True Parents' History for Children



The Time Of America's Visitation - Part 4

by Linna Rapkins

This is the continuation of a story of Father's first visit to the United States, during which his main purpose was to establish holy ground in each of the mainland states. It was a grueling, and sometimes harrowing, journey that had to be accomplished in 40 days. Information for these stories was gleaned from old newsletters and conversations with early members. George Norton, one of the drivers on the trip, was especially helpful.

The plan was to go north to Grangeville, Idaho, that night, and then on to Missoula, Montana, the next day. In the West, the cities are far apart. There are miles and miles of empty land. Even though he had already seen much of America, Father still shook his head in amazement. "So much space," he said again and again.

After they were on the road awhile, it became evident that Mother Nature had other plans for them, for the gentle rain turned to gentle snow.

"Snow!" they exclaimed in mock joy.

They drove along the "scenic route." It wound around the hills and up and down, and the snow kept coming, heavier and heavier. Before long, they noticed cars stalled in huge drifts along the way. Even the plows weren't keeping up with the deepening snow. Finally, as they entered Cascade, Idaho, much to the relief of everyone, Father said, "Let's stay here tonight." They were only half way to Grangeville.

The next morning it was still snowing. Dare they venture onto the roads in such weather? Normally, they would not.

"Master says we cannot wait," Mrs. Choi informed everyone. "The snow will probably continue, and we must not get snowbound."

They pulled warily onto the snowy highway and hoped their prayers and chains would be strong enough. Mr. Choi, as always, helped them relax with his jokes and cheerful manner, and they all tried not to think of the possibilities.

As they neared Grangeville, they wound along White Bird Hill. "Turn to the left. Curve to the right. Careful now. On this side a thousand foot drop. On that side a 4-thousand foot drop! Whoops! The car is sliding! Oh, no! The driver has lost control! Heavenly Father, please protect us!"

There was nothing that could be done! Just then the car seemed to bump against something soft. It gently came to a stop at the edge of the road. They looked out and saw nothing soft that could have stopped it, only a steep cliff. It seemed that an invisible hand had reached out and brought their car to a stop just in time. Their hearts remained stuck in their throats for much of that day. And Father looked calm.

"The view was breathtaking," said Gordon much later in the safety of a warm center in California, "and so was the ride."

It would have been so easy to turn left and head for milder lands at that point. But Montana needed to be blessed, and it was east. They had to make it to the "Land of the Big Sky."

Luckily, after Grangeville, the storm quieted down. The roads became more friendly, and everyone's hearts settled back where they belonged. They could even look around a bit and enjoy some of the scenic pine-

covered slopes looming above and the icy rivers rushing below.

Once, when they stopped to change drivers along the way, they all got out and took a playful walk along the road, exercising their stiff legs and taking in deep gulps of the pure air.

As they resumed their journey and came into Montana, "Oh, beautiful, for spacious skies" took on new meaning for them. There is such a feeling of endless space and sweet air in Montana. In Missoula, holy ground was blessed among the Montana evergreen trees. Nearby, a pure sparkling brook sang its song.

Then they turned back West and headed for Spokane, Washington-land of warmth and sun and dry highways. They were just beginning to relax, when Satan made one last stand. The familiar curse of the journey hit- snow.

Entering the treacherous mountain passes that had challenged countless pioneers of the past, they marveled at how those brave people were able to get through at all. For them, there was only a rough trail to follow, and thousands died along the way. Yet thousands got through and started new lives with their families.

George and Gordon picked their way along the treacherous roads, trying to keep their speed up as much as possible. They had worn out three sets of chains and were on the fourth set. By now, they had been terrorized so many times by the icy roads that they seemed to be drained of all fear. They were in God's hands, and they were almost as calm as Father. Naturally, they came through safe and sound.

West of Spokane, they finally discarded the bumpy chains and sped smoothly along the highway, for they had entered the more temperate zone of the West coast. The car slowed down a little for the Cascade Mountains, but then, through the night, they made up for so much lost time in the snow.

It was as if someone was fast-forwarding them to their final destination. The Washington police, just like the police in the other states, seemed to be busy or going the other way, and they were not noticed. They entered Seattle at 4 in the morning.

The drivers found their spot on the floor and fell immediately asleep. It wasn't just the long hours of driving that tired them so; it was the constant pressure of fulfilling Father's condition to reach all the states in 40 days and to keep him safe in even the worst of conditions that drained their energy.

They slept deeply, restoring quickly their energy for the new day. Still, morning came all too soon.

Down the West Coast

What a relief to shed the winter coats and walk among the daffodils in the gentle rain.

After blessing ground in a park overlooking Lake Washington, they drove on to St. Helen's, Oregon, where John Schmidli had a big dinner waiting. They had one of those wonderful meetings, with lots of singing and shy laughter-Vernon Pearson, Galen Brookes, and others. Father sang, too.

The next day they drove south to Portland, Oregon, the land of the liquid sun (that's what they call rain because it rains so much there). In beautiful Mt. Tabor Park overlooking Portland, the City of Roses, Father chose a large tree, which was actually three trees in one, around which to bless ground.

When he was finished, he looked to the darkening sky and said quietly with great emotion, "Heavenly Father, it is fulfilled." Mrs. Choi translated his words. It was March 29. All 48 states on the mainland had received their holy grounds.

Technically, the condition was complete, but there was still one more stop to make. As they drove toward California, they turned off the highway where Miss Kim had first begun her work six years earlier- Eugene, Oregon.

In good spirits, they drove through the city, and Miss Kim showed them all the houses where she had lived and worked. They drove out to the little community of Oak Hill where her first members had lived and to which she had moved. Father showed great interest in each place.

To reward this historic city, Father blessed one more holy ground, the 55th in America. This time, when it was completed, Father raised his hands in a strong gesture of victory and shouted in English, "Finished!" He strode away like a victor. Everyone absorbed the same feeling and strode victoriously after him.

After a well-deserved victory feast at a Chinese restaurant, they headed on down the highway to San Francisco, where the circle would be complete.

Holy Grounds Blessed in 1965

The following list is from the May 19, 1965 New Age Frontiers, an early church newsletter as reprinted in the Autumn 1991 issue of Blessing Quarterly. We are reprinting the description of locations as they were recorded. Each state center probably has more thorough directions for location the Holy Grounds.

1. San Francisco, California (2/15/65) Northernmost peak of Twin Peaks (renamed Parents Peaks). Center is rock on top. Southern peak (Mother Peak) is also regarded as Holy Ground, although only Father Peak received blessing ceremony.

2. Los Angeles, California (2/21/65) Griffith Park. Enter from Fern Dell Drive, pass vertical parking area on right and picnic ground #7 to parking area on right. Walk past men's rest room #4 & picnic area. Go up dirt pathway to left of picnic area to where large dirt road turns left and steeper trail goes up to right of picnic area. Take steeper path. Climb past small water faucet with spigot about 72 paces. Holy Ground is on plateau 6 paces from middle of trail.

3. Mt. Whitney, California (2/25/65) At entrance to peak, approx. 9,000 feet, in a grove of pine trees. Center between three pines, one a straight tree at its approach to maturity.

4. Death Valley, California (2/25/65) Badwater to west of pond.

5. Las Vegas, Nevada (2/26/65) Lyon's Park. Central tree 25' high, third tree from north fence and second tree from west fence.

6. Phoenix, Arizona (2/27/65) Canto Park

7. Albuquerque, New Mexico (2/28/65) Roosevelt park. Tree 36' high near park bench, 275 degrees west to tree on top of dirt mound, 105 degrees east to left-hand corner of school building.

8. Dallas, Texas (3/1/65) White Rock Lake Park. Take Lawther Drive around lake to Dreyfuss Lodge House. Walk 150 degrees south to southernmost of two small elms about 4' apart. There is squatty tree with much grass at base about 10' southwest.

9. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (3/2/65) Lincoln Park. Holy Ground is picnic area #8, center isolated forked oak tree, first tree east of next to last picnic table.

10. Kansas City, Kansas (3/3/65) City Park. Hill overlooking the city.

11. St. Louis, Missouri (3/4/65) Forest Park. Center is largest of 4 cedars northwest of parking area on Art Hill (81 degrees from parking area to trees)

12. Paducah, Kentucky (3/5/65) Bob Noble Park. Northernmost tree of two near a road and "comfort station".

13. Memphis, Tennessee (3/5/65) Overton Park. Cedar tree between 2 double-trunk trees, south of roadway and east of building.

14. Little Rock, Arkansas (3/6/65) War memorial Park. Oak tree on hill to west of gate 4 of War Memorial Stadium, east of St. Vincent's Infirmary which is about 1 mile away.

15. Jackson, Mississippi (3/6/65) Livingston Park. Fourth tree from road (third pine from road). South of tree are three pines very close together. Arbor to west, zoo to southeast. Orange and white check water tank to south in distance, lake to north.

16. New Orleans, Louisiana (3/6/65) City Park. Grove of trees just north of Harrison Ave., east of Magnolia Drive, southwest of two small lakes. Take road which forks to right off Magnoliato point 2/3 of distance to lake (fifth tree from lake on west side of road). Third tree to west is marked with carved triangle on north side. This is center tree.

17. Mobile, Alabama (3/7/65) Municipal Park. Park out Spring Hill Extension, west past Braywood St. Central tree tall pine, south of small green building with cement walkway, north of small white home with brick foundation, 11 paces east of a garden, southwest of high curving pine about 15 paces.

18. Tampa, Florida (3/8/65) Lowry Park. Tall pine, 100 yds. west of Greek theater type structure.

19. Miami, Florida (3/8/65) Municipal Park. Tall straight palm tree flanked by 3 other palms bent toward west, in SW corner of park.

20. Savannah, Georgia (3/10/65) Forsythe Park. Oak tree (largest of several) to NW of large white fountain, on northern side of park near Huntington and Whittaker Streets.

21. Columbia, South Carolina (3/11/65) Earlewood Park. Go down road a ways then walk downhill toward creek. Central tree is tall pine between basketball court and creek. Fourth tree to north along eastern side of sandbox, second to east along southern side of same sandbox.

22. Raleigh, North Carolina 93/11/65) Umstead Park, near Umstead Drive and Boylan Street. Central tree is large oak near foot of hill which rises to east. Second tree from small white pavilion with hexagonal green roof.

23. Richmond, Virginia (3/11/65) Monroe Park. Large tree in center of plot of grass between fountain and twin-steepled church with domed roof on Laurel St. Round house to left as one faces church. Central tree is smaller than other two trees near it.

24. Martinsburg, West Virginia (3/12/65) Berkeley County War Memorial Park, off North Tennessee Ave. Small tree, sixth in a row to south from east-west line of bush trees, in valley running north- south. Valley to west of small house-like building with green roof which is south of tree, west of swings and small building with white roof to north.

25. Washington D.C. (3/14/65) White House. No central mark. Grassy area in ellipse in front of White House. facing east, center is south of second column from right, east of space between third and fourth metal poles of baseball screen on left, west of first streetlight on right of baseball screen.

26. Washington D.C. (3/14/65) Capitol Building. Central tree evergreen in middle of lawn to west of Capitol Building.

27. Baltimore, Maryland (3/18/65) Druid Park. Large tree near top of hill between Administration Building and duckpond.

28. Wilmington, Delaware (3/18/65) Brandywine Park, near Van Buren and Park Streets. Large tree SW of baseball backstop in small glen, new bridge to west. Walk up road reading "no parking beyond this point".

29. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (3/18/65) Fairmount Park. Large tree with spreading branches to SE of main gate on lawn about half way between main gate and opposite street.Second tree to west of road.

30. Trenton, New Jersey (3/18/65) Cadwalader Park. Tall thin tree near baby evergreen which is near an ancient tree bound with wire. Near bear cage and statue labelled "Gettysburg Appomattox". Enter at Parkside Drive.

31. New York City, New York (3/19/65) Central Park, near 98th Street. Small cherry tree on large grey rock (about 20' wide). Rock covers entire area of blessing. SW of building with green roof, near boathouse parking lot.

32. New Haven, Connecticut (3/19/65) West Rock Park. Middle part of flat rock in ground next to path which leads NW from summit.

33. Providence, Rhode Island (3/19/65) Roger Williams Park. Small thin tree in group of trees near lake. Two small evergreens between tree and bridge across lake to south. Across lake to south is building and sign reading, "Pony Round".

34. Boston, Massachusetts (3/19/65) Washington Monument and bridge.

35. Portsmouth, New Hampshire (3/19/65) City Park. On State St. Large tree NE of monument.

36. Kittery, Maine (3/19/65) City Park, just over New Hampshire Main Bridge. Small evergreen toward north end of park.

37. Brattleboro, Vermont (3/20/65) City Park. Large tree, second from last toward east.

38. Cleveland, Ohio (3/21/65) Wade park, at University Circle. Exact center of lawn, parallel to fifth hedge from pond.

39. Detroit, Michigan (3/21/65) Belle Isle Park. Large tree near rocks, next to building, near Inselruhe St.

40. Hammond, Indiana (3/21/65) Harrison Park. Large tree near lamp, to west of Food Centre (grocery store), east of 3 small trees close together.

41. Chicago, Illinois (3/22/65) Grant Park South. Fifth tree to west in third row of trees running east-west from walkway. third row is third to south. Trees run perpendicular to "Harrison Hotel Park Free" sign on top of Harrison Hotel.

42. Madison, Wisconsin (3/22/65) Hoyt Park, on Regent St. Next to Hoyt School. White oak, standing alone, to north of stone shelter house and wide grassy field.

43. St. Paul, Minnesota (3/23/65) Como Park. From park building, go up hill directly opposite. Small evergreens to left as you go. Center tree medium sized, second to north of lamppost.

44. Fargo, North Dakota (3/23/65) Island Park. Central tree double trunk, second to SE of fire hydrant, east of playground, south of statue.

45. Sioux Falls, South Dakota (3/23/65) Sherman Park. Tree at top of high hill.

46. Sioux City, Iowa (3/23/65) Grandview Park. Modern lamppost with fluorescent light.

47. Lincoln, Nebraska (3/24/65) Antelope Park. second tree to south from SE edge of fence which surrounds sheep and goat pen.

48. Cheyenne, Wyoming (3/24/65) Lyons Park. Enter across from Wyoming national Guard. Fir tree, second from end tree toward stone monument in SE dedicated to crabapple tree (official tree of Cheyenne). Playground and bar-b-que pit to west; road runs to north and west.

49. Denver, Colorado (3/25/65) City park. South side of park at North end of Esplande St. large elm tree 140 paces north of edge of large statue with road looping around it. Tree in middle of large open area. Another elm between it and road to north, group of cedar trees to west.

50. Salt Lake City, Utah (3/26/65) Ensign Park. Rock on peak to north of city.

51. Boise, Idaho (3/26/65) Julia Davis Park.

52. Missoula, Montana (3/27/65) Greenough park. First evergreen to NW (third tree to NW) of small bridge which crosses creek. Tree is next to creek, one small tree to its west.

53. Seattle, Washington (3/28/65) Seward park.

54. Portland, Oregon (3/29/65) Mt. Tabor Park. Central tree trinity (3 trees in one), redwood on top of hill located to SE of Summit

55. Eugene, Oregon (3/29/65) Hendrick's Park. Central spot of five trees growing very close together.

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