Kilmarnock, Scotland

So this is a great story.  Kilmarnock, Scotland is the sister city to Kilmarnock, VA.  One of our family's dear friends, Ron Mihills, thought it would be a great idea to send Boyd and Reese over to Scotland with a letter of introduction from our Mayor Raymond Booth to their Provost Jim Todd and Councilor Doug Reid.  This is vintage Mihills stuff right here.  He thinks of everything.  Ron is a big sailor, resident of Irvington and general mover and shaker.  Sorry Ron but you know it's true.  Oh and he is humble.  So Ron contacts Susan Cockrell, our Deputy Manager here in Kilmarnock, Virginia and sets the following in motion.

As the Braggs ready to depart for Scotland, we receive communication that the Provost and Councilor would like to send a car for the Braggs at their residence in Largs and bring them back to Kilmarnock (Scotland that is) for lunch and a private tour of Dean Castle owned by who else but the Boyd family.  The Boyds go way back in Kilmarnock, Scotland and the good folks there thought that the Braggs would very much enjoy a tour and discussion of the history given our family name.

The photographer (yes they sent along a photographer) took these great shots and emailed them back to me here in VA so that we could get a few snapshots of their day in Kilmarnock.  What a great way to start this memorable trip.  A huge thank you to Ron Mihills, Susan Cockrell, Mayor Raymond Booth, Provost Jim Todd and Councilor Douglas Reid for making this happen.

Standing in front of Dean Castle

Definitely framing this one!