Gertrude Baines, the last representative of the year 1894, aged 115, of California passed away today. She was the daughter of an actual slave (her father was born into slavery in 1863 - a very rare familial link to that institution these days), alive when people were still figuring out how to make an operational radio, years ahead of production-line automobiles, decades ahead of television, already an adult when World War I started and middle-aged when World War II started. During her childhood, there were still a handful of people who were born in the 1700s, a handful of War Of 1812 Veterans and a handful of "Real Children" of Revolutionary War Veterans, and, as she grew older, the thousands of remaining Mexican War and Civil War Veterans were passing on each year. She was one of the last living vestiges of Grover Cleveland's Presidential Administration and the Victorian Era. Her life spanned three centuries.
Gertrude Baines was the last verified person on Earth who actually lived in the year 1894 - her death closes the chapter on 1894 forever. The last verified person on Earth who actually lived in the year 1893, Maria de Jesus of Portugal, died in January of this year at the age of 115. 114-year-old Kama Chinen of Japan is now the world's oldest person. She was born on May 10, 1895.
Friday, September 11, 2009
Gertrude Baines: The World's Oldest Person, The Last Link To 1894, Has Passed On
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Happy 108th Birthday To Frank Woodruff Buckles!!
This is a very special day. Frank Woodruff Buckles, America's last surviving Veteran of World War One, and one of four remaining veterans world wide, turned 108 today. 60 million to 65 million people were involved with The Great War - now there are only four left ... one in America, one in Australia and two in Britain. Corporal Buckles was born on February 1, 1901 in Bethany, Missouri. He enlisted in the War in 1917. In 1919, he met General John Joseph "Black Jack" Pershing at the dedication of the National World War I Museum in Kansas City. He worked in Germany on and off in the 1920s and 1930s. In the 1940s, he was a POW of the Japanese in the Philippines. He has indeed led a full life having travelled around the globe for war, for work and for personal interest. He currently resides in West Virginia.
I had the great fortune of meeting Corporal Buckles one week ago. We had a wonderful conversation about a variety of topics including his World War I experiences, his meeting with General Pershing, being a POW in the 1940s, Germany, South America, artifacts, history and working out in addition to others. We shared a few laughs as well. His memory is excellent - he told me specific details about the 1910s and 1920s. He is fluent in four languages and we briefly spoke to each other in German. I showed him a picture of myself standing in the Giza Plateau with the three Pyramids behind me. He said "Egypt ... I'd like to go there someday". Centenarian status should be of little concern for I believe he can still go there! It was a(n) unique and extraordinary opportunity, an enjoyable experience and an amazing day ... one that I will never forget. In the years and decades to come, I will always look back on our meeting with great appreciation ... and a smile. Here is to you ... Frank W. Buckles, the last of the American Doughboys! Happy 108th Birthday and many more to follow!!The photographs below are of a custom cachet, an autographed portrait taken by David DeJonge for the World War One Education Project fundraiser and the two of us together on that wonderful day!
