Approximately 50 years ago, Carole Williams of West Chester arrived with her husband, Edwin, in Farmington, Mo., and received a warm welcome from the local welcoming committee, the Cordial Caravan, according to a report in the Park Hills (Mo.) Daily Journal.
The official welcoming service for the community had been in charge of welcoming newcomers to town for decades.
Williams decided to remain in Farmington, while her husband, a recruiting sergeant, was serving a tour of duty in Vietnam. At that time, the Cordial Caravan was run by Jesse G. Merryman. In addition to welcoming any newcomers, she was responsible for setting up the monthly meetings of the organization.
At one of those luncheons, where she spoke to the Farmington Chamber of Commerce, she was joined by Williams, who became active in the organization while her husband was deployed.
Williams was also helping Merryman to greet new parents and got a chance to meet some of the new residents who moved into the community from countries all around the globe, including Germany, India, Argentina, Turkey, Panama, and Japan.
Read more about the Cordial Caravan in the Park Hills (Mo.) Daily Journal here.
