Stephen James Matthews, Sr.
Family Genealogy
  • WELCOME
    • Family Name Originations
    • S.J. MATTHEWS, SR. >
      • S. J. Matthews, Jr., MD
      • Stephen J. Matthews, III >
        • Mary Letha Matthews >
          • Naomi Kemp
      • William Marion Matthews >
        • Wm. M. Morgan Matthews >
          • Irma V Matthews Plott
          • Mary Ella Matthews
          • Thomas Lindsey Matthews
        • Frances Rosine Matthews
      • John Huston Matthews + Farris >
        • Floyd Matthews >
          • News Clippings >
            • I Joined the Navy
            • The Adventure
            • WW II Memories
            • Military Citations
            • Submarine Duty
          • Dedications >
            • Dedications Pg. 2
            • Dedications Pg 3
          • William Mason Matthews >
            • Hiking Ireland Part II
            • Sailing the Mediterranian
          • John Matthews
          • Roy Matthews >
            • Dorothy Marie Matthews >
              • James Burton Wesson
              • Roy Matthews Wesson
            • Gene Matthews >
              • Helen Matthews
              • Mark E. Matthews
              • Terri L. Matthews >
                • Grandchildren
        • Viola Estelle Matthews
        • John Houston+ Margaret Venable >
          • Carrie Matthews
          • Nora Matthews
          • John D. Matthews
          • Thomas M. Matthews >
            • Virgie Ann Matthews >
              • Glenn Paul Perry >
                • GEORGIA ARABELLA BARNAWELL
                • S. Jane Perry >
                  • Jane's Blog
            • Solon Ernest Matthews
            • Price Matthews
            • Add Matthews
            • Sibble Deloris Matthews
            • Geneva Estelle Matthews
        • John Huston Matthews + Eliza Jane Waters >
          • W.F. Matthews >
            • Kathy Lyle
            • Jan McCormack >
              • Hurricane Ike, September 2008
              • Jan's Blog
              • Vicki McCormack
              • Dutch McCormack >
                • Dutch's T-Bucket
              • ROBERT SCOTT McCORMACK, II
              • Mike McCormack >
                • Mikes Plane Build
      • Stephen James Matthews, SR
  • BASIC INFO
    • Family DNA Research
    • JANE'S Research
    • Helpful Genealogy Web Sites
    • Heritage Book
    • Guest Book
    • Name Origination
    • Family Recipes
    • Contact Us
    • Take Our Survey
  • CEMETERIES
    • Obituaries (9)
    • Obituaries, Page Two (9)
    • Obituaries, Page Three (7)
    • Visit Our Grave Sites >
      • The Workers
  • REUNIONS
    • Plan Vacation around Reunion
    • REUNION SLIDE SHOW
    • 1992, 1995 & 1999
    • 1993, 1997 & 2005
    • 2002, 2003 & 2006
    • 2009, 2011 & 2012
  • STORIES
    • Stories by Family Members >
      • I Remember Margie
      • THE HISTORY OF THE APRON
      • Nora Matthews McClaren
      • Married for a Day
      • The Twins
      • Roy Matthews-Citizen of the Year
      • Price Matthews
      • Add and Price Matthews
    • Weddings/Anniverseries
    • Family Poetry
    • Tree In a Nutshell
  • LEGAL DOCS
    • Birth Certificates
    • Death Certificates
    • Marriages
    • Other Documents
    • Draft Registrations >
      • Evaline C. Matthews >
        • Mary Nora Matthews

Veteran’s Son Reflects on December 7th Birthday
By Lisa Horn – Montgomery Advertiser

Picture
      John Matthews sighs at the mention of how old he is today -- 65.  Born mere hours before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, the Montgomery resident said sharing his day with "the date that lives in infamy" has grown in meaning as he has gotten older.
     "My birth just happens to coincide with a moment in history," said Matthews, whose father was a sailor stationed at Pearl Harbor in the 1930s.  "But as you get older, you reflect on it."
     The retired ALFA employee has tried to have fun with his birthday over the years and on his 50th, in 1991, made an invitation that looked like a mock newspaper headline announcing his birth, "A day that will live in infancy."
     On his 60th, he agreed to have a party -- as long as everyone invited was older than him.  He and a friend are in New York and will return to Montgomery today.
     Though the day's significance has increased for him over the years, Matthews is afraid that Dec. 7, 1941, will be lost to the pages of history, especially when older generations, like his father, are gone.
     "The relevance of Dec. 7, 1941, is lost in this post-9/11 era," he said.  "Dec. 7, 1941, is for old people and World War II veterans, and there are very few of those left anymore."
     Matthews is humbled, he said, by observing his birthday on a day when more than 2,400 people lost their lives.
     The only downside, he said, laughing, is "that people don't forget (the date) and they always know how old I am."