Veterans Day: America's First Without Any World War I Survivors And A Salute To The World's Last Service Member Of The Great War, Florence Green

All across the United States Of America, citizens and service members alike paused to reflect on the bravery and sacrifices of the men and women in uniform. This year's Veterans Day is different from any other America has ever had. It is the first without any Veterans of World War I. Last Doughboy Frank Woodruff Buckles passed away on February 27 of this year. The United States Of America is now without a single witness to what was once called the War To End All Wars.

This blog entry features photographs and videos of Frank Buckles' Funeral at Arlington National Cemetery held on March 15, 2011: http://michael-the-researcher.blogspot.com/2011/03/frank-buckles-viewing-and-funeral-at.html

This blog entry describes my meeting with Frank Buckles on January 25, 2009: http://michael-the-researcher.blogspot.com/2009/02/happy-108th-birthday-to-frank-woodruff.html

Veterans Day aka Armistice Day aka Remembrance Day was specifically made for honoring Veterans of World War I. It has been said that more than 70 million military personnel were involved in the conflict. Of that number, only one Great War Veteran remains ... a mess steward of the Women’s Royal Air Force named Florence Green. Florence is 110 years old and lives in Britain. In 2011, she is planet Earth's only physical living link to World War I. Florence Green is truly "The Last Of The Last". I am surprised British authorities did not ask her to take part in the Cenotaph Ceremony today.

Here are two links discussing Florence Green (with photographs) ...

http://www.orderfirstworldwar.com/the-salient/2011/06/florence-beatrice-green-last-veteran-of-world-war-i.htm

http://legionlive.org.uk/2011/02/21/florence-green-first-world-war-veteran-celebrates-110th-birthday/comment-page-1

Note: The Planet's other surviving World War I Veteran at the start of 2011, Claude Choules, passed away on May 5 of this year. He served in the British Army during the conflict and later emigrated to Australia. More information can be found here: http://michael-the-researcher.blogspot.com/2011/05/claude-choules-absolute-last-combat.html

Finally, I would like to give a very special thank you to all who have served.

Reenactment Of The Election Of 1836 And The Women's Suffrage Movement At Allaire Village In Farmingdale, NJ On November 6, 2011

I came home from voting not too long ago on this day, Election Day, November 8, 2011. I voted two days ago too ... in a completely different kind of Election. I took part in a reenactment of the Presidential Election Of 1836 held at the historic Allaire Village in Farmingdale, New Jersey. The candidates back then, and represented at this event, were Martin Van Buren of the Democratic Party and William Henry Harrison of the Whig Party. Electioneers were on hand trying to influence and convince voters to choose their respective candidates while female activists were rallying for their right to vote.

Here is a flyer for the event:


In the center of this photograph you can see the voting booth:


Zoomed in:












Here you see the Village Suffragettes protesting and rallying for their right to vote:




The ballots:




Voters would sign the book on the right and simply take a ballot and put it in the box on the left:








The Historic Howell Works Museum And General Store:




Here I am after casting my ballot wearing a hat that I purchased at The General Store:








Counting the ballots:


I believe the final tally was 17 votes for Harrison and 16 votes for Van Buren. The percentages were 51.52% and 48.48% respectively. Although Van Buren won the Election and the Presidency, Harrison did carry New Jersey with 50.53% of the vote in 1836 (Source: http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/state.php?year=1836&f=0&off=0&elect=0&fips=34&submit=Retrieve). Harrison's victory in this reenactment exactly mirrored the results 175 years ago, and the percentage was remarkably similar as well.

Who did I vote for? I will not tell. This was a really fantastic event and very unique since this era and these particular candidates are barely, if ever, discussed. I stayed until the very end because I really wanted to see the results.

Here is a magnet that I purchased at The General Store:


I wanted to make reference to the fact that the hat that I bought was made in the USA. Here is a shot of the tag. The hat cost $8.95 which was a good price. It just shows that items can be manufactured here, in this country, and still be affordable. This is significant, and this is a very important message to convey.


Here is the Village's website (more fine events are scheduled for the remainder of the year): http://www.allairevillage.org

Halloween 2011

Another Halloween has come and gone. Here is the outfit that I wore (a few pics showing the gloves):




Here is my loot for the evening:


I walked through the Olde City area of Philadelphia and saw a very friendly black cat:




I am looking forward to Halloween 2012!!

Besse Cooper, The World's Oldest Person, Turns 115 Today!!

Besse Cooper of Monroe, Georgia was born on August 26, 1896. She became the World's Oldest Person following the passing of the 114-year-old Brazilian Maria Gomes Valentim on June 21 of this year. Besse is one of only two people, along with Chiyono Hasegawa of Japan, born in the year 1896 who are currently still living. Only two. This occasion has allowed Besse to become one of a mere 23 people in the history of the Earth to irrefutably live to the age of 115. A very Happy Birthday to Besse ... one of the last of the Victorians!

Memorial Day Commemoration And 1868 Reenactment At Laurel Hill Cemetery In Philadelphia On May 29, 2011

On May 29, 2011, a Memorial Day Observance was held at the Laurel Hill Cemetery in Philadelphia, PA. As you will see in the photographs and videos, there were many living historians and military personnel spanning various eras and conflicts.

The parade to the area where American Civil War General George Meade is buried:




Anthony "Andy" Waskie, professor and historian, is portraying George Meade:










Lieutenant-Colonel (LTC) Marc Young gave a speech:




The traditional Honor Volleys:


General George Meade's grave:


This portion of the observance featured the dedication of a tombstone for Civil War Veteran and Regiment surgeon Dr. Silas Updegrove (of the 157th Pennsylvania Infantry Volunteers and 99th PA Vols and a Battle Of Gettysburg Veteran) ...





Andy is introducing Vietnam Veteran and executive director of the American Civil War Charitable Trust William S. (Bill) Vosseler (who is portraying General George Henry "Rock Of Chickamauga" Thomas):




The new stone for Silas Updegrove:




A wreath supplied by Post 405 (Benjamin Franklin Post of the American Legion):


A wreath supplied by the Post At The Union League (successor to Post 1 Society of the Meade Post):




Petals were placed on the graves. This is a tradition of the GAR (Grand Army Of The Republic). What you see here is an 1868 reenactment of that particular practice:






This portion of the observance features the mass burial of 1,500 unclaimed bodies:




The Honor Volleys:








Here are the videos ...

Part 1: First the band played, there was a brief introduction including describing the Memorial Day Observance by the Post 1 of the GAR (Grand Army Of The Republic) followed by the Invocation. Then there was some music followed by a speech by Lieutenant-Colonel (LTC) Marc Young. Groups such as the Friends Of Laurel Hill Cemetery, the Cemetery Company itself, the General George Meade Society and Patriotic Order Sons Of America and the Union League Of Philadelphia among others were present.

Part 2: Wreaths were placed by General George Meade's Grave/Tombstone, the Honor Guard delivered the traditional Honor Volleys and "Taps" was played.

Part 3: First a speech is given by Vietnam Veteran and Executive Director of the American Civil War Charitable Trust William S. (Bill) Vosseler (portraying General George Henry "Rock of Chickamauga" Thomas) and then the petals are dropped onto the Grave of Civil War Veteran and Regiment Surgeon Dr. Silas Updegrove (of the 157th Pennsylvania Infantry Volunteers and 99th PA Vols and a Battle Of Gettysburg Veteran). This is a Dedication of a new Tombstone for him. Honors Volleys and "Taps" followed the Dedication.


Part 4: This video features the laying of two wreaths supplied by Post 405 (Benjamin Franklin Post Of the American Legion) and the Post At The Union League (successor to Post 1 Society of the Meade Post). Camp #1 placed petals on the Graves ... a tradition of the GAR (Grand Army Of The Republic). This was an 1868 Reenactment of that particular practice. Honor Volleys and "Taps" followed.


Part 5: This video features the mass burial of unclaimed bodies ... 1,500 of them! Honor Volleys and the beginning of "Taps" follow. The band played "Battle Hymn Of The Republic" at the end. This concludes Part 5 and the entire five-part series.


The Laurel Hill Cemetery's website: http://www.thelaurelhillcemetery.org