This photograph of a Christmas Tree has been a bit of a puzzle for me over the years.  I came across it when I was sorting through some of the boxes from my grandparents, David and Iva Johnson.  Right away I noticed the small banner with the star hanging on the wall.  This indicated that it must have been sometime during the Second World War.  But no one in my grandparents household went off to war then, so where could this have been?  Grandma Johnson had several brothers-in-law that were in the service, but only two of them were married to her sisters during the war--Jack Crabtree and John Marsden.  Then again, it could be from Grandpa Johnson's side of the family, but who?  Grandpa and his brother John were both in WWI, Alfred was in the army during the 1930's but not during the war.  Then it dawned on me--maybe its from one of his aunts who did have son's in the war.  Perhaps Hazel Walz. 

So, I put the image on Facebook and asked my cousins--specifically a Marsden and a Walz.  Sure enough, with a bit of discussion amongst several of Hazel Walz's grandchildren it was confirmed!  The tree was at Hazel Walz's house in Grass Lake, Michigan.  Her son, Victor Walz was the first of three of her sons to serve their country during that conflict. Cousin Margie Walz had the banner that belonged to Aunt Hazel showing three stars!

Isn't social media amazing sometimes.  I've been invited to attend the Walz Reunion next summer.  I hope I can make it!