So says my good friend and fellow amateur military historian John Azar of Victoria B.C.
In a recent press story he claimed that looking along the row of grave markers, is like looking along the book shelves. Stopping to read the markers is akin to read the individual titles displayed. Following up with further research is akin to opening up the book.
And all of this amounts to better understanding, remembering, and honouring those who came before us and left us the country, life and freedoms we treasure today.
In a recent press story he claimed that looking along the row of grave markers, is like looking along the book shelves. Stopping to read the markers is akin to read the individual titles displayed. Following up with further research is akin to opening up the book.
And all of this amounts to better understanding, remembering, and honouring those who came before us and left us the country, life and freedoms we treasure today.
Here we see many rows of graves. They are located just a few minutes out of the Washington DC area at the internationally acclaimed Arlington National Cemetery.
Of the tens of thousands of graves located here are the final resting places of over 400 Medal of Honor recipients. Among these are about a dozen Canadian recipients and another dozen Canadian non recipients.
The centerpiece of course is the Cross of Sacrifice that with US permission, was constructed and donated by Canada and unveiled on November 11th 1927. Canada's Prime Minster, the US President and other dignitaries of the day acknowledged the exchange of Canadians in the US Military and the Americans in Canadian units.
This very cross being presented in honour of those from about 40,000 Americans that went off to war with Canada and that many gave their lives for the cause during the Great War. In later years similar plaques where attached representing those who so served and paid with their lives during WWll and Korea whilst in Canadian uniform.
Going back to John's graves and libraries, I would like to add another thought.
When we look for a newspaper we often look for the one with the biggest and most interesting headline of the day. Like the grocery store tabloid. The one with the weirdest headline gets the sale. Recently no doubt on certain DC topics. hehe.
Along the same lines, the one with the shiniest surface get the attention. If you go back to some of the earliest blogs here, you can read about one of the thoughts in the minds of the decision makers when actually proposing the creation of Medals of Honor back on Civil War days. The story of the kid sitting on a bench and telling authorities that all the medals of foreign soldiers impressed him. But in those days the Americans had none. They'd soon change that!
These markers tell the same tale.
Of the tens of thousands of graves located here are the final resting places of over 400 Medal of Honor recipients. Among these are about a dozen Canadian recipients and another dozen Canadian non recipients.
The centerpiece of course is the Cross of Sacrifice that with US permission, was constructed and donated by Canada and unveiled on November 11th 1927. Canada's Prime Minster, the US President and other dignitaries of the day acknowledged the exchange of Canadians in the US Military and the Americans in Canadian units.
This very cross being presented in honour of those from about 40,000 Americans that went off to war with Canada and that many gave their lives for the cause during the Great War. In later years similar plaques where attached representing those who so served and paid with their lives during WWll and Korea whilst in Canadian uniform.
Going back to John's graves and libraries, I would like to add another thought.
When we look for a newspaper we often look for the one with the biggest and most interesting headline of the day. Like the grocery store tabloid. The one with the weirdest headline gets the sale. Recently no doubt on certain DC topics. hehe.
Along the same lines, the one with the shiniest surface get the attention. If you go back to some of the earliest blogs here, you can read about one of the thoughts in the minds of the decision makers when actually proposing the creation of Medals of Honor back on Civil War days. The story of the kid sitting on a bench and telling authorities that all the medals of foreign soldiers impressed him. But in those days the Americans had none. They'd soon change that!
These markers tell the same tale.
The top 2 markers are for Lindsay Ontario born Denis Buckley. The 2nd two are grave markers for Zorra Ontario born Benjamin Youngs, and the bottom two are markers for Nova Scotia born Joseph Noil.
All three men ..or should I say boys... are Medal of Honor recipients, but not one of the original 3 markers tells you this. In fact 2 of the 3 even have the names misspelled. Yet further complicating matters, the stones are so old they are almost unreadable.
Efforts by several folks including myself have resulted in correct clean looking new markers with proper spelling and notation of hero status of those buried. Information enough for the onlooker who will no doubt read the marker because now it stands out from all the rest in the immediate area. This will possibly result in some note taking, and subsequent research. This will of course result in further preservation of the story, and the added bonus of possibly even sharing the information with others.
All three men ..or should I say boys... are Medal of Honor recipients, but not one of the original 3 markers tells you this. In fact 2 of the 3 even have the names misspelled. Yet further complicating matters, the stones are so old they are almost unreadable.
Efforts by several folks including myself have resulted in correct clean looking new markers with proper spelling and notation of hero status of those buried. Information enough for the onlooker who will no doubt read the marker because now it stands out from all the rest in the immediate area. This will possibly result in some note taking, and subsequent research. This will of course result in further preservation of the story, and the added bonus of possibly even sharing the information with others.
Though not seen in this image..the line of graves is long to the left and right and deep as well. And as you can see the markers all seem to be the same. Nothing to draw your eyes to a special marker to research.
This is a crying shame! And a tragedy on several fronts. Robert Storr is the subject of this blog and his marker is at the left. His date of birth was not 1840 but possibly 1836.or 1837.
Robert was from London England. He got married and within short order he and wife celebrated the birth of their daughter Florence in Jan 1858. But wife Alice took ill and died within 16 months of the child's birth. By November of 1859 Robert had signed over guardianship of his daughter to his father Soloman, who was then in his mid 50's.
Promising to send for her when he could, he rode the train to Liverpool and boarded a vessel for America.
In 1861 he joined the US Army, signing up with the 15th NY infantry, but with months that regiment became the 15th NY Engineer. It seems he would be employed in the building of temporary pontoon bridges as quickly as possible for almost immediate crossing of rivers so that others could carry out surprise attacks on the enemy.
This is a crying shame! And a tragedy on several fronts. Robert Storr is the subject of this blog and his marker is at the left. His date of birth was not 1840 but possibly 1836.or 1837.
Robert was from London England. He got married and within short order he and wife celebrated the birth of their daughter Florence in Jan 1858. But wife Alice took ill and died within 16 months of the child's birth. By November of 1859 Robert had signed over guardianship of his daughter to his father Soloman, who was then in his mid 50's.
Promising to send for her when he could, he rode the train to Liverpool and boarded a vessel for America.
In 1861 he joined the US Army, signing up with the 15th NY infantry, but with months that regiment became the 15th NY Engineer. It seems he would be employed in the building of temporary pontoon bridges as quickly as possible for almost immediate crossing of rivers so that others could carry out surprise attacks on the enemy.
This bridge was built across the Anacosta River for a length of 1300 feet..in only 25 1/2 minutes..and by the 15th NY Engineers. (Not sure if Robert was in the crew)
Soon tragedy would again strike for Robert.
But more on that next Sunday.
Bart
Soon tragedy would again strike for Robert.
But more on that next Sunday.
Bart
RSS Feed