Lacoochee

Dresses From a WWII Parachute

My Easter dress made from a white silk parachute, April 1943

By THERESA OSBRON SMITH

While hunting in the Ocala forest, my Uncle Rupert Osbron, brother of my father Roscoe Osbron, found a parachute that was probably left behind from a training exercise. Instead of turning it over to the necessary authorities, he brought it home to his mother, Theresa “Merce” Osbron. With the help of her daughter, Esther Osbron Boyett, dresses were made for several family members, including me. These dresses were white and of course, silk. I remember that mine had small “dreamsicle” orange buttons. I also remember that finding that parachute had to be kept secret. I suppose it was because my uncle should not have kept the parachute as it was military property. But because it had to be a secret, I never learned the complete story of how or where the parachute was found.

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