Mount Diablo Beacon Relit for Veterans Day-- Part 2

Continued from my Tattooed on Your Soul:  WW II blog.

The original lighting of the beacon dates back to 1928 and Charles Lindbergh.  Lindbergh lit the beacon to assist planes in the early days of commercial flight.  At  the time, the beacon was lit nightly, until December 8, 1941,  the day after the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Following that fateful day, it wasn't relit until 1964, when Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz,  Commander in Chief of Pacific Forces  during World War II, attended the ceremony on Mount Diablo's summit in commemoration of the survivors of Pearl Harbor.

He suggested that the Beacon be lit every December 7th to honor those who served and  sacrificed.

--Brock-Perry

Five Places to Visit for Veterans Day-- Part 2: USS Constitution, Wright-Patterson AFB, National Museum of WW II

USS CONSTITUTION,  Boston.  The ship has the distinction of being  "the oldest commissioned warship in the world.  Launched in 1797.

Nicknamed "Old Ironsides" and defeated five British ships during the War of 1812.  Still manned by active duty U.S. Navy personnel and capable of sailing under her own power to this day.

WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Dayton

Houses the National Museum of the United States Air Force with nearly 400 aircraft, missiles, several Presidential Planes,

Artifacts dating from the Wright Brothers to creation of NASA.

D-DAY MUSEUM, New Orleans

Now called the National Museum of World War II.  "Dedicated to remembering the American Experience during the war that changed the world."

--Brock-Perry

Five Places to Visit for Veterans Day-- Part 1: National Veterans Art Museum and Pearl Harbor

From the Nov. 8, 2019 Your Sun.

GOGROUP LLC,  has put together a list of five places to visit  in the next several days to honor our veterans:

1.  THE NATIONAL VETERANS ART MUSEUM,  Chicago.    (I'd never heard of this one.)    Over 2,500 works of art by veterans, including the Gulf War and War on Terror.

Paintings, sculpture and poetry.

2.  PEARL HARBOR NAVAL BASE,  Oahu, Hawaii.     A memorial to the 2,400 Americans killed that day and the thousands more killed in Pacific action.

Includes the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum, USS Arizona Memorial and USS Missouri Memorial.

--Brock-Perry

End of World War I and Veterans Day Today

One hundred years ago today, the Great War, World War I, ended with the signing of, and the going into effect of the Armistice.

It was the first of the modern wars with unbelievable losses on both the Allies and Central Powers alliances.

Ever since, Armistice Day has been commemorated.

Now, in the United States, though, it is called Veterans Day, a time to salute and thank our veterans who have made our lives possible.

Thank a Vet.

50th Anniversary of the Vietnam War

The 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War will be spread out over a number of years because many Americans served over a long period of time.

The first Vietnam War commemoration event was held at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., on Memorial Day, May 28, 2012, and will conclude on Veterans Day, November 11, 2025.

War of 1812 Veterans Buried in Bond County, Illinois

 Good day to visit these men if you're living around Bond County, Illinois.

BONHAM HARLAN--  Born 1785 in Lincoln County, Kentucky.  Died 1840.  Buried in Camp Ground Cemetery in Greenville.  2nd W. Tennessee  Militia.  (I had to look up Lincoln County and found it was named after Revolutionary War General Benjamin Lincoln, not the later president.  Abraham Lincoln was not born in 1785.)

NICHOLAS KOONCE--  Born Dec. 25, 1788.  Died April 26, 1859.  Buried Old City Cemetery in Greenville.  Private Va. Militiamen.

ARCHIBALD MITCHELL--  Born May 22, 1791 in Woodford County, Kentucky.  Died Feb. 10, 1872, in Bond County.  Buried at Union Grove Cemetery in Ayers.

JOHN REEVES--  Born May 13, 1795.  Died Nov. 21, 1877 in Bond County.  Buried Maxey Cemetery in Greenville.

JEREMIAH STUBBLEFIELD--  Born 1789 in Jackson County, Georgia  Died in Bond County August 20, 1874.  Buried Maxey Cemetery in Greenville.  W Tennessee Militia.

Quite a few Southerners moving to Bond County at some point after the war.

Veterans Day 2017.  --Brock-Perry

War of 1812 Veterans Buried in Bond County, Illinois-- Part 1

From Wikipedia.

Bond County is in the southern Part of Illinois, near St. Louis.

This being Veterans Day, those of you living in the area can visit these graves and pay your respects to our War of 1812 veterans.

AMOS P. BALCH--  Born 1774 in North Carolina  Died August 27, 1846.  Buried Union Grove Cemetery in Ayers, Illinois

WELSHIER BUCHANAN--  Born July 14, 1781 in Virginia.  Died Feb. 3, 1857.  Buried Camp Ground Cemetery in Greenville.  7th Kentucky Militia.

JOHN ELZIER--  Born 1790  Died March 8, 1859.  Buried Old City Cemetery in Greenville.  Private 21st Va. Militia.

JOHN WESLEY FLOYD--  Born Feb. 18, 1789 in Louisville, Ky.  Died Jan. 4, 1848.  Buried Camp Ground Cemetery in Greenville.  Sergeant in the war.

--Brock-Perry

Veterans Day Ceremony at Greenwood Cemetery

From the October 24, 2017, Canon City (Colorado) Daily Record.

This is an annual event and this year took place on November 4 at Greenwood Pioneer Cemetery.

The Sons of the War of 1812 will present a program to honor Milby Smith who served in both the War of 1812 and the Mexican War.

They received a gravestone to mark his grave a year ago.

Milby Smith was born March 10, 1794 and at the age of 18 served in the New York militia and at the age of 56 was in the Mexican War.  he is one of just two War of 1812 veterans buried in Colorado.

At 11 a.m., Ron bates will speak on the GAR monument at the cemetery.  Both Union and Confederate Civil War veterans are buried in the cemetery as well.

--Brock-Perry

11 Canadian War Heroes

From the Nov. 9, 2015, Huffington Post Canada "11 Canadian War Heroes We Can't Forget on November 11" by Jesse Ferreras.

Two of them were from the War of 1812.

LAURA SECORD

Laura Secord walked more than 30 kilometers and into Canadian history after she overheard talk of an American attack on the British at Beaver Dams in the War of 1812.  She managed to warn the English and their Mohawk allies, who were able to prepare for the attack and defeat the Americans.

TECUMSEH

Tecumseh, a Shawnee chief, became a hero in the War of 1812 for his instrumental role in forcing an American surrender.  He helped British Gen. Isaac Brock attack Detroit by leading his own men through a forested area, as the English approached directly.  Today, he's considered a folk hero.

I am kind of surprised that Isaac Brock wasn't on the list.

--Brock-Perry

Honoring Our Veterans: Washington, D.C., Memorials-- Part 2

The starkly moving Vietnam veterans memorial features black granite walls inscribed with the names of more than 58,209 Americans missing or killed in the war.  Also on the site is Frederick Hart's life-size bronze sculpture depicting three young servicemen.  The memorial is free and open 24 hours.

Objects left at the wall are taken to a special storage facility.

The Vietnam Women's memorial is located in a grove of trees across from the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.  The 2,000 pound bronze statue depicts three service women and one wounded soldier.

There is also a World War I memorial to honor men who served from the Washington, D.C. area on the National mall, but increasing calls are being made for a regular memorial to be erected.

--GreGen

Honoring Our Veterans: Washington, D.C., Memorials-- Part 1

From the Nov. 6, 2015, Chicago Tribune "Of Thee We Sing."

It is kind of surprising that there are no War of 1812 Memorials in our nation's capital.

Beyond the monuments and memorials to the nation's iconic presidents in Washington, D.C., there are memorials in bronze and marble and granite that mark the nation's wars and those who served.

The Korean War Veterans Memorial Advisory is located on a 2.2 acre site adjacent to the Lincoln memorial Reflecting Pool.  It features a sculptured column of soldiers arrayed for combat and a 164-foot mural wall inscribed with the words, "Freedom Is Not Free," and is etched with 2,500 photographic images of nurses, chaplains, crew chiefs, mechanics and other support personnel.  Open daily 8 a.m. to midnight.  Free.

Located between the Washington Monument and Lincoln memorial, the National World War II memorial honors the 16 million who served during World War II and those who supported the war effort from home.  The memorial features two 43-foot arches, a 17-foot pillar for each state and territory from that period and a field of 4,000 gold stars honoring the 400,000 Americans who died.

A series of bronze sculpture panels depict Americans at war, at home and overseas.  Open daily except Christmas.  Free.

--Brock-Perry

Veterans Day: Civil War Trust to Preserve War of 1812 Battlefields

Today, the nation's largest Civil War battlefield preservation group will announce that they will be expanding their mission to include preserving War of 1812 battlefields.

The announcement will be made at the Revolutionary War Princeton Battle Memorial in New Jersey.  Too bad they didn't also make an announcement at a War of 1812 battlefield as well.  But, anyway, I'm glad to hear it.

Thanks CWT.

11-11-18: Armistice Day / Veterans Day

The Armistice ending The War to End All Wars, World War I signed and it became known as Armistice Day, later in the U.S. Veterans Day.

It went into effect at 11:11 AM, November 11th whatever the time was in Europe. I plan to be at the ceremony at the Fox Lake, Illinois, train station later today.

--Brock-Perry

A Thank You to Our War of 1812 Veterans

Today is Veterans Day, and you are not forgotten.

Thank you.