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"Everywhere immigrants have enriched and strengthened the fabric of America."

10/30/2016

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Last week I brought you some recent news in the case of Ontario resident Edward Edwin Dodds, a Medal of Honor recipient from Civil War days. His medal was earned for saving the life of his officer back in 1864 at the Battle of Ashby's Gap. The blog may have noted that Dodds was the sole recipient of the medal from his regiment during that war.

A blog before that brought you some of the story of PEI born Charles MacGillivary who was awarded the Medal of Honor for his bravery during the Battle of the Bulge during WWll. His medal again was the sole medal for his unit.

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Sgt. MacGillivary was presented his medal by President Truman in 1945. The recent blog told that within a few weeks the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) offices in Fort Myer Florida would be named after the Sgt, in a program that for years has honoured past recipients who were foreign born.

Mac is shown above with the President and the Fort Myers new facility is shown on the left. It however turns out that rather than being so named, the facility is actually being dedicated in memory of this brave immigrant to the US. Still a great honour indeed. (Charles became a US citizen before going off to war.)

At noon on the 21st of this month, many USCIS officials, and employees, other officials and the public gathered to witness the official opening of an office in the area that, from that day forth, would prevent an applicant having to travel upwards of 2 hrs to received citizenship services.

There was another very select group who also attended. Twenty men and women who waited 5, and 10 and in one case apparently 18 years to official become citizens of the United States. Some who have apparently never voted before in their lives.

And there was another smaller group of important folks there that day. Family and friends of Charles MacGillivary.

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As you enter the Naturalization Ceremony Room shown at above left, you pass under the famous JFK quote taken from his book.."The Nation of Immigrants" started back in 1958. While difficult to read, the quote in above image also appears as the title for this blog. On the right are some of the anxious and no doubt a little nervous but very excited citizens in waiting.
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One must wonder what was going through this woman's mind while she walked below that quote on entry to the room.

It would be in 1945 at Fenway Park that a game ball in the world series would be presented to Charles MacGillivary by then US Congressman Jack Kennedy, in the very park that the Congressman's grandfather tossed out the very first ball back in 1912. And the woman to the left walking under that Kennedy quote would be Charles own daughter Charlene Corea, shown at left.

Shelly Randall, Fort Myers Field Office Director told this blog that she was tasked with dedicating the office to a Medal of Honor recipient who was NOT born in the United States, a man... or woman... who truly represented the very mandate of the Department...encouraging citizenship. 

She added that she wanted to find someone with connections to the immediate area, had earned the medal for actual combat in the face of the enemy and was from one of the more recent conflicts.

She did a lot of research and then came across the story of, not only a combat wounded vet but also a major hero who had often wintered in the area with his wife. Reading the story of this fascinating  veteran told her he was the very man she was looking for. Not only did he fit the bill so far, his chosen role as an advocate for veterans for decades also convinced her that he was the man that they should now honour. It was only after the decision was made that they learned that a relative actually lived close by. And her name was Charlene Corea!

It would fall to USCIS Deputy Associate Director of Field Operations  Michael Valverde to introduce Charlene to the audience.

Rather than recall his military record, no doubt covered by others at the event, he chose to talk of some of the less know accomplishments that Charles reached in service to his fellow citizens. He mentioned how Charles was instrumental in the original creation of the very society of today and known as the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, and how he would one day become its only foreign born President. Many years later another became #2 with this distinction but that was recently just learned by most.

He noted the work Charles did in the creation of the standard MOH grave markers throughout the US and beyond..(including in Canada,) and his work to create a state vehicle licensing that recognized the veterans. The authorities wanted to give him the very first number plate..with the number one, but Charles being Charles, did not want to stand out from the crowd and insisted in taking what ever number finally came up when they got to his name.

I do not have the comments that Charlene shared about her father but I expect that they included the pride he had in not only being Canadian born, but on becoming a naturalized citizen of the United States. She probably also mentioned the struggles that he put aside to continue to serve his nation as a good citizen and that those gathered had a similar responsibility to seek and rise above challenges and then move forward with a new life in America.

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Not sure who the first men is at the left but the remainder of the officials  are all with  USCIS. From left to right are Kathy Baranowski, Tampa Deputy District Director, Tony Bryson, Tampa District Director, Michael Valverde identified above, Kathy Redman  Southeast Regional Director, Steve Pecinovsky Tampa District Chief of Staff and Shelly Randall, Fort Myers  Field Office Director.  They are cutting the ribbon to officially open the new facility and about to conduct the first ever citizenship services at Fort Myer Florida.
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The officials produced this wonderful program, no doubt handed out to all at the ceremony. This is a 4 page item with page 1 above.
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Here's 2 and 3
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And 4. The image of Charles is probably prior to his receiving his Medal of Honor on September 1945. The snowy image shows  the horrific conditions in which his unit was battling during the Battle of the Bulge and where he had one arm shot away. He was able to stick his stump into the ground to freeze it, and thus stop the blood draining out. Failing that he surely would have died.
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The above image shows Charlene with a plaque she prepared for the offices.The the same image being the one on the back of the day's program, and on display during the citizenship ceremony as shown in the lower photo as the press interviews the Field Office Director Shelley Randall.

I'm told the plaque will find a home on the wall of the main entry area to the building so that all that enter can read about Canadian born Charles MacGillivary.

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This day came to an end with 20 very happy new citizens with chests full of pride after so many years of struggles to arrive at this Fort Myers ceremony. By combining the ceremony with the dedicating of the facilities to an immigrant who had accomplished so much, no doubt has to give these new citizens the knowledge that their  hopes and dreams can also become true if they work hard enough to make it happen. The service also yet again goes to show of the incredible bond between Canada and the US. 

When I advised Charlottetown PEI's federal MP  of the event he sent off a letter to thank those involved for recognizing  this bravery, whether it comes from an American, a Canadian or a citizen of another country. Tipping off our own embassy at DC, our top military attache, Admiral Truelove also sent along his best regards and added that the US  is Canada's most important ally and defense partner. "Our defence relations are longstanding and well entrenched. The dedication to Sgt. MacGillivary, a Canadian who served his adopted homeland with distinction, is a testament to that relationship."

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On a final note, today is the 2nd last day of October... Womens History Month in Canada. The above medal is called the Governor Generals Medal in Commemoration of the Persons Cases, and thus PERSONS CASE engraved in both official languages along its circumference

The medal has been awarded just over 200 times since back in 1979 and usually at a formal ceremony in Ottawa on the 18th, the very day of the decision in 1929 that women were  actually PERSONS. DAH!

This year the celebrations have been put off for a few weeks to join with the celebrations from one of the western provinces on their anniversary of gaining the womens vote 100 years ago.


Time has run out, and space to boot, to give the month the honourable coverage it needs, but I would encourage all to read up on a few names sadly not nearly well known. These include civil war heros Sarah  Emma Edwards, and Isabella Fogg, the famous five of course and the three ladies hardly ever getting any press coverage, but the leaders in the movement to have the very month of celebration in Canada. Of course I refer to Victorians Lynne Gough,  Cathy Blazkow and the late Cathyrne Armstrong my mother.

see you next week
Bart

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No man who wore the army blue in those days deserves of the nation than EE Dodds, no medal, or other honor, could be more worthily bestowed by a grateful country upon one of itsĀ  brave defenders.

10/24/2016

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Last week I brought you the first of two blogs about two fellows, among thousands of others, who understood all too well what the "right to bear arms" really meant.

Last week's Sergeant Charles A MacGillivary story and today's about Sgt, and later First Sergeant Edward Edwin Dodds needed further coverage since each continues to develop. EE Dodds' as you will see today.

But before I get to that I want to share the incredible excitement I get, the pride and profound joy, in learning more and more about these heroes. And today's, like so many others over the years, is because these efforts are not only appreciated by others, but in many cases because they can bring to my attention further details about these men, now long gone. Details that should be shared, widely circulated and preserved for future generations so that they too can learn more about their ancestors and fellow countrymen from decades and centuries past.

More info is expected to arrive about the Fort Myers dedication of a government facility renamed in honour of PEI's Sgt MacGillivary, a Medal of Honor recipient for bravery during the Battle of the Bulge. It will be shared when received.

Much of today's story comes in part because of the interest and generosity of two of my fellow countrymen. But as promised I cannot tell you who they are or where they are from. But guys, you know who you are, and I am deeply grateful for your assistance.

Back in 2013 I wrote a story in this space about Edward Edwin Dodds, thought by many to have been born in Ontario, but actually came from England.  His name has popped up in other blogs as well and can be found by using the search located at upper right of this page.

Ed, (short for Edwin not Edward, as the latest materials show) was born in England, to parents possibly born in Kentucky. At a very early age his parents brought the family back to the US. But soon the US Civil War started, and sentiment was not very good for the  "British."

After his father and others in the family received serious threats of injury, the family was relocated, possibly to the Hamilton area but soon thereafter to Port Hope Ontario were Ed was put into the school system.

By his mid teens Ed had ran away from home, and crossed back into the US. At age 16 and possibly working as a clerk, he claimed being 18 and signed up with the 21st NY Cavalry at Rochester NY. There are various enlistments dates in the file in July/August 1863. He being at the front and bravely while engaged with the unit at every skirmish and battle it engaged in during the winter/spring of 63/64, and oft noted in his files.

And then came Ashby's Gap on 19 July 1864!

Between Maryland and West Virginia there are two main mountain ranges, the Blue Mountain and Bull Run Mountains. Between the two lay the several hundred mile long Shenandoah Valley. To traverse the Blue Mountain Range there are several dips..or gaps... that allow passage across the mountains. One of these is Ashby's Gap, named  after a one time large land owner in the area.

During the Civil War there were about 30 battles in the highly contested area. It being about only 90 Km from the nation's capital at DC. Over 30,000 would be killed, wounded or went missing as the area passed repeatedly between the North and Southern armies. 

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The file is confusing but it appears that Ed Dodds earned his Sergeant's stripes probably before the Battle of Ashby's Gap on 19 July 1864.

It would be here that, as noted in an earlier blog, he would save his company commander's life. When about 300 of the unit went into battle, one third would be soon lost or missing. Many, including his regiment's colonel and company commander were wounded.

Few including the above two made it across the Shenandoah  River in a very heated exchange of gunfire. With bullets flying all around and death at his doorstep Sgt Dodds (shown above in later years) got off his wounded horse in the midst of battle to rescue his wounded Captain, who lay pinned beneath the horse after it  was shot out from under him. Dodds managed to pull the officer free, put him onto his own horse, jump up as well and ride off still under constant fire and the enemy closing in on them both. He managed to get back to the river, but by then the enemy had encircled him causing him to immediately  have to swerve off to the left and gallop along the river bed for another place to ford the river. Successfully getting back to friendly lines at the gap, he no doubt saved the officer from certain capture... or death. Some say he was instantly promoted to Sgt. Others say it was to First Sergeant. I think the later.

Just over a month later, and about 20 miles to the North West, Sgt/First Sergeant Ed Dodds would be in yet another battle that almost cost him his life.  In a fierce battle with Southern troops near Winchester Virginia on 21 August Ed was wounded three times. Twice in the face that blew off part of his chin and face all the way back to a portion of his right ear. A third in the ball of the shoulder would see Dodds placed on a horse and sent for a three mile ride to seek help at a field hospital. Then came a 6 week stay under medical care and the removal of his right arm.

While most would then seek a release, not so for Ed, who continued into many more battles with his regiment before finally taking a release at war's end but not before his participating on the famous DC parades and the Grand review to end the conflict between the North and South.

After the war Ed lived in the Rochester area, studied law and also worked as a newspaper man and in publishing. Soon he would return to the Peterborough area and then Port Hope where he served as town clerk for many years.


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This picture was possibly taken in the 1890's while probably. the town clerk. Note that in both pictures known to exist, he is so well dressed, professional and business like.

In the 1880's Ed also was in charge of issuing marriage and dog licenses and even in the publishing business with a brother.


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Here is page 6 of his 1880 directory of the Northumberland and Durham areas on Ontario. Below that is one of his personal adds for the issuing of marriage licenses, found at page 63 of a directory that is well over 350 pages long. his address is given for him and a brother... in Port Hope.
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Here is page 5 and his add for marriage licenses. At the bottom of the page is another add, one for his brother as a publisher at Port Hope and one for him also in Port Hope as Town Clerk, and working as a compiler and publisher of directories.

At the top of the page the dental add announces REMOVAL, not of teeth, but offices to Queen Street in Port Hope near the Bank of Toronto, now the TD Canada Trust.  The American Hotel advertises GOOD ROOMS and to boot, EXCELLENT STABLING  Obviously before the days of electric cars... hehe.

At the bottom is yet another add for the brothers at page 170. 

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A document in the Dodds file, undated but probably around 1890,  is a letter written by very powerful and respected citizens from the Rochester NY area.

The letter was written to President Benjamin Harrison, and within this over 50 men came forth to note the incredible accomplishments and respect held by so man for Ed Dodds. They asked that the "REBEL" now occupying the post of Consular Agent at Port Hope and Peterborough Ontario be replaced by Mr Dodds.

Their efforts were well rewarded. Ed became the agent and served from around 1893 till probably 1897. It is unknown so far just what the above item is, but clearly it appears to identify Ed as being the Consular agent at Peterborogh, despite the spelling.

In 1892 Ed decided to apply for a Medal of Honor for his actions during the Civil War. Many qualified, and some less qualified, did the same for decades following the end of the war. Often they were men who's superiors for unknown  reasons failed to initially nominate them for this most prestigious token of their services to the country.

Soon his application was accompanying by letters from men within the ranks and also commissioned officers including his own Lieutenant, the very Captain who's life he saved and also his regimental commander. It was his Lt. Tom Collins who bring us the title of this very blog.


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While most references claim Dodds was awarded a Medal of Honor on 11 June 1896, this original document clearly tells us that the president made the decision on 6 June. He would receive it without ceremony, like so many of the day, by mail.
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Within about a week Sgt/First Sergeant  Ed E Dodds received this Medal of Honor by registered mail. This is the very medal, now worse for wear, but awarded some 120 years ago. It is now in Canada and is one of less than a dozen known to be in Canada and awarded to a Canadian or hero with connections to our country. It is not on public display but very well cared for by responsible parties.

Note the damaged left wing. Note also the ribbon. In 1896 a new model of ribbon was introduced and therefore it appears that this old Civil War army version of the medal has been added at some point. Unknown where the newer ribbon ended up.

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The medal of the left is a full image and shows the complete and full ribbon for CW army models. There will be more on this very medal in a future blog. To the right is the model after 1896 with appropriate ribbon that should be on Dodds' medal.
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This is a news clip of the day announcing the Dodds award. His file suggests that he preferred the "ED" in Edwin and not his first given name of Edward, but the medal was in that name as this is how he enlisted back in 1863.  Note the spelling of Peterborough.
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And here possibly first the first time ever, is a public image of the reverse of his Medal of Honor. Note that his rank on the day he earned the medal saving his Captain's life was a Sergeant. AFTER the event that day he was promoted on the spot, and thus the rank till release, of a First Sergeant.

In less than a month we will all be asked to give remembrance to those who have, who continue to serve and to those who have yet to don the uniforms of our great country. Please give some thoughts to Ed Dodds and the more than 100 who's stories have been brought to you in these pages over the past three years in almost 400 stories.

Give thought also to those who may be able to help this site with the tidbits of info they may have on any of these great Canadians and encourage them to get in touch with me.

Till next week, and sorry for the one day delay, I will see you next Sunday.

And again, much appreciation to the readers who brought me some of the news in today's story.

You have helped me to keep them alive.
cheers,
Bart

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These two heroes understood more than many about the right to bear arms!

10/16/2016

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Out of hundreds of millions, literally, these two men and thousands of others paid dearly for their right to not only bear arms... but to actually give one in their fights to protect the right from the wrongs of their day.

Charlie gave his left while Ed gave his right.

Many gave more than one limb. Tens of thousands gave their lives. And next month we will remember them for one day. Then the men and women and their families who paid the price for us to sit back in comfort, will be forgotten again by most till another year rolls by.

The stories of Charles and Edward have been often mentioned in this space in the past, but there is some interesting news about them that needs to be shared. Those not having read about them should use the search engine in upper right of this blog to look for their past mentions.

I will begin with Charles MacGillivary who was born and educated at Chalottetown Prince Edward Island. Previous to the US entry into  WW11, Charles was working as a merchant mariner, but chose to head off to the Boston area and stayed with his elder brother. He then took a fancy to the world of the military and signed up and whilst in boot camp for the army he and a few others were offered and accepted the chance to take out US citizenship.

It was not long before Charles and a few others... lots of them, landed on a beach named after a carpenter that came from a place called Nebraska.. and a city called OMAHA. You've heard of it.

Fighting through France he would lead by example during the Battle of the Bulge, where he would take out numerous enemy machine gun posts and lose his left arm in the process.

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In August of 1945 President Harry S Truman presented 28 medals of Honor to recipients at the White House. It was said to be the largest single presentation of medals to that date.

I often wondered where this image came from. Just a few weeks ago I found the very source... an actual video of the event. I encourage you to watch it. Here is the link. Turn on your speakers... 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3TcaOxhC1OE


Sgt MacGillivary is the first hero to be presented in the video.

Many years later, in 1999 Charles appeared before a subcommittee on immigration, part of the US Senate's Judiciary Committee. In his presentation he spoke of the 1945 presentation and said that... " I was very honored to have been included among so many distinguished recipients. I was also very proud that I, as an immigrant, had been selected to receive this award. I am happy to say that there are 714 other immigrants who have received the Medal of Honor."

Charles would add that he served as a President of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society. It is believed that he was one of only 2 immigrant recipients who served as president in the society's history. A society that he helped create.

He also noted in his speech that back in 1976 he presented a plaque listing 54 Medal recipients from Canada to then Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau, father of our current PM. 


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After several years of hunting to locate this plaque it was finally located  in the offices of the national  HQ for Veterans Affairs Canada at Charles' hometown back in  Charltotteown PEI.

As noted in past blogs, the plaque only has 41 names on it, not 54, Many do not have hometowns listed, some heroes are missing and some  are listed  while not being Canadian.  But much of this info was no doubt not available back in the mid 1970's. More curious is this plaque located beside the one above....


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While the original plaque was presented in 1976, this curious plaque has been altered to say that he was the past President, and that it was not presented to much later. More questions that needed to be asked I guess.
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A past blog brought you the story of Charles MacGillivary and his input into the creation of the new grave markers established back in 1976. The above image shows Charles with two of the new design of the day. He is in New Brunswick for the presentation and unveiling of these for Canadian born Horatio Young And George Phillips who have also been mention in this space on the past.

These two markers are said to be the first ever, to have been installed outside of the United States.The year was 1979 and a year later he would install two more in Nova Scotia. (Lee Nutting's and Charles Robinson's)

Charles spent many years serving as an advocate for the military families and was an active member of many military associations. There are many memorials of remembrance to the hero including a park, building and armoury and I do believe a road on a military base, and there is more to come next week.

Charles served as a special agent with the Treasury Department at Boston. With some irony,  at one point his duties included the inspecting of Christmas trees coming in to the US from a place called Canada.

While there are no press releases that I can find yet, I have discovered through my friends in the MOH world that Charles will again be remembered, and this one, like so many others, will last a long time.

He is being honoured by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services. With some 223 offices around the world, some 33 of those in the US have been named in honour of immigrant Medal of Honor men. None... till now has been named after a Canadian, even though next to Ireland's well over 200, I believe more came from Canada than any other country other than of course the US.

Ireland, Mexico and Germany have 4 facilities in this agency honouring them.

But on October 21st their building in Fort Myer Florida will have its name changed in honour of Sergeant Charles A MacGillivary, from PEI, Canada.

This blog is once again getting too long. So I hope next week to be able to bring you some photo's of the Fort Myers dedication, which I understand may have input from a few Canadian fronts as well. That blog will then finish with the story of Ed, that I had hoped to bring you today.

Till then, keep using my research tool at upper right,
Bart

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Annual Medal of Honor Convention starts off with some ground breaking!

10/9/2016

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Literally!

For weeks and indeed months the news brought us snippets of the annual gathering of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society. Of some 3500 recipients, going back to the days of the Civil War, the number of living members are now at 77. And 42 of these international heroes would arrive at Minneapolis for  their conference this past week.

Several opportunities were held for the public to meet and speak with these heroes, and many even went off to schools to visit students and chat about the responsibilities that go hand in hand with good citizenship.

Seven of the heroes on Sunday made a formal stop at the the other half of the twin cities... that of St Paul, and home of the state capital. Hundreds gathered there as well as throughout Minneapolis to get a chance meet with the recipients.

This would be at the capital entrance near a reflective pool that doesn't reflect and needs some work to get functional again. And here the men participated in the ground breaking for a new memorial for all MOH  recipients.

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This is a depiction looking down on the capital building on the right. The white square at left is the reflective pool and the black image within is the memorial sculpture that will honor the MOH men and one woman.
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Retired Naval Captain Thomas Kelley, a Vietnam vet and Medal of Honor recipient, is seen here breaking ground for the new memorial.
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The formal colour guard flags are seen at the bottom of this picture.

The crowd of a few hundred on site and no doubt thousands off site witnessed this wonderful flyover in honor of the heroes below and those being remembered from days long since, forgotten by far too many. 


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The artist shows  the new sculpture on the foreground. Just above and off in the distance beyond the reflective pool you can seem the dome of the state capital building.

There is currently a plaque here at the capital building that carries the names of about 50 Medal of Honor recipients, and includes the names of Charles Lindbergh who flew over parts of Canada during his famous flight, Civil War recipient James Flanagan from Montreal and Alonzo Pickle from a few miles south east of there, and also Colonel George Horace Morgan from St. Catherines Ontario who earned his medal during the Indian Wars. But the plaque has missed the name of James Allen, an Irishmen who came to Canada as a baby and was taken to the US as a youth and orphan very early in life, and would go on to earn his medal also in the Civil War. 

You can search all of these names on this site to read their stories.

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Regular visitors to this site have seen these photo's before. James Allen is at upper left and at right is Alonzo Pickle. Bottom left is Colonel Morgan back in his youthful days as a cadet. and of course Charles Lindbergh is with his plane at the bottom right.
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There appear to be a few hundred who have gathered to possibly participate in a meet and great with some of the MOH men attending the convention. Others may well be off doing their duties at the schools in the area. (Note all of the walking aides for these very elderly heroes.)
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While the Convention no doubt gave all attendees some great memories to come away with, I thought I would share two with you that probably went quite unmentioned over the 4 day conference.

And thus the maps.

One of the venues for the convention took place at the US Bank Stadium shown by the red marker in the top map. By following the google map layout south and east you end up on Morgan Avenue. And we all known the name Morgan don't we!

We know about Colonel George Horace Morgan, who's image appears above. His medal was earned during the Indian wars where he was wounded in action and ended up carrying a bullet next to his heart for a little while. Actually a lot... some 60 years, till he fell out of bed and instantly dislodged it and died. A camp in Bosnia, Herzegovina as noted in past blogs is named in his honour.


But he has nothing to do with this street's name. Sort of.

But his dad sure did. His name was George Nelson Morgan, and he was a Civil War General who led a Minnesota regiment at Fredericksburg as a Colonel. He would later be promoted to Brig. General. This Avenue is named after him. His story has also been told on this site in the past.

And below this, in the 2nd map, going a few miles further east you end up on Wabasha Street. The very address where James Allen once lived. He spent many a year in the area and is believed to have served of the police force and worked in carpentry occupations, and to this day is buried in the same cemetery a few miles further out and is joined to this day by 4 other MOH recipients.

One must wonder how many knew this as they visited the area to see the recipients that are still with us today.

And speaking of memories there are still 2 stories I wanted to bring you today, but I think enough is enough, so will bring these to you next Sunday, till then,
Cheers,
Bart

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It is foolish and wrong to remember the men who died. Rather, we should thank God that they lived.

10/2/2016

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These wise words were heard from those who gathered in 1945 to hear the wisdom of General George S. Patton in Boston.

Others state that it was also uttered  at the November 11th ceremony at an Allied cemetery in Italy in 1949. He was then quoted saying that... "In my mind we came here to thank God that men like these lived, rather than to regret that they have died."

Nevertheless, there are some very important men and women gathering at the Minnesota Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St Paul to do a lot of remembering of their past, and of many a brave sole no longer with us. Brothers... and sisters... who have died on battlefields in the US and around the world.

Officially they gather from the 4th of this month, but some may come earlier or stay later. They will gather for several days. But in those precious days they will make... and  leave a lifetime of memories for tens of thousands before they travel by very heavily armed escorts to the airport and once again get whisked away for duties elsewhere.

They of course are the brave herculean men of days gone by in uniforms of all description, but now most show the scars of time, on bodies and sole. These are the 40 or more who can break away from important duties or health issues,  to put their medals on and go to the call of their nation. And they will once again also strap on America's most important medal of all... the Medal of Honor.

There are 78 of these heroes alive today. Out of more than 3500. (Not including the purged, but I will not go there today.)  

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There have been several versions of the actual Medal of Honor, since first created during the Civil war of 1861-5. Some were significant and some with just slight changes to the suspension ribbon. The current army version is at the left, the navy, marines and coast guard at center and air force at right.

And each of the heroes at the annual convention of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society (CMOHS) in attendance will be wearing one of these 3 models.

Members of the public will get glimpses of the entourage as they come into town and when they leave. In between both they will have opportunities to attended a meet and greet were each person will be given ever few, a  precious moment, to meet and shake hands and get some photos and autographs.

If you are one of the lucky ones, may sure you thank them for their incredible service!

They will probably meet at a  town hall meeting where a few are interviewed with hundreds of the public in attendance. You may even get a chance to address the entire gathering with your own comments, or ask a recipient a question or two.  The heroes will also have a most formal Gala on the last evening I suspect, and many will be visiting schools in the area to give chats to students about their duties as a good citizen.

Many a story will appear in the press about some of the attendees and what they did to earn their medals. And I'd bet every single one of them will repeat what I heard from almost 40 at the 2013 convention in Gettysburg. They said they wear  their medals not for themselves, but for their buddies that gave their all in the battlefields of days gone by, and in some cases still very active hot spots.

One of the goals of the CMOHS is to preserve in reverence and respect those who received  the MOH posthumously, and  those who are now deceased. 

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A few years ago I reminded the CMOHS members gathered at the 2013 convention about the oft forgotten fact that in Civil War days one if four  Medals awarded went to a  non- American born hero. The number is one in five over the entire history of the medal.

Of well over 100 medals coming to Canadians, or men with connections to Canada, five had connections to the very state now hosting the annual convention. Images have yet to turn up for James Flanagan who was born in Montreal. Ireland's James Allen, has Cdn. connections and is shown at above left. Alonzo Pickle,  came from about 45 miles s/e of Montreal. George Horace Morgan came from St Catharines Ontario, and of course Detroit born Charles Lindbergh at bottom right was awarded for actions during the historic flight that took him across eastern Canada and well beyond. All of their stories have been carried at this site in the past.

Hopefully the press covering the convention will give some notice to the foreign born recipients, and perhaps even some of the above men.

No doubt there will be mention of Doctor Mary Walker, the only female recipient of the Union's Medal of Honor, despite the fact that many, many, women served in various wars at the front lines, in uniform, as nurses, spies, couriers, and even soldiers in places like Gettysburg and more.

Hopefully these might also get some news coverage. And whilst at it they might want to do some clips on some of the Canadian women like a Florence Nightingale herself...  Isabella  Morrison Fogg. and the more well known Sarah   Emma Edmunds. Google their names for some pretty amazing stuff.

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Isabella is at upper left, with a plaque noting some of her story at upper right. Below this is Sarah Edmunds, the before and after... if you will. Among other things she also impersonated a fellow calling herself Frank Thomas and soldiering in many battles under that alias.

While remembering these women it is ironic that today is the 2nd day of Women's History Month in Canada. But as noted numerous times in the past in this space, rarely do you hear about the three women who advocated for over a year to bring this month into fruition.

Their names were Lynne Gough, Cathy Blazgow and the late Cathrynne (Kay) Armstrong, who's son just wrote those words.

October was chosen for the important month, because it was the month back in 1929 that the Privy Council in Britain issued a historic decision. It said... believe it or not...that women were actually PERSONS. One wonders what they were before that day!

The story has also oft been noted in this space.

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These are the five Canadian heroes that fought for years for the men of the day to take their heads out of the sand and recognize that women were in fact PERSONS, and as such were entitled to serve in the Canadian Senate.

The case was decided on October 18th, and thus each yr the 18th  is celebrated as Persons Day in Canada.

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For 37 years now the Persons Award, later changed to the Governor General's Award in Honor of the Persons Case has been awarded to between 5 and 7 women who are selected from across the country for their roles in improving the lot of the female population. This year's awardees have yet to be announced but since 1979, there have been 235 women selected to receive the medal, as shown above, and worn around the neck. 

Just a few things to reflect on till next Sunday. And then I have three exciting bits of news that I think you will like,

till then,

Bart

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    Author;
    Bart Armstrong, C.D.,
    Recipient, Sovereign's Medal for Volunteers 

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