What Is It?

by Keith

This is the flag of the small country of Wales, land of my forefathers.

Wales, reluctantly now part of the United Kingdom, is on the island of Great Britain, along with England and Scotland.

People of Wales, Welsh, are known for their quarries. Many Welsh came to the U. S. and worked in or owned quarries.

They also have a very unique set of surnames, mainly a very small set! Names like Williams, Jones, Hughes, Davis, and Roberts are very common. And there are not a whole lot more surnames!

Similarly, there are few given names. A name with "w" and "y" in it stands a good chance of being a Welsh name, like Gwilym or Gwenyth.

As a result of the "name shortage," many people ended up with names like Robert Roberts or William Williams. My great grandfather was one of the latter. Because so many people had the same name, it was no surprise that nicknames developed so they could tell people with the same name apart.

In my little hometown, practically a Welsh ghetto in the early 1900s, there were at least three "John Hugheses." "Crazy John" and "Big John" neatly identified two of them; the third I don't remember. One of my great grandfathers was known as "Old Country Bill" and one of my uncles, Robert Jones, was known as "Bobby Short."

Enough on names.

Why is the Welsh flag flying at Main and Second St. at Rockport 35 RV Park?

Because March 1, Thursday, is St. David's Day. St. David is the patron saint of Wales. He died on March first, 589. This is a way to recognize that event and spread a little information about a little-known land.

I could recognize the other half of my heritage later except for two reasons:

1. I'll not be here at the park on May 17, and
   
2. I do not have a Norwegian flag.

Comment!

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