4th of July 2024 Musings...

What does the 4^th of July mean to me?  A lot. 

 

One of my earliest memories was my parents and family going down to the bi-centennial parade in Manchester, NH. I was just a kid, but it was impressed on me that it was a big day and I wouldn’t experience another milestone like this. I have a few pics from that day, but they’re a bit faded now.  I often think back of my family walking up from my house to Deerfield Park in Manchester to watch the fireworks.  Fireworks bring out the little kid in me. They capture an “awe factor” It’s a reminder of Freedom to me and having an appreciation of that freedom. 

 

Growing up when I did in NH, civics was important. I learned a lot about NH government as well as the nation’s. I think the one of the lasting impressions I have from that period is that “Fair” means a lot.  And it’s important to me that I’m a fair minded person. 

 

In 1986, I entered military service on 8 July.  Not quite the 4^th, but I remember the spirit of patriotism was soaring high in the nation. It was the time of Reagan, and I was very proud to serve under Reagan as a president. 

 

Between 1986-to about 2005ish, the 4^th meant a time to relax, enjoy the lazy summer day, BBQ, fly your flag and tip your hat to American’s birthday with a fireworks display.  Then in 2005, our family went to Avalon, CA on Catalina Island for the 4^th.  It was amazing.  Nothing said “home” California style than the golf cart parade and the USC marching band.  After a BBQ on the beach, we went and saw the fireworks on the beach in Avalon. We went to Avalon from about 2005 to 2012. It was a memorable time for us and the boys. They still have warm memories of the 4^th.  So to all the founding fathers – thank you. 

 

Home of the Brave and Land of the Free. 

We have a Republic. Let’s keep it. 

Happ 4th to the USA!!

 

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."

 

 

Fun Facts: 

 

John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, 2 of our founding fathers, died on the same day - 4^th July 1826.  50 years after the Declaration of Independence. 

 

200 copies of the Declaration of Independence were drafted, but only 27 are accounted for.

 

Congress declared the 4^th of July an official holiday - in 1870!

 

The Star Spangled Banner was inspired by the War of 1812. A poem put to music, it became the USA's official national anthem in 1931.

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My story, Arrow Through the Heart takes place in New Hampshire around the 4th of July.  Logan & Ella have a fun celebrating, but danger surrounds Ella. Can Logan help to keep her safe?

Buy Arrow Through the Heart

 

 

 

Honoring Memorial Day during a Pandemic

Memorial Day Thoughts for 2020

A lot of citizens think of Memorial Day as the informal start to the summer. They make plans to visit the beach, the lake, and plan an awesome BBQ meal. As a veteran, Memorial Day holds a more solemn meaning in my heart, and this year we’re all challenged to find the appropriate way to celebrate while social distancing.

BEHIND THE DAY: 

Memorial Day was known as Dedication Day and born out of the ashes of the Civil War. Waterloo, New York is considered the birthplace of the holiday. In 1866, several citizens got together and decorated the graves of the Civil War dead with flowers and flags. They also honored their war dead with a moment of silence. Soon after, parades became a staple of the holiday. It’s also a tradition to lower the flag to half-staff to honor the war dead.

 After World War I, these traditions expanded to include all of the war dead from all wars.  I tried to do some research on the 1919 Memorial Day (then known as Dedication Day) while the Spanish Flu was ravaging the world, but my research was spotty.  Several towns continued to hold their Decoration Day parades to honor their war dead and veterans. The Ironton Lawrence County parade was held that year (as reported in the Daily Dispatch out of Huntington WV). There were 2,400 people in attendance and “full honor was paid to the soldier boys, living and dead…”

In 1966, President Lyndon Johnson changed the name from Decoration Day to Memorial Day and it was finally recognized as a federal holiday in 1971. 

 

Joe's Cub Scout Pack, Joe is the last one on the right

BRINGING IT HOME/MODERN DAY PERSPECTIVE

Both my boys have been active in the Scouts BSA program. Since 2007, when my oldest was a tiger cub, his Cub Scout Pack would coordinate with the local cemetery to place flags on the graves of veterans to honor Memorial Day.  They’d get dressed up in their scouting uniforms and place the flags with their adult leaders assisting. I thought it was a great way to not only teach, but honor those who had served their county.

This year Scouts BSA is unable to hold such an event due to the pandemic involving COVID 19. So what can we do to honor the holiday in 2020? 

I have to work half the day, but before I go to work, I’m planning on flying my flag and I’m going to get a plant from Home Depot. I’ll be planting my plant in the front yard when I get home after I change into an Old Navy flag shirt, flying my flag, and offering a moment silence at my house in honor of my Uncle Harold who fought in World War II before I start my BBQ.  Uncle Harold recently passed away in Massachusetts, so while I can’t be there, I hope to hold him close to my heart here in California. I’ll have my boys help me plant my plant. 

IDEAS

If you have a loved one you’d like to honor at a nearby cemetery, I might suggest reaching out to the cemetery and finding out what their guidance is; will they allow you to visit? Decorate a grave with flowers or a flag? If not, maybe set aside in your yard or a use a planter to plant a small plant/flower and place a flag. You could put it on your balcony.  YouTube is a great source to find out more information about the holiday or even pull up an old parade. And when you’re ready to BBQ in your backyard, maybe you could play some patriotic songs? Suggestions, only. 

Here’s a fun video geared for younger kids about Memorial Day: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YCJApBnLcAo

Question for you: How do you plan to celebrate Memorial Day? 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Stephanie Burkhart is a 911 dispatcher for LAPD. Her story, "First Flag of New Hampshire," is available in paperback and as an ebook on Amazon.  Can Aly and Miguel find the missing flag for their history assignment? 

An American Hero

Post #2 of Memorial Day Weekend 2020

Losing a loved one while they are in the military on active duty can be heartbreaking. And it was heartbreaking for the thousands of civilians who lost loved ones in the Civil War. One of the ways to find comfort is to lay flowers or flags on the graves of those who gave their life in service to this country. The citizens of Waterloo, NY in 1866 are generally credited for the beginning of a tradition that eventually led to Memorial Day.  Wanting to honor their Civil War dead, they decorated those graves with flowers, flags, and offered a moment of silence.  Originally known as “Decoration Day,” the name was changed to Memorial Day by President Lyndon Johnson in 1966.  Nowadays, Memorial Day doesn’t just honor those who gave their lives in the Civil War, but in all the wars that the United States has been involved in.

So much has been written about World War II, but I didn’t know very many personal stories.  I knew my Grandpa had been in the war, but honestly, I don’t know his story.  He passed away when I was 15 and I never really got to ask him about it. My husband’s grandfather was in the Navy in the Pacific. I always knew my Uncle Harold had been in the war, but I don’t remember him really telling me tales about his experiences. I remember when I visited him in 1991 with my husband, we brought an old WW II map we found in the basement of the Bad Hersfeld police station and he appreciated it.  He told us some of the places he went to, but he didn’t tell me any real stories.  If he did, it’s my fault I don’t remember them.  I do remember he was proud of my service in my military.  It was unspoken.  It was his knowing smile, his questions, and his curiosity about what Germany was like that communicated his approval to me. (I was stationed in Germany from 1986-88 and 1989-1992, 40 years after he left.)

My Uncle Harold was drafted into the Army National Guard in 1942 and in February 1944 he was sent to Britain. He landed on Omaha Beach on 10 June 1944. He was an Engineer (30^th Infantry Division, 105^thCombat Engineers) and an expert on the Browning 50 Cal machine gun. His troop was involved in the Battle of Bulge and his unit was one of the first ones to enter Holland and Belgium. He liberated two or three concentration camps to include Buchenwald. My husband and I visited Buchenwald in 1990, 45 years after he liberated it! He was 22 years old in World War II. Shortly after arriving on Omaha Beach, he broke down, but pushed past his fear.  Once he was battle hardened he said, “As time goes on, you get to be a zombie. You’ve had no sleep, you’re tired, and things don’t worry you as much as they did at the start.” 

Harold Williams

For his heroic actions, Uncle Harold was awarded the Legion of Honor from the French Government at the age of 91 in 2013. I wish I had been there to see that. He passed away in July 2018. On Memorial Day this year, I’m going to place my flag on my house and honor him with a moment of silence before I go to work, because even now that I’m no longer in the military, his courage and bravery still inspire me. 

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Stephanie Burkhart is a 911 dispatcher with LAPD.  She served in the US Army from 1986-1997. Her Uncle Harold served from 1942-1945. She is a Children’s book author published with 4RV Publishing.  Her book, “First Flag of New Hampshire” is available in Kindle and as a paperback from 4RV Publishing.  

Check out the video for the book here:  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cIyKiMxpdU8&t=4s

4th of July Fun Facts 2016 #4thofJuly

The United States is turning 240 years old this year! That's amazing. Here are some really cool facts about our nation and the 4^th of July:

John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, 2 of our founding fathers, died on the same day - 4^th July 1826.  50 years after the Declaration of Independence.

200 copies of the Declaration of Independence were drafted, but only 27 are accounted for.

Congress declared the 4^th of July an official holiday - in 1870!

The Star Spangled Banner was inspired by the War of 1812. A poem put to music, it became the USA's official national anthem in 1931.

President Calvin Coolidge was born on the 4^th of July - in 1872!

Benjamin Franklin was 70 years old when he signed the Declaration of Independence.

Really?? 87% of American flags are made in China.

The Declaration of Independence was written on hemp paper.

It's all about the Fireworks!

The 4^th wouldn't be the 4^th without fireworks. 97% of fireworks in the USA come from China.

My favorite place to celebrate the 4^th of July is on Catalina Island. I love watching the fireworks explode over the bay. I also like seeing the golf cart parade. There's always a lot of variety. The USC marching band opens up the parade and plays in the casino in the evening. There's plenty of time to BBQ, too!

And the 4^th wouldn't be the 4^th without my Old Navy Flag Shirt.

The 4^th is a fun holiday to celebrate the birth of a nation, but let's not forget how unique it is. 

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."

Have a great 4^th and thanks for stopping by!

Question: What do you do to make the 4^th special for you?

Memorial Day Reflections 2016 #memorialday

Memorial Day is a time to honor our war dead. Born out of the ashes of the Civil War, Memorial Day honors all the war dead from every war we've been involved with. 

War requires bravery, courage, and a fearlessness many of us don't possess. It requires skill most of us don't have - rifle shooting, pistol shooting, and accuracy when throwing a grenade.

As I was researching today's post, I came across a solider who fought in World War I. His heroism and bravery struck a note in me and I wanted to share his story.  This is what Memorial Day is all about.

Henry Johnson with his Croix de Guerre 

Henry Johnson was born in 1892 in Winston-Salem, NC. He moved to New York and entered the service in 1917, joining the "Harlem Hellfighters," all black National Guard unit.  This unit was one of the first African-American units in World War I on the French battlefield. When the unit arrived in France, sadly, white American units refused to fight alongside the Harlem Hellfighters.  General John J. Pershing attached Henry's unit to a French one. The French soldiers were happy to have the Harlem Hellfighters.

May 14, 1918, Henry and another soldier, Needham Roberts, were on sentry duty in the Argonne Forest.  Just after 2 am, their position was attacked by 20 Germans. Outmaned, Henry fought back.  Henry's partner, Needham, was injured and unable to shoot back. Henry fought fiercely with his rifle and grenades. When his weapon jammed, he used it as a club, and when it fell apart, he used his knife to fight the Germans. The raiding party fell back.

Henry received 21 wounds, but had over a dozen casualties. Henry fought with bravery and courage, and was willing to give up his life in the face of such adversity. The French gave him one of their highest military honors - The Croix de Guerre in 1918. This is France's highest award given for bravery and Henry was the first American to receive this award.

I thought his story ended there, but upon my research, I discovered more.

My son, Joe, placing flags on Memorial Day 2015 

Henry went back to the US.  He participated in a welcome home parade and even gave lectures. However, when he spoke of the abuse he suffered at the hands of American white soldiers, the lectures dried up.

In September 1927, the Veterans bureau certified he had a 100 percent disability due to tuberculosis. He passed away in 1929 and was buried at the Arlington National Cemetery.

In 1996, the United States posthumously awarded Henry the Purple Heart. In 2003 he received the Distinguished Service Cross. In June 2015, President Barak Obama gave Henry the Medal of Honor, the nation's highest military award.  Part of his Medal Honor award reads:  "Private Johnson held back the enemy force until they retreated. Private Johnson’s extraordinary heroism and selflessness went above and beyond the call of duty.

His actions are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army."

Henry was 36 years old when he died.  Thank you Sergeant Johnson for your bravery, your courage, your inner strength in the face of adversity, and your service.

My son, Andrew placing flags on Memorial Day 2015

Question for you: Do you have a loved one in the military, or do you know of a family member in the service?  Which branch are they in? I'd love to hear your stories.