Veterans Memorial Hall & Museum in Rockford, Illinois-- Part 2: It Was a GAR Thing

Display cases throughout the building contain artifacts, photographs and other items from America's wars, including recent conflicts in the Middle East.  The museum contains 15,000 such pieces in its collection.

When memorial Hall opened in 1903, the first organization to meet in the Post Room was a local contingent of the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR), the first and eventually the largest veterans organization of the Civil War veterans in the country.

Founded in Decatur, Illinois, in 1866, its peak membership exceeded 409,000 Union veterans, including five U.S. presidents.  

This national organization established the pension system for veterans, funded homes and hospitals for soldiers, widows and orphans; and created Memorial Day to honor all deceased veterans.

--Old Secesh

Why Do We Commemorate Memorial Day?-- Part 4: Why is Memorial Day in May?

Veterans Day (originally called Armistice Day) is observed on November 11 to signify the armistice ending World War I  After World War II,   Armistice Day's purpose was expanded and in 1954,  changed to recognize all who have served in America's wars.

WHY IS MEMORIAL DAY IN MAY?

The days that we  celebrate Memorial Day is believed to have been influenced by Illinois U.S. Representative (and Civil War general) John A. Logan, who was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives as a Democrat in 1858, and had served also as an officer in the Mexican War.

It is said that he was a staunch defender of the Union and wanted Memorial Day to happen when flowers were in full bloom across the country.

Congress passed an act making May 30 a holiday in the District of Columbia in  1888.

Now, Memorial Day is observed the last Monday in May.

In 2000, the National Moment of Remembrance was signed and encourages all to pause at 3 pm local time on Memorial Day for a minute of silence-- was signed into law by Congress and the President.

I Didn't Know About the Moment of Silence.  --Old Secesh

Why Do We Commemorate Memorial Day?-- Part 3: Who Had It First?

At least 25 places in the North and South claim to be the birthplace of Memorial Day.  Some of the states that claim the honor are Illinois, Georgia, Virginia  and Pennsylvania.

Despite conflicting claims,  the U.S. Congress and President Lyndon Johnson declared Waterloo,  New York, as the "Birthplace" of Memorial Day in May  30, 1966,  after Governor Nelson Rockefeller's declaration that same year.  This New York community formally honored  local veterans on May 5, 1866,  by closing businesses and lowering flags to half mast.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MEMORIAL DAY AND VETERANS DAY?

Memorial Day and Veterans Day both honor the sacrifices made by U.S. veterans, but serve different purposes.

Veterans Day, originally called "Armistice Day," is a younger holiday established  in 1926 as a way to commemorate all those who had served in the U.S. Armed Forces during World War I.  Memorial Day honors all those who have fallen.

--Old Secesh

Why Do We Commemorate Memorial Day?-- Part 2: The Role of the GAR

One of the first Decoration Days was held in Columbus, Mississippi,  on April 25, 1866, by women who decorated graves of Confederate soldiers who perished at the Battle of Shiloh who perished at the Battle of Shiloh, with flowers.

On May 5, 1868, three years after the end of the Civil War,  the tradition of placing flowers on veterans' graves was continued by the  establishment of Decoration Day by an organization of former Union veterans, the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR).

General Ulysses S. Grant presided over the first large observance of the day,  when a crows of  about 5,000  people gathered at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia on May 30, 1873.  The orphaned children of soldiers and sailors killed during the war placed flowers and small American flags atop both Union and Confederate graves throughout the whole cemetery.

This tradition continues to this day.

Until World War I,  Civil War soldiers were the only ones so honored on this day.  Now, all American military who died are honored.

--Old Secesh

Why Do We Commemorate Memorial Day?-- Part 1: It's a Civil War Thing

From May 27, 2022, USA Today "Why do we observe  Memorial Day?  Here's the true history of the holiday" by Camille Fine.

It was originally called Decoration Day and honors all soldiers who have died during service to the nation.

It was declared a  national holiday  through an Act of Congress in 1971, and its roots date back to the Civil War era.

The origins can be traced back to local observances for soldiers with neglected gravesites from the Civil War.

Some historians believe the very first observance  of what would become our Memorial Day took place in Charleston, South Carolina, at the site of a horse racing track that Confederates had turned into a prison for captured Union troops.  Blacks in the city organized a burial of deceased prisoners and built a fence around the site.

Then, on May 1, 1865,  they held an event, including a parade including Blacks who had served as soldiers in the Union Army, spiritual readings and songs, and picnicking.  A commemorative marker was erected there in 1810.

--Old Secesh

Graves Decorated for Decoration Day 1903: 95th Illinois Infantry

Same source as previous post.

Graves decorated of members of the 95th Illinois Volunteer Infantry.

John Crosby

Louis Ballard

Lawrence C. Church

Allen Giles

Edgar Hughes

Gardner S. Southworth

George Parsons

Thomas Lindsey

This regiment had the most companies from McHenry County.  Seven companies were primarily composed of men from McHenry County.

--Old Secesh

Graves Decorated in 1903 in Woodstock, Illinois: 15th Illinois

From the May 29, 1903, McHenry County Republican  (McHenry County, Illinois).

This was done by the Woodstock Woman's Relief Corps.

15th Illinois Volunteer Infantry

D.M. Howland

Edgar Richards

William Love

Wallace P.  Jewett

William H. Sherman

Lewis B. Kelly

John D. Bliss

A.W. Cumins

Andrew W. Lascella

This regiment had three companies that were primarily from McHenry County.

--Old Secesh

The University of Georgia Also Has the Great Seal of the Confederacy

The Hargrett  Rare Book and Manuscript Library at the Univ. of Georgia also has the Great Seal of the Confederacy.

The site shows a photo of it and  the inscription by it.  I am not sure if this is the original or a copy of it.  The site doesn't say.

The inscription reads:

Presented to the University of Georgia
Memorial Day April 26, 1945
in memory of
JAMES EVERARD BLACKSHEAR
Youth Soldier in the Army of
CONFEDERATE STATES OF AMERICA

--Old Secesh

The Indy 500 Salute to the American Military

I just got back from what probably is the biggest Memorial Day commemoration, the Indy 500.  This is why there have been no posts since Thursday.

Each year, thousands of fans go to this race, billed "The Greatest Spectacle in Racing."  Much of the pre-race ceremonies revolve around the salute to the American military.

All military are honored for their service, as well they should be.

Without them, we wouldn't be enjoying the lives we are living.

Old Secesh Salute to the American Military.  --Old Secesh

Markers and Remains in Newport News, Va.-- Part 4: An Arch and A Mill

VICTORY ARCH

25th Street and West Avenue.  Originally built in 1919.  Returning World War I veterans disembarking from ships marched through it in victory parades.  Today, it is a memorial to the men and women of our Armed Forces.

It hosts Newport News' annual Memorial and Veterans Day ceremonies.

YOUNG'S MILL

13055 Warwick Boulevard.  Earthwork located adjacent to this 1820 tide mill was western location of Magruder's first line of defense in the 1862 Peninsular Campaign.

Stuff to See for the Civil War Buff in Newport News.  --Old Secesh

And Paying Special Honor to the United States Colored Troops on This Memorial Day-- Part 1

Continuing one more day with my salute to the United States military on Memorial Day 2017.

The USCT, United States Colored Troops, played an increasing role in the Civil War.  These regiments consisting of former slaves and free men.

These troops had to put up with racism from their fellow white soldiers, but also, the anger and possible slaughter if captured by Confederates.

Yet, they overcame.

Wikipedia has a good article on the USCT.

The United States Colored Troops consisted of 175 regiments and numbered 180,000.  By April 1865, they comprised about one tenth of Union forces.  They were the precursor of the famous Buffalo Soldier units created after the war.  (I had the honor of meeting one of the last of the Buffalo Soldiers last June in Goldsboro, N.C., where Black veterans had a reunion.)

Confederates Are U.S. Veterans Also

Honoring Those Who Served in the Confederate Military Today.  This Memorial Day

Maybe the anti-Confederate folks don't know it, but Confederate soldiers are considered to be veterans of the United States as well.

So, today, we pay respects to Confederate States of America soldiers, sailors and Marines.

Also, we pay our respect to those soldiers, sailors and Marines who served in the Union milit

The Brave.

It's Memorial Day: Thanks for Your Service and Sacrifice Blue and Gray

May 26th, 2014, and we would have this day to honor the nation's dead who lost their lives to keep the nation together as one.

And, in the Civil War, Confederates are given equal ranking just the same as Union soldiers, which they should be.

Fighting For What they Believed.  --Old Secesh

The Union's Last Soldier: Albert Woolson of Duluth, Minnesota-- Part 1

From the November 6, 2013, Smithsonian.com "Past Imperfect: The Last Civil War Veterans Who Lived to be Over 100...Or Did They?"

Albert Woolson loved parades and especially the annual Memorial Day parade in his local hometown of Duluth, Minnesota.  This day was celebrated all across the North.  Even the president of the United States wrote him a letter ion his birthday as he was the last surviving member of the Grand Army of the Republic, the organization of Union veterans set up after the war.

There is even a life-sized statue of him at Gettysburg Battlefield.

Deaf and often ill, he'd still be in those parades, even at the age of 109.  He especially liked visiting local schools to tell the kids his war stories.  Boys called him "Grandpa Al."

But, he could be very fussy.  His breakfast eggs had to be scrambled and the bacon crisp.  And, he continued to smoke.  He probably smoked over a thousand cigars after the age of 100 and he would have a half ounce of brandy before dinner.

--Old Secesh

It's the Other Day to Honor Those Who Have Served

Of course, the first Veterans Day observance in the US started after the Civil War and was called Decoration Day. The Grand Army of the Republic (GAR), a Union veterans organization, started it. The Confederates had their own observation.

Of course, Decoration Day became Memorial Day, a time to salute all US veterans (and, yes, that also includes Confederates who were also Americans despite what some may think.)

I plan on attending the Legion/VFW ceremony in Fox Lake as usual. Tomorrow, it's a salute to the 236th anniversary of the Marine Corps at the annual breakfast at the Fox Lake Legion Hall and that night, it's a trip back to the 30s and 40s at the annual Big Band/Swing Dance also at the Legion.

Some of those old World War II vets can still cut a mean rug.

Oh yes, and not only is it 11-11-11 for Veterans Day, but also 11-11-11 on the calendar.

Thank a Vet. --Old B-Runner

A Day to Honor ALL Our Veterans

I've already put my four US flags up. I would have liked to have them up Saturday and Sunday, but we had too many storms, but today looks like a good one on the weather front.

Of course, this day began after the Civil War, originally as Decoration Day as part of an effort of the Grand Army of the Republic, an organization composed of former members of the Union Army.

It has grown to honor the veterans of all US wars, both before and since.

This would also include those who served the Confederacy. They were American soldiers as well.

Sad to see that Columbia, Missouri, has decided not only not to allow Confederate re-enactors to march in their Memorial Day parade, but Union and even Revolutionary War ones as well. Shame on that city.

To Honor All Those Who Have Served. Like They Say, "Freedom Ain't Free." --Old B-R'er

Decoration Day

That is the original name of the day we celebrate the veterans who have risked so much to enable us to enjoy the lives that we have.

According to Wikipedia, Decoration Day was set up shortly after the Civil War by Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) National Commander General John Logan to honor Union soldiers who had died in the conflict. The GAR was an association of former soldiers (and sailors).

By the end of the war in 1865, the practice of decorating the graves of soldiers was widely practiced in the North and South as well. The general called for every GAR Post to celebrate Decoration Day May 30, 1868.

That year there were events held in 183 cemeteries in 27 states and the number of cemeteries rose to 336 the following year. Michigan made it an official state holiday in 1871 and by 1890 every Northern state had done the same.

Generally, the 100,000 member Women's Relief Corps ran the events. By 1870, the remains of nearly 300,000 Union soldiers had been moved to 73 National Cemeteries, mostly in the South near battlefields.

A Day Linked Deep in Our History. --Old B-Runner

Memorial Day's Civil War Connection

With this fast approaching, signalling the end of the school year, but more importantly, a way of saying thanks to all those who put their lives on the line to guarantee our freedoms, is actually, got its start after the Civil War.

memorial Day was officially proclaimed by General John Logan, commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, on May 5, 1868. It was first observed May 30, 1868, when flowers were placed on the graves of Confederate and Union soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery.

New York became the first state to officially recognize it in 1873.

Honoring Not Just the Veterans of the Civil War, But All Wars.-- Blockade-R