Memorial Day will be observed this year on May 29, 2023. Memorial Day has always been special to me as a veteran of 22 years in the U.S. Navy. I live in Northern Virginia about 20 miles west of Arlington National Cemetery. Each year over Memorial Day weekend, my wife and I visit Arlington toContinue reading “Memorial Day – The Dash in the Middle”
Author Archives: Dale Spaulding
Sons of the Founding Fathers
Do you remember career day in elementary school? Do you recall how you admired the fireman telling his exhilarating stories of extinguishing ravenous fires while saving lives? Perhaps you recall your pride in sharing with friends what your parents did for a living? Let your mind now wander back to late 1700s America for aContinue reading “Sons of the Founding Fathers”
Family Aviators – Separated by 160 Years
Sometimes history surprises us. It’s even said that history repeats itself. Events of the past can become events of the present. The concept of history repeating itself is also known as historic recurrence. “History is merely a list of surprises. It can only prepare us to be surprised yet again.” -Kurt Vonnegut Jr., American Author and EssayistContinue reading “Family Aviators – Separated by 160 Years”
The Last Soldier
I recently discovered an amazing book – The Last Men of the Revolution by Rev. E.B. Hillard, published in 1864. In his book, Hillard describes his journey to embark with two photographers to visit, photograph, and interview the six known surviving veterans of the American Revolution. Take a moment to reflect on this accomplishment – today, we can grasp inContinue reading “The Last Soldier”
Author’s Ridge at Sleepy Hollow Cemetery
Do you enjoy classic American literature? Or, do you cringe with nightmarish flashbacks to high school when you unwillingly read the literary works of early Americana? On a Massachusetts road trip in the summer of 2021 to conduct some final research prior to the publication of my book Fortitude, I meandered through the Sleepy Hollow CemeteryContinue reading “Author’s Ridge at Sleepy Hollow Cemetery”
An Unsung Hero – The Story of Joseph Warren
When you think about the names that shaped the American Revolution that birthed the United States of America, who comes to mind? Immediately, you think of names like General George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Hamilton, and James Madison. In addition to these remarkable men, there were many lesser-known patriotsContinue reading “An Unsung Hero – The Story of Joseph Warren”
Veterans Day Reflections
Each year on November 11th, we observe Veterans Day which had its beginnings with Armistice Day. The Armistice, that brought an end to World War I, was signed in France, at 11 a.m. on November 11, 1918 which was the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. Twenty years later in 1938, Armistice Day becameContinue reading “Veterans Day Reflections”
Letters Home – From a WWII B-17 Crewman
During World War II, letters from home helped increase the morale of our country’s soldiers, sailors and airmen fighting around the world. The amount of mail crossing the Atlantic and Pacific oceans each day was remarkable. In 1945, nearly three billion letters were exchanged between service members and friends and family.1 “Mail call” was one ofContinue reading “Letters Home – From a WWII B-17 Crewman”
150th Anniversary of The Spalding Memorial
If you’ve ever written a short story, published a book, created a blog, or even captured your memoirs, could you imagine your work being referenced 150 years later? This is exactly the case of the research by Dr. Samuel J. Spalding of Newburyport, Massachusetts in a book called The Spalding Memorial published in 1872. This year (2022)Continue reading “150th Anniversary of The Spalding Memorial”
The Overcomer
According to Webster’s Dictionary, a person who overcomes is “one who succeeds in dealing with, or gaining control of, some problem or difficulty”. Is it easy for you to overcome? If that’s the case, you should be thankful, as many have to work hard at being an overcomer. Although challenging, an overcoming mindset is one that we allContinue reading “The Overcomer”
Fortitude 