451

The Original Memorial Day

HEADQUARTERS GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC
General Orders No.11, WASHINGTON, D.C., May 5, 1868

i. The 30th day of May, 1868, is designated for the purpose of strewing with flowers or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion, and whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village, and hamlet church-yard in the land. In this observance no form of ceremony is prescribed, but posts and comrades will in their own way arrange such fitting services and testimonials of respect as circumstances may permit.

We are organized, comrades, as our regulations tell us, for the purpose among other things, "of preserving and strengthening those kind and fraternal feelings which have bound together the soldiers, sailors, and marines who united to suppress the late rebellion." What can aid more to assure this result than cherishing tenderly the memory of our heroic dead, who made their breasts a barricade between our country and its foes? Their soldier lives were the reveille of freedom to a race in chains, and their deaths the tattoo of rebellious tyranny in arms. We should guard their graves with sacred vigilance. All that the consecrated wealth and taste of the nation can add to their adornment and security is but a fitting tribute to the memory of her slain defenders. Let no wanton foot tread rudely on such hallowed grounds. Let pleasant paths invite the coming and going of reverent visitors and fond mourners. Let no vandalism of avarice or neglect, no ravages of time testify to the present or to the coming generations that we have forgotten as a people the cost of a free and undivided republic.

If other eyes grow dull, other hands slack, and other hearts cold in the solemn trust, ours shall keep it well as long as the light and warmth of life remain to us.

Let us, then, at the time appointed gather around their sacred remains and garland the passionless mounds above them with the choicest flowers of spring-time; let us raise above them the dear old flag they saved from his honor; let us in this solemn presence renew our pledges to aid and assist those whom they have left among us a sacred charge upon a nation's gratitude, the soldier's and sailor's widow and orphan.

ii. It is the purpose of the Commander-in-Chief to inaugurate this observance with the hope that it will be kept up from year to year, while a survivor of the war remains to honor the memory of his departed comrades. He earnestly desires the public press to lend its friendly aid in bringing to the notice of comrades in all parts of the country in time for simultaneous compliance therewith.

iii. Department commanders will use efforts to make this order effective.

By order of
JOHN A. LOGAN,
Commander-in-Chief

N.P. CHIPMAN,
Adjutant General
Official:

WM. T. COLLINS, A.A.G.

Veteran's Day Concert

The 451st Army Band performs on Veteran's Day, Nov. 11, 2006, at Bethel University in Roseville. It is free and open to the public. No tickets are required. The concert begins at 7:00pm.

Trumpet player-turned-Green Beret earns Silver Star

From an Army Times article:

FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. — An Army trumpet player turned Green Beret was awarded Thursday with a Silver Star, the Army’s third highest award for combat valor.

Staff Sgt. Charles Good was credited with exposing himself to enemy fire on the Syrian/Iraqi border to assist in getting a critically wounded comrade into a Humvee, then negotiating in Arabic a ride from an Iraqi man for them when the Humvee became crippled by enemy fire.

“Something took over me,” said Good, 34, of Altoona, Pa., after the brief ceremony. “That’s pretty much how it was.”

Continue reading "Trumpet player-turned-Green Beret earns Silver Star"

Tribute To Freedom Concert

The 451st Army Band performs its annual Tribute To Freedom Concert Saturday, November 13, 2004, 7:00pm, at Benson Great Hall at Bethel College. Click on the poster for a larger image. You can also click here for a high quality PDF version.

Green Bay

From Joyce:

ASHWAUBENON — As music from the 451st Army Reserve Band filled the air Sunday, Randy Brey leaned over to fellow Family Readiness Group member Kathy Ammerman and joked about getting nearby members together for a group hug.
One by one, family and friends who had waited nervously as their loved ones in the Ashwaubenon-based 432nd Civil Affairs Battalion spent roughly a year in Iraq locked arms, thanking one another for their gracious support.

It was a moment of spontaneity steeped in heartfelt emotion.

Sure, hugs and tears had been shared before. But Sunday’s contained an almost surreal mixture of relief, sadness and joy.

In many ways, the 432nd’s public welcome home — which kicked off with a parade and included an hour-long ceremony in front of the Brown County Veterans Memorial — was a salute to two kinds of families banded together by sacrifice.

There were kindred spirits, like those belonging to the Family Readiness Group, who found ways to cope with and temper their loneliness together while those close to them were deployed.

There were also fathers and sons, brothers and sisters, husbands and wives who have since been reunited but won’t soon forget the time they spent apart.

Pictures of the event available here:
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/photogallery/432ndparade/

Continue reading "Green Bay"

A Letter from Mom

The U.S. Army Field Band is featured in this article on the U.S. Army homepage. They presented A Letter from Mom in Mansfield, OH on June 30. In attendance was the author of the letter, Tammy Ketteman, whose son is deployed in Afghanistan.

The presentation is a reading of the letter over the playing of Nimrod, a piece well known to the 451st. The Field Band has a Flash presentation of the piece, with slideshow, available on their website. You can view it at the following links:

High speed
Medium
Low (dialup)

Group at Italian Embassy

Entire Italy tour group (except for JJ, who was taking the shot).

Previous 10 entries...

Azores May 30, 2004
Where Were You When? May 18, 2004
DoD Celebrates Jazz Appreciation Month May 14, 2004
Classic Brass Summer Schedule May 5, 2004
Fort Hood welcomes 4th ID Soldiers home Apr 29, 2004
Fishy Pictures Apr 16, 2004
New Links Page Apr 14, 2004
1st Cav Band Performs Easter Sunrise in Baghdad Apr 13, 2004
Out Playing in the Field Apr 13, 2004
Dance Band at 646th Apr 11, 2004