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Weekly News May 28, 2012Description
Memorial Day (1868-2012): I have always liked Memorial Day, also called Decoration Day in the past, because of what it stands for and the time of year in which it occurs. In the Weekly News of May 25, 2009, and May 30, 2011, I wrote about this solemn day and some remembrances I had of it. It is worth thinking back to how it all started.
There are stories of how women in the south began decorating graves of Confederate soldiers even before the War between the States had ended. At the conclusion of this war, it became mostly a northern holiday, first when soldiers’ graves in the Quaker settlement of Waterloo, New York, were decorated in the mid-1860s. General John Logan, commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, proclaimed May 30, 1868, as the first nationally recognized Memorial Day, and flowers were placed on all the graves in Arlington National Cemetery. In 1873, New York became the first state to proclaim May 30 as a legal holiday, and by 1890 all northern states had done so. The southern states, realizing the new tradition applied mostly to fallen heroes of the North, ignored the holiday for the next 50 years.
In 1915, as World War I was raging in Europe, Moina Michael started the tradition of wearing red poppies, and in 1922, the VFW began selling artificial poppies as a fundraiser for disabled veterans, widows, and orphans. Realizing that this effort was nationwide and not simply to memorialize Civil War veterans, the southern states gradually celebrated May 30 along with the rest of the country. The tradition even spread to countries of western Europe that had suffered great human casualties during World War I.
In 1971, Congress passed legislation proclaiming the last Monday in May (whether May 30 fell during the long weekend or not) as a legal holiday so government employees could enjoy a three-day weekend. While it may not have been intended, the true meaning of Memorial Day and what it stood for was all but lost for millions of Americans. Realizing what had happened, Senator Inouye of Hawaii introduced a bill in 1999 to restore May 30 as the official Memorial Day. A similar bill was introduced in the House of Representatives. These bills have not been discussed or brought to a vote in either chamber.
The Memorial Day (May 28, 2012) Parade in Kennett Square terminates at Union Hill Cemetery on the north side of town. I should visit the cemetery, as I did several times on May 30 many years ago when my mother decorated graves. Many Marshalls are buried there, including Israel and Lizzie.
Work Report: There was no work session on Tuesday night, when 46 volunteers attended our group meeting. Steve Bryce, president of the Board, Susan Randolph, Executive Director of FAHP, and Dan Citron, site manager for the State’s Division of Parks, conducted the meeting in the Marshall Steam Museum. It was mostly an informational session, intended to bring volunteers up-to-date on Board decisions, exciting happenings around Auburn Heights, and plans for the upcoming 2012 season. Our two interns, Jenn Green and Jesse Gagnon, who will begin with us within the next month, were introduced. Those in attendance said they would welcome at least two such meetings each year.
On Thursday, 15 volunteers attended the regular work session. Work continued on the 1914 Model 607, including the start of piping in the pump box. The next major step will be lifting the new boiler into the chassis and the beginning of the piping under the hood. Touch-up painting on the car’s body continues. The water level indicator on the 1916 Model 725 was cleaned out and readjusted. This car is about ready to return to full service. The batteries for the Rauch & Lang electric were further charged and tested, and the car is expected to carry passengers around the grounds on our first Steamin’ Day on June 3. A loose hanger strap on the 1918 Model 735 was fixed, and packings were snugged up on this car after its run to Linvilla on May 20. The two Packards have been checked over, the 1937 is approved for use, but the ’32 has a faulty fuel pump that requires our attention. More firewood for the Auburn Valley locomotives was delivered by Lou Mandich and has been split and made ready to use. The hand kerosene pump under the shed was hooked up again, following the removal of underground tanks. We were pleased to welcome back Art Wallace after his three months in New Zealand, Ed Paschall, after his close call in the hospital while undergoing an ear operation, and Paul Kratunis, a young man who will be 20 this summer. The railroad is being prepared for its use on June 3 (and for a wedding on June 9), and a track gang is expected to work on Memorial Day, May 28. Three of our Stanleys expect to participate in Kennett Square’s Memorial Day parade on Monday.
Those on hand Thursday were Dave Leon (in charge), Bob Jordan (in charge of 607 restoration), Richard Bernard, Ted Kamen, Geoff Fallows, Jim Personti, Steve Bryce, Mark Russell, Lou Mandich, Ed Paschall, Art Wallace, Tim Nolan, Anne Cleary, Paul Kratunis, and Tom Marshall.
Stanley driving lessons for those wanting to learn will be worked into our schedule, sometimes on work nights. We have six candidates and three instructors, Steve Bryce, Kelly Williams, and Tom Marshall, so it will be one-on-two teacher to student ratio. The teachers will be contacting the candidates assigned to them very shortly, and mutually convenient times for these lessons will be established. Bill Schwoebel will also have some locomotive training sessions, also in the next month. The shop procedures meeting will be held on Thursday, June 7 at 7:00 in the shop and museum, at which time a plan to acclimate new volunteers will be suggested. Our first Ice Cream Run of the season will be on Tuesday, June 12.
