Over the past 8 years I have been honoured and privileged to share with you some of Canada's unique history. More to the point, incredibly important stories that have, for so long been forgotten, or worse yet, never known.
Close to 550 blogs in this space told you part of the history of Canadians, or those with connections to Canada that wore the uniform of the United States and went on to earn the Medal of Honor. This being the highest medal the President can award to the brave soldiers and sailors, airman and marines, and coast guard men and women for their service. Duties that in the earliest days often did not need to be in the face of the enemy, but later requiring more strict scrutiny and mostly bravery in the face of the enemy.
Over this stretch of some 92 months I also shared with you many stories of Victoria Cross recipients and ventured off into other stories of military importance to one of or both Canada and the US. In addition many a story appeared in this space regarding women's history, often with connections to those in uniform.
While these blogs cover more weeks since, than there are days in the year, the research began before 2000.
It has taken its toll on me and culminating with a partial rest and missed blogs for the past three months.
But I am now back to continue doing my part in filling this void in our shared heritage.
While very much on my mind, Black History Month both in Canada and the US got no coverage in this space last month. Sadly some of the Black History stories appearing here previously, apparently got NO COVERAGE what so-ever by the Canadian press in this year. ( But more on that in the next 2 blogs.)
Professional historians (of which I am not,) will recall that a few days ago, but many a year long gone, some 60 conspirators chose to kill their leader. He was a general, but history has us recalling him as being the Emperor of Rome.
It was on the 15th of March that the plan was set in motion and Emperor Julius Caesar was stabbed to death. He had been warned earlier of being careful as harm would come to him by the 15th. And indeed it was. This was back in 44 B.C.
Rather than taking care, he was slaughtered by his enemies... fellow politicians if you will.
History's famous line to...Beware of the Ides of March, could have come yet again, but this time in North America. Just change the date to read January 6th. And reverse the offender and victim roles.
Thankfully that mission failed!
On a more positive note, the 17th of this month marked the death of Ireland's Saint Patrick. A fitting note in this space, as the Irish have been often mentioned in past blogs. While there are some 3,550 US Medal of Honor recipients (not including the illegal purge numbers of over 1,000,) over 250 of these went to Irish heroes. While recipients came from about 50 countries, the Irish receives the highest foreign born numbers. Of about 700 of these foreign born men, Canada's numbers at about 120, were the 3rd highest of all of these countries.
On another March date, well documented in past blogs, the 25th marks Medal of Honor Day in the United States.
A few weeks earlier, on the 8th, men and women around the world should have given some serious thought to what has become International Women's Day.
Sadly, the following day a US TV host made incredibly derogatory remarks about women in the Forces. He of course probably knew nothing about the women who DIED on the grounds at Gettysburg, the women that took to the guns when their husbands were killed during the Revolutionary War, and were no doubt killed in every war the Americans fought in probably since.
His remarks zeroed in on pregnant soldiers who continued to serve their country, many in the face of the enemy I suspect. And some probably lost their lives in this service.
I guess they couldn't afford fake doctor reports about foot spurs.
It is unknown if his diatribe was against all female members, those being pregnant of those soon to be mothers in actual combat missions. Regardless, his remark was that it makes 'a mockery of the US military'.
And we should assume his insight was based on his profound BOOTS ON THE GROUND experience.
OOOOPS!
It appears that he has never served in the military.
All this of course happening in March. Women's History Month in the United States.
I will continue with these thoughts on Sunday the 28th.
Please join me then.
Bart
Close to 550 blogs in this space told you part of the history of Canadians, or those with connections to Canada that wore the uniform of the United States and went on to earn the Medal of Honor. This being the highest medal the President can award to the brave soldiers and sailors, airman and marines, and coast guard men and women for their service. Duties that in the earliest days often did not need to be in the face of the enemy, but later requiring more strict scrutiny and mostly bravery in the face of the enemy.
Over this stretch of some 92 months I also shared with you many stories of Victoria Cross recipients and ventured off into other stories of military importance to one of or both Canada and the US. In addition many a story appeared in this space regarding women's history, often with connections to those in uniform.
While these blogs cover more weeks since, than there are days in the year, the research began before 2000.
It has taken its toll on me and culminating with a partial rest and missed blogs for the past three months.
But I am now back to continue doing my part in filling this void in our shared heritage.
While very much on my mind, Black History Month both in Canada and the US got no coverage in this space last month. Sadly some of the Black History stories appearing here previously, apparently got NO COVERAGE what so-ever by the Canadian press in this year. ( But more on that in the next 2 blogs.)
Professional historians (of which I am not,) will recall that a few days ago, but many a year long gone, some 60 conspirators chose to kill their leader. He was a general, but history has us recalling him as being the Emperor of Rome.
It was on the 15th of March that the plan was set in motion and Emperor Julius Caesar was stabbed to death. He had been warned earlier of being careful as harm would come to him by the 15th. And indeed it was. This was back in 44 B.C.
Rather than taking care, he was slaughtered by his enemies... fellow politicians if you will.
History's famous line to...Beware of the Ides of March, could have come yet again, but this time in North America. Just change the date to read January 6th. And reverse the offender and victim roles.
Thankfully that mission failed!
On a more positive note, the 17th of this month marked the death of Ireland's Saint Patrick. A fitting note in this space, as the Irish have been often mentioned in past blogs. While there are some 3,550 US Medal of Honor recipients (not including the illegal purge numbers of over 1,000,) over 250 of these went to Irish heroes. While recipients came from about 50 countries, the Irish receives the highest foreign born numbers. Of about 700 of these foreign born men, Canada's numbers at about 120, were the 3rd highest of all of these countries.
On another March date, well documented in past blogs, the 25th marks Medal of Honor Day in the United States.
A few weeks earlier, on the 8th, men and women around the world should have given some serious thought to what has become International Women's Day.
Sadly, the following day a US TV host made incredibly derogatory remarks about women in the Forces. He of course probably knew nothing about the women who DIED on the grounds at Gettysburg, the women that took to the guns when their husbands were killed during the Revolutionary War, and were no doubt killed in every war the Americans fought in probably since.
His remarks zeroed in on pregnant soldiers who continued to serve their country, many in the face of the enemy I suspect. And some probably lost their lives in this service.
I guess they couldn't afford fake doctor reports about foot spurs.
It is unknown if his diatribe was against all female members, those being pregnant of those soon to be mothers in actual combat missions. Regardless, his remark was that it makes 'a mockery of the US military'.
And we should assume his insight was based on his profound BOOTS ON THE GROUND experience.
OOOOPS!
It appears that he has never served in the military.
All this of course happening in March. Women's History Month in the United States.
I will continue with these thoughts on Sunday the 28th.
Please join me then.
Bart
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