This is the first in a series of four posts on the American Civil War. In the first three posts, I will describe the three combat arms used during the Civil War to accomplish military objectives. These roles include: cavalry, infantry, and artillery. In the final post of the series, I’ll describe the role of theContinue reading “A Civil War Cavalryman’s Story”
Category Archives: Genealogy
The History of Names
Have your ever wondered about the story behind your given (or first) name? Perhaps you were named after an ancestor, or someone that your mother and father admired or respected. Have you ever considered when your given name originated? Were you named after a biblical character from long ago? In today’s post, I’ll first exploreContinue reading “The History of Names”
Questions I Wished I’d Asked My Father
Each year, we celebrate Father’s Day on the third Sunday in June. Father’s Day was first acknowledged on June 19, 1910. Sonora Louise (Smart) Dodd (1882-1978) is credited as the founder of Father’s Day. Sonora held her father, Civil War Veteran, William Jackson Smart, in high regard. One Sunday at church in Spokane, Washington, Sonora heard aContinue reading “Questions I Wished I’d Asked My Father”
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”
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”
The Small World Phenomena
I’ve been watching the fascinating, albeit slow moving, The Curse of Oak Island on the History Channel. This reality television series chronicles a team of treasure hunters and their search for legendary treasure on Oak Island, on the coastal area of Nova Scotia, Canada. In one of the episodes, a theory was presented that treasure was buried on Oak IslandContinue reading “The Small World Phenomena”
Memorial Day – The Story of Oscar Spaulding
I wish we didn’t have to have Memorial Day, but I’m thankful that we do. I’m someone saddened these days because I believe we’ve lost the focus and the original intent of Memorial Day. It just seems that Memorial Day weekend is primarily known today for kicking off the beginning of summer. It’s when theContinue reading “Memorial Day – The Story of Oscar Spaulding”
Sons of Liberty
The American Revolution was a war waged on the home-front as horrific battles were fought in each of the thirteen colonial states. The American Revolution was also personal as many American families sacrificed for their newly emerging country. My sixth great-grandparents, James and Anna Spaulding, were such a family. How did they sacrifice? They proudlyContinue reading “Sons of Liberty”