6 From Devil’s Brigrade Live In Pa. — Sen. Pat Toomey notes that six veterans of World War II’s legendary 1st Special Service Force, also known as the “Devil’s Brigade” live in Pennsylvania, the most of any state.
Category: Military
The Origin Of Memorial Day
The Origin Of Memorial Day Courtesy of Patricia Keevil from here
On May 5, 1868, the Grand Army of the Republic
established Memorial Day or Decoration Day as the national day to
decorate the graves of the Civil War soldiers with flowers. Major
General John A. Logan appointed May 30 as the day to be observed.
Arlington National Cemetery had the first observance of the day on a
grand scale. The place was appropriate as it already housed graves of
over 20,000 Union dead and several hundred Confederate dead. Gen. and
Mrs. Ulysses S. Grant presided the meeting and the center point of these
Memorial Day ceremonies was the mourning-draped veranda of the Arlington
mansion. Speeches were followed by a march of soldiers’ children and
orphans and members of the GAR through the cemetery strewing flowers on
both Union and Confederate graves. They also recited prayers and sang
hymns for the dead.
Even before this declaration, local observances for these war dead were
being held at various places. In Columbus, Miss., a group of women
visited a cemetery on April 25 1866, to decorate the graves of
Confederate soldiers and the Union soldiers whop fell at the battle of
Siloh. Many cities in the North and the South claim to be the first to
celebrate Memorial Day in 1866 but Congress and President Lyndon Johnson
officially declared Waterloo in New York as the ‘birthplace’ of Memorial
Day in 1966. It was said that on May 5, 1866, a ceremony was held here
to honor local soldiers and sailors who fought in the Civil War,
businesses were closed for the day and residents furled flags at
half-mast. It was said to be the first formal, community-wide and
regular event.
In 1971, Memorial Day was declared a national holiday by the Congress,
who designated the last Monday in May as the day for its observance.
Many states observe separate Confederate Memorial Days. Mississippi
observes it on the last Monday of April, Alabama on the fourth Monday of
April, Georgia on April 26, North and South Carolina on May 10 and
Louisiana and Tennessee on June 3. In Tennessee, the day is named as
‘Confederate Decorations Day’ while Texas observes ‘Confederate Heroes
Day’ on January 19. In Virginia, Memorial Day is better known as ‘May
Confederate Memorial Day.’
Origin Of Memorial Day
Military Sexual Assault Epidemic
Military Sexual Assault Epidemic — The Pentagon’s report showing that sexual assaults are up 30 percent since 2010 under the Obama administration has the Washington establishment upset and confused.
What isn’t being much talked about is that 14,000 of the sexual assaults were committed on men by other men.
Expect more of that.
Military Sexual Assault Epidemic
USS Somerset Commissioned In Pa.
USS Somerset Commissioned In Pa. — The USS Somerset, the ninth amphibious transport dock ship in the San Antonio class will be commissioned in Philadelphia, reports Sen. Pat Toomey.
“In February, I asked Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus to commission the
new Navy ship in the city of Brotherly Love and he informed me (last) week
that he agrees,” said Toomey.
The Somerset joins USS New York and the USS Arlington in remembering the heroes of September 11 as in T honors the heroes of United Flight 93, which crashed in Shanksville in Somerset County.
A ship is commissioned when it is put into active service. The Somerset was christened in July 2012.
USS Somerset Commissioned In Pa.
Delco Vet Memorial Dedicated
Delco Vet Memorial Dedicated — Big names came to Newtown Square, today, May 11, 2013 to dedicate the Delaware County Veterans Memorial, which, as Delaware County Councilman Mario Civera said in his remarks will soon be the landmark on West Chester Pike.
The monument, an arc of pillars embracing a sculpted eagle and
name-engraved pieces of marble, is atop a small hill at Alice Grim
Boulevard. There is a pillar for each of the nation’s wars including the
present one upon which are carved the quotes from the leaders of the
conflicts mingled with the words of local persons who served.
It competes with anything found in Washington D.C. Civera echoed the words of Gov. Tom Corbett who had spoken earlier and noted that not a penny of tax dollars was used in its construction.
The land was donated by developer Claude deBotton, who described himself as an Italian born in Egypt who fled that nation amidst war and persecution to America in 1956.
He spoke of his great love for his adopted land. “Your citizens accepted me,” he said. “Your children protected me. . . God bless you.”
Corbett was introduced by Major General Wesley E. Craig who is the adjutant general of the Pennsylvania National Guard. Corbett, after his remarks, introduced former governor and first secretary of homeland security Tom Ridge. Ridge, a combat veteran from Vietnam, noted the importance of listening to veterans. He said those who have recently served in Iraq and Afghanistan have much to teach us.
Also speaking was 7th District Congressman Patrick Meehan who read a roll of the local persons whose names are quoted on the pillars; former Newtown Supervisor Linda Houldin, who noted how the push for the monument came from Newtown residents and former Marines the late Stan Short and the late Steve Neri; Guy Fizzano, who is president of the Delaware County Veterans Memorial Association; and Brigadier Gen. Kevin J. Jacobsen, who is Air Force commander the Office of Special Investigations at Quantico, Va, and is a graduate of Marple Newtown High School.
Keynote speaker was author Benjamin Patton, who is the grandson of Gen. George S. Patton, Jr. and the son of Major Gen. George S. Patton IV.
The invocation was given by Rev. Dr. Wylie W. Johnson of the Springfield Baptist Church. The benediction was given by Rabbie Max Hausen, a World War II veteran and rabbi meridius of Main Line Reform Temple and Father James Kelly, pastor emeritus of St. Piux X Church of Broomall.
Music was provided by retired state trooper Lt. Kevin Pierce and Yvette Pecorao and Christopher Pecoraro.
Everyone worked feverishly to save lives. I learned to administer anesthesia, assisted in back surgery, anything necessary. No one complained. There was not time to feel tired, to even know your feet were hurting. When a lull came, while we waited for the next wave that we knew was inevitable, we would grab a couple of minutes of sleep.
Marge Lozinak Lawrence (Korean War Pillar)
Delco Vet Memorial Dedicated
Delco Vet Memorial Dedicated
Patton, Ridge, Corbett Dedicate Delco Vet Memorial
Patton, Ridge, Corbett Dedicate Delco Vet Memorial — Gen. Patton’s grandson will be the master of ceremonies at the dedication, tomorrow, May 11, of The Delaware County Veterans Memorial, 4599 West Chester Pike, Newtown Square, PA 19073
It starts at 11 a.m.
Benjamin Patton, besides being the grandson of George S. Patton Jr. is the author of Growing of Patton.
Keynote speaker will be former Gov. Tom Ridge who was the first U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security.
Also speaking will be Gov. Tom Corbett; U.S. Congressman Patrick Meehan, who represents the 7th District; Major Gen. Wesley E. Craig of the Pennsylvania National Guard; USAF Brigadier Gen. Kevin J. Jacobsen, who is a Marple Newtown graduate; and Delaware County Council Vice Chairman Mario Civera.
Special thanks goes to developer nonpareil Claude deBotton without whose support the project would never have happened.
Patton, Ridge, Corbett Dedicate Delco Vet Memorial
Military Losing Freedom Of Conscience?
Military Losing Freedom Of Conscience? — Sharon Sebastian has forwarded this alert from Family Research Council regarding attempts to take away freedom of conscience for our military personnel.
Thank you again, Obama voters.
FYI, Family Research Council in Washington D.C. was the victim of a left-wing terrorist attack last August. The shooter, James Corkins, a gay activist, said he picked them as a target because the left-wing Southern Poverty Law Center labeled them a “hate group”. Why? Because they opposed gay marriage.
Corkins said he was wanted to kill as many as he could and smear Chick-fil-A sandwiches in the faces of their corpses. He was foiled by a security guard who tackled him despite being shot by Corkins.
The very troops who defend our religious freedom are at risk of having their own taken away.
Last week, anti-Christian and left-wing activists met at the Pentagon with military officials to discuss pressing issues in the military. What issues would be of such importance to gain such a high-level hearing?
According to these far-left consultants, religion is one of the chief problems plaguing our troops. As the Washington Post reported, some are saying that “religious proselytizing” is at the top of the list of problems in the armed forces — even on par with sexual assault.
As a result of such complaints from the left, the Air Force has — according to the Post –published, but not yet distributed a new document with the directive that leaders of all levels (including chaplains) may not “promote their personal religious beliefs to their subordinates or to extend preferential treatment for any religion.” The penalty these secularists are seeking for those who don’t comply with their view of religious speech is court-martial.
If this policy goes forward, Christians within the military who speak of their faith could now be prosecuted as enemies of the state. This has the potential to destroy military recruiting across the services as Americans realize that their faith will be suppressed by joining the military.
Our brave troops deserve better. If chaplains and other personnel are censored from offering the full solace of the Gospel, there is no religious freedom in the military.
Please join me in signing the petition to Secretary Hagel urging him to protect the religious freedom of our troops – and not to proceed with the purge of religion within the ranks called for by anti-Christian activists.
Sincerely,
Lt. Gen. (Ret.) William “Jerry” Boykin
Executive Vice President
Military Losing Freedom Of Conscience?
House Bill Gives Vets In-State Tuition
House Bill Gives Vets In-State Tuition — The State House sent to the Senate last week legislation to grant in-state tuition rates to eligible veterans, their spouses and dependents at Pennsylvania’s public institutions of higher learning, says State Rep. Jim Cox (R-129).
House Bill 472 would apply in-state tuition rates of Pennsylvania’s state-owned and state-related universities and community colleges, such as Kutztown University, to eligible veterans seeking to study in Pennsylvania.
Currently, a full-time semester at a state-owned university averages $4,310 for Pennsylvania residents, while an out-of-state veteran would pay $9,223 for tuition at the same university.
The bill aims to level the playing field for veterans who, because of the nature of military service, may not have residency status in the Commonwealth.
House Bill Gives Vets In-State Tuition
Tea Party Seeks To Save Swindled Vet’s Home
Tea Party Seeks To Save Swindled Vet’s Home — The Independence Hall Tea Party Association has come to bat for Ray White, the 88-year-old World War II Army Air Corps combat veteran and South Philly resident who was swindled out of his home and possessions a few weeks ago.
He is now in a rehabilitation facility recovering from a broken hip and is looking forward to getting out, said Teri Adams of the Association.
“Because he has no housing at this time, we have been working with the VA and several Center City real estate agents to find him affordable housing,” said Ms. Adams.
She says that the total dollar value of what White has lost is $383,000.
“We have reached out to City Councilman Mark Squilla regarding whether Ray could reclaim his home. The Councilman’s staff has researched this and found a way that will allow Ray to appeal and quite possibly get back his home,” said Ms. Adams.
She also says that Sen. Pat Toomey’s office has found several federal benefits for White and is standing by to work with Ray to apply for them.
The Association held a fundraiser for White yesterday, April 1, at Tazla’s Restaurant & Bar in Center City.
For those who can’t make the event, please write a check payable to Ray White and mail it to:
Ray White
C/O Joe Eastman
2514 S. 10th Street
Philadelphia PA 19148
Tea Party Seeks To Save Swindled Vet’s Home
Phillies Tidbit For Opening Day
Eddie Grant was the Philadelphia Phillies third baseman from 1907 through 1910. In the off seasons he earned a law degree from Harvard.
In World War I, he was an infantry captain who would be die from wounds received in action while searching for the famed Lost Battalion.
Edward L. Grant Highway in the Bronx is named for him.
Hat tip VFW magazine.