’s the thing, when Ruth
The storage locker stood as it had for was July 11, 1945, mailed from San Fran- finished reading this she was moved

many years, neglected, and unopened. cisco, California and was addressed as and determined to get this sympathy

The person who had rented the locker follows: card to the Sands family, but she had
had been sent numerous notices that Mr. & Mrs. John Sands no idea how to do that. Enter a friend,
the rent for the unit was overdue and Preston. Caroline Co. Maryland Paul, who just happened to dabble in

had to be paid but no response was ever genealogy, and he offered to help fi nd
received by the owner of the storage Inside the yellowing envelope was the Sands of Preston family. Paul is a
locker facility. At some point the deci- a notecard, white ribbon on the left member of the Upper Shore Genea-
sion was made to call Marty and have front side, and a pair of crossed United logical Society of Maryland (USGSMD).

him come over and clean the locker out States flags in the center, red, white, Ruth was just sure that the family would
so it could be rented to someone else. and blue. Inside the V of the crossed want the card even though Paul tried

The owner knew Marty was reliable, and flags were 9 stars, but what caught to make her understand that while this

he was confident that, in short order, the Ruth’s eye almost immediately was the was important to Ruth, it may not be
unit would be ready. wording at the top: so much to whatever family was left,
if any, that were descendants of Alan’s
True to his reputation Marty cleaned IN SYMPATHY and that she should not be disappointed
the locker out. Of course, there was the
On the inside left side of the card was a if that turned out to be the case. Ruth

usual “stuff” that you find in many aban-
quote from the letter Abraham Lincoln was adamant, the family had to have
doned lockers: the old mattress and
had written to a Mrs. Bixby whose fi ve this token of sympathy some unknown
bed spring; that broken lamp that just
sons were reported killed in battle. “I Major had taken the time to write. Paul
needed a new bulb and replacement of
pray that our Heavenly Father may got to work and enlisted the assistance
the frayed and broken cord; and a couple
assuage the anguish of your bereave- of a friend in the Preston area to help.
of night stands, one with a cracked top
ment and leave you only the cherished It appeared that Sgt. Alan Sands had
and the other with two broken legs. Th e
memory of the loved and lost, and the never married but did have siblings:
usual suspects. They would all end up in

solemn pride that must be yours to have Mrs. Ralph Brodes of Preston; Elsworth
the local landfi ll. But there was a small

laid so costly a sacrifice upon the altar Sands of Bethlehem; Louis F. Sands; and
box with some papers in it and a few
of freedom.” Mrs. H Dennis Tarburton, of Easton.
other things that could probably be sold This information was obtained from the

Funeral Service Obituary of Sgt. Alan
Re-Elect Lloyd Sands.
According to information obtained,
RON FEARINS Alan Lloyd Sands was a sergeant in the
U.S. Army, 12th Infantry. Alan was born
Judge of the Orphans Court on March 20, 1919, and was killed in
action on June 19, 1944, in Normandy,
France. Alan’s dad was John Sands, (1874
It has been my privilege to serve the citizens – 1950) and his mother was Grace Ells-
of Caroline County for the past eight worth McGill (1877 – 1967). Grace’s
years as a Judge of the Orphans Court. father was James A. McGill, and her
mother was Sarah A. Timmons. Grace
I would like to continue serving the citizens had a sister, Sadie McGill.
of Caroline County for the next four years.
So far this is all Paul knows, so he needs
As a lifetime Caroline County resident, I look forward our help. If any readers of this short, true
to serving you and thank you for your support. story know of any member of the Sands
Patsy Fearins, Treasurer - Ron Fearins, Candidate family, no matter how remote, he would
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