Herbie's Story
Herbie was an occupant at the Sacred Heart Orphanage. He tells us about the reason that led him to his stay at Sacred Heart as a child, and about his experiences there. We asked Herbie if he knew the reasoning behind his placement at the orphanage. He said, “Well for us kids it was hard for my dad, to take care of us kids while working sunup to sundown. My mother walked away from us. Did not get to know her very much. I think the hard part was her drinking. It took many years to forgive her but when I found her grave side, I bought her a head stone that is when I made peace with her”. Herbie, what adjustments do you remember making when you arrived at the home? “I remember when I first looked at the big doors, I thought to myself, I’m never going home again, and it took many months and days to feel at home. One thing about my dad is that he never hit me like the nuns did. Life was hard back in them times and I never want for any kid to walk in my shoes as a kid”, said Herbie. Then we asked Herbie what do you feel were pro’s that came out of being a child at the orphanage? Herbie says, “Well I would learn how to drive, cut lawns, Jim showed me a lot and the best thing was when I was In ROTC and I would walk to central high and put the flag up in the morning” (Jim McCoy was a grounds keeper for Sacred Heart Orphanage). Herbie says how he learned a lot of trades, and how to be a man. Herbie went on to serve for our Country.