Denny was in a terrible car accident in 1975. This is the letter he wrote to my grandpa and grandma after the accident:
Aunt Agnes, Uncle Don & Rodger,
Hope this Christmas Season you, your family & loved ones are in better shape than I'm in. Was in a car traffic accident last Sept. and they still have me recouperating to some extent. Seems I went through the windshield of a Fiat Spider I was traveling in and have been in and out of the hospital ever since. Apparently I was in a coma for a week but other than that I don't think I was hurt that badly. A slight loss of memory but it should all come back slowly - so the doctor says. Hope you have a real nice Christmas and Drive Safely. Love, Dennis
Dennis Peter Dunham was born on April 11, 1949. I (shamefully) don't keep in touch with the family, but I do know that Denny died recently. I was sad to hear that, and would like all of his close relations to know that Denny was a bright point in my life, and I should have gotten to know him better.
Aunt Agnes & Uncle Don,
This gift may require a brief background explanation as it is quite interesting...
It is representative of the Coptic Religion of Ethiopia - one of the earliest Christian religions and still practiced much as it was when first introduced to the east African area in about 450 AD. Each district or region of worship has their own decorative design and differs throughout the 20 or so regions of Ethiopia. The crosses are usually found in the form of metal or wood and when around the necks of the priest or found engraved on the walls of the churches or placed on the ends of walking staffs caried by the priest or atop their church towers in the form of very large metal crosses.
The Coptic religion is the official religion of Ethiopia with HIM Haile Salasie its head - making hime a supreme and divine ruler - now out of power.
Many of the customs of this religion are Judaic in practice (they don't eat pork, observe passover, and slaughter a lamb on the new year - but on the other hand have a very high devotion to Jesus Christ and the New Testament) and to my knowledge represents the way Christianity was practiced in its early time. The Ethiopian people were by far the most religious Christian people I met on my travels through Africa.
This cross is of the Axum region which has a biblical area where the Queen of Sheaba ruled her empire and at one time was the location of the center of the early Coptic church. It is hand embroidered and the material is hand woven similar to much of the cloth used in traditional Ethiopian clothing. [Sorry - no photo. My mother has this cross in storage. - Ed.] It was made in a factory set up by the American Peace Corps located in Asmara in an effort to preserve some of the culture and provide an outlet to sell their handy crafts on a commercial scale. Before this factory was set up the people could not afford to buy the raw materials but now with over 1,000 employees they produce some of the better garments and hand craft of the country and making about 10 times the salaries they used to.
Well that's about all I know about this cross [!!! - Ed.] - hope ya all like it and have a nice Christmas.
Love, Dennis
