The birth year on the marker differs from what a family member provided.
********************************
The following article was written when her son, Bernard, was killed while serving in the US Army in France.
From California, World War I Death Announcements, 1918-1921 - Stockton Cal Record, November 4, 1918:
Bernard Irwin Falls In Action
Bugler is Killed in France. Father Bandini Tells of Mother's Bravery.
(by Father Bandini)
To a small, unfinished - and unpaid for - bungalow along Smith Canal, past the stately Tuxedo Park, I was called yesterday to see my old friend, Mrs. M E Irwin. She was until recently a resident in Fair Oaks and I used to see her often and I used to speak with her of Bernard, her boy, whose blue star is on the service flag of St. Gertrude's. When I reached her lonely place she showed me a telegram:
"Deeply regret to inform you that Bugler Bernard Irwin, Ammunition train, is officially reported as killed in action October 3. - Harris, the Adjutant General."
Thus I knew that Barney, the young boy yet in his 20's, had paid his full share in the price of liberty and justice. He was a most gentle and docile boy, so touchingly affectionate to his mother, so modest as to appear almost shy; yet so manly proud of his uniform; so eager - I saw him a couple of months before his going to France - to do his full duty in battle. And the mother was telling me of some instances of his devotion; his tenderness towards her and the other members of the family.
She showed me some faded pictures of his, as a boy, as a young man, as a soldier; a button from his uniform, an embroidered silk handkerchief he had sent her lately from France with the inscription: "To my dear mother"; a few letters - that's all she possesses of his earthly souvenirs.
Few women are hallowed by the same Christian fortitude as this dead soldier's mother; fewer still have suffered and served so much in their life. She cried softly at times, but she said: "I know I have no reason to cry; an honorable life and an honorable death, that's all I have wished for my boy."
Mrs. Irwin is taking care of two little children - she is alone otherwise - her other boys are away, her husband works on a farm at some distance from Stockton; her greatest comfort is in prayer and in the care of the little children. She posses indeed the divine gift of motherly nursing. She hoes her own garden; she gets the milk for the babies from her own cow and goat. A most industrious, religious, charitable lady. She may be very old, if you look at the traits of her face; she may be only middle-aged if you look at her still brown hair, but she has not lost the charm of her smile, through the trials and now through the crowning tragedy of her life. The rosy, laughing babies that now stretch their fat little arms towards "grandma" will know some day how the dead soldier's mother stifled the sorrow in her heart to answer their playful advances.
Bugler Bernard Irwin is survived by his mother, his father, Dallas Irwin, and two brothers, P.H. Irwin, and D.A. Irwin. No details are yet known as to the manner of his death.
********************************
The following article was written when her son, Bernard, was killed while serving in the US Army in France.
From California, World War I Death Announcements, 1918-1921 - Stockton Cal Record, November 4, 1918:
Bernard Irwin Falls In Action
Bugler is Killed in France. Father Bandini Tells of Mother's Bravery.
(by Father Bandini)
To a small, unfinished - and unpaid for - bungalow along Smith Canal, past the stately Tuxedo Park, I was called yesterday to see my old friend, Mrs. M E Irwin. She was until recently a resident in Fair Oaks and I used to see her often and I used to speak with her of Bernard, her boy, whose blue star is on the service flag of St. Gertrude's. When I reached her lonely place she showed me a telegram:
"Deeply regret to inform you that Bugler Bernard Irwin, Ammunition train, is officially reported as killed in action October 3. - Harris, the Adjutant General."
Thus I knew that Barney, the young boy yet in his 20's, had paid his full share in the price of liberty and justice. He was a most gentle and docile boy, so touchingly affectionate to his mother, so modest as to appear almost shy; yet so manly proud of his uniform; so eager - I saw him a couple of months before his going to France - to do his full duty in battle. And the mother was telling me of some instances of his devotion; his tenderness towards her and the other members of the family.
She showed me some faded pictures of his, as a boy, as a young man, as a soldier; a button from his uniform, an embroidered silk handkerchief he had sent her lately from France with the inscription: "To my dear mother"; a few letters - that's all she possesses of his earthly souvenirs.
Few women are hallowed by the same Christian fortitude as this dead soldier's mother; fewer still have suffered and served so much in their life. She cried softly at times, but she said: "I know I have no reason to cry; an honorable life and an honorable death, that's all I have wished for my boy."
Mrs. Irwin is taking care of two little children - she is alone otherwise - her other boys are away, her husband works on a farm at some distance from Stockton; her greatest comfort is in prayer and in the care of the little children. She posses indeed the divine gift of motherly nursing. She hoes her own garden; she gets the milk for the babies from her own cow and goat. A most industrious, religious, charitable lady. She may be very old, if you look at the traits of her face; she may be only middle-aged if you look at her still brown hair, but she has not lost the charm of her smile, through the trials and now through the crowning tragedy of her life. The rosy, laughing babies that now stretch their fat little arms towards "grandma" will know some day how the dead soldier's mother stifled the sorrow in her heart to answer their playful advances.
Bugler Bernard Irwin is survived by his mother, his father, Dallas Irwin, and two brothers, P.H. Irwin, and D.A. Irwin. No details are yet known as to the manner of his death.
The birth year on the marker differs from what a family member provided.
********************************
The following article was written when her son, Bernard, was killed while serving in the US Army in France.
From California, World War I Death Announcements, 1918-1921 - Stockton Cal Record, November 4, 1918:
Bernard Irwin Falls In Action
Bugler is Killed in France. Father Bandini Tells of Mother's Bravery.
(by Father Bandini)
To a small, unfinished - and unpaid for - bungalow along Smith Canal, past the stately Tuxedo Park, I was called yesterday to see my old friend, Mrs. M E Irwin. She was until recently a resident in Fair Oaks and I used to see her often and I used to speak with her of Bernard, her boy, whose blue star is on the service flag of St. Gertrude's. When I reached her lonely place she showed me a telegram:
"Deeply regret to inform you that Bugler Bernard Irwin, Ammunition train, is officially reported as killed in action October 3. - Harris, the Adjutant General."
Thus I knew that Barney, the young boy yet in his 20's, had paid his full share in the price of liberty and justice. He was a most gentle and docile boy, so touchingly affectionate to his mother, so modest as to appear almost shy; yet so manly proud of his uniform; so eager - I saw him a couple of months before his going to France - to do his full duty in battle. And the mother was telling me of some instances of his devotion; his tenderness towards her and the other members of the family.
She showed me some faded pictures of his, as a boy, as a young man, as a soldier; a button from his uniform, an embroidered silk handkerchief he had sent her lately from France with the inscription: "To my dear mother"; a few letters - that's all she possesses of his earthly souvenirs.
Few women are hallowed by the same Christian fortitude as this dead soldier's mother; fewer still have suffered and served so much in their life. She cried softly at times, but she said: "I know I have no reason to cry; an honorable life and an honorable death, that's all I have wished for my boy."
Mrs. Irwin is taking care of two little children - she is alone otherwise - her other boys are away, her husband works on a farm at some distance from Stockton; her greatest comfort is in prayer and in the care of the little children. She posses indeed the divine gift of motherly nursing. She hoes her own garden; she gets the milk for the babies from her own cow and goat. A most industrious, religious, charitable lady. She may be very old, if you look at the traits of her face; she may be only middle-aged if you look at her still brown hair, but she has not lost the charm of her smile, through the trials and now through the crowning tragedy of her life. The rosy, laughing babies that now stretch their fat little arms towards "grandma" will know some day how the dead soldier's mother stifled the sorrow in her heart to answer their playful advances.
Bugler Bernard Irwin is survived by his mother, his father, Dallas Irwin, and two brothers, P.H. Irwin, and D.A. Irwin. No details are yet known as to the manner of his death.
********************************
The following article was written when her son, Bernard, was killed while serving in the US Army in France.
From California, World War I Death Announcements, 1918-1921 - Stockton Cal Record, November 4, 1918:
Bernard Irwin Falls In Action
Bugler is Killed in France. Father Bandini Tells of Mother's Bravery.
(by Father Bandini)
To a small, unfinished - and unpaid for - bungalow along Smith Canal, past the stately Tuxedo Park, I was called yesterday to see my old friend, Mrs. M E Irwin. She was until recently a resident in Fair Oaks and I used to see her often and I used to speak with her of Bernard, her boy, whose blue star is on the service flag of St. Gertrude's. When I reached her lonely place she showed me a telegram:
"Deeply regret to inform you that Bugler Bernard Irwin, Ammunition train, is officially reported as killed in action October 3. - Harris, the Adjutant General."
Thus I knew that Barney, the young boy yet in his 20's, had paid his full share in the price of liberty and justice. He was a most gentle and docile boy, so touchingly affectionate to his mother, so modest as to appear almost shy; yet so manly proud of his uniform; so eager - I saw him a couple of months before his going to France - to do his full duty in battle. And the mother was telling me of some instances of his devotion; his tenderness towards her and the other members of the family.
She showed me some faded pictures of his, as a boy, as a young man, as a soldier; a button from his uniform, an embroidered silk handkerchief he had sent her lately from France with the inscription: "To my dear mother"; a few letters - that's all she possesses of his earthly souvenirs.
Few women are hallowed by the same Christian fortitude as this dead soldier's mother; fewer still have suffered and served so much in their life. She cried softly at times, but she said: "I know I have no reason to cry; an honorable life and an honorable death, that's all I have wished for my boy."
Mrs. Irwin is taking care of two little children - she is alone otherwise - her other boys are away, her husband works on a farm at some distance from Stockton; her greatest comfort is in prayer and in the care of the little children. She posses indeed the divine gift of motherly nursing. She hoes her own garden; she gets the milk for the babies from her own cow and goat. A most industrious, religious, charitable lady. She may be very old, if you look at the traits of her face; she may be only middle-aged if you look at her still brown hair, but she has not lost the charm of her smile, through the trials and now through the crowning tragedy of her life. The rosy, laughing babies that now stretch their fat little arms towards "grandma" will know some day how the dead soldier's mother stifled the sorrow in her heart to answer their playful advances.
Bugler Bernard Irwin is survived by his mother, his father, Dallas Irwin, and two brothers, P.H. Irwin, and D.A. Irwin. No details are yet known as to the manner of his death.
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