Honor and Patriotism
The local Boy Scout, Troop 199. place flags next to veterans stones at the St Mary’s Catholic Cemetery.
I had the pleasure of helping a local Boy Scout troop place flags at the graves of our local veterans for Memorial Day. The St Mary’s Catholic Cemetary is quite expansive for a small, rural area. It isn’t just a lawn full of stones, but there are suprises here. Each stone represents a life lived and real life breathing person.
It took over a dozen people more than an hour to make sure all of these service men received a flag. These men put their lives in danger to fight for the freedoms and rights that we have today. I only included a picture of a few stones who received flags because there are so many of them scattered among the large cemetery.
The origin of Memorial Day goes back to May 20, 1868, when a Union veterans association started decorating graves with flowers. The practice already started in Waterloo, New York in 1866. On May 5th in New York, it was formally observed by the community. Waterloo is considered the birthplace of the holiday. Today, people decorate all graves with flowers, but our dead fighting men receive flags as a way of honoring their service. I personally believe that the St Mary’s Catholic Cemetary should be on registered as a state or local landmark because of the historic value of the cemetery. Furthermore, it has peculiar German elements to it that are not found in average burial grounds.
The first World War presented a unique challenger to the citizens of St Mary’s. This was a community that cherished their German heritage. On April 4th, 1917 the United States declared war on Germany. Previously some of the more prosperous families in town were sending their children to Germany, the Vaterland, to further their education. The older members of the community were conflicted because they honored their homeland, but now they were asked to choose American patriotism over their connection to Germany.
There was a great patriotic meeting on April 15, 1917, at the Temple Theater. The residents of St Mary’s pulled together in unity in support of their country. The Diamond Jubilee was cancelled so that the members of the community could prove their unity in standing behind the United States and the war effort.
Many of the local boys enlisted and traveled overseas to Europe. They became honorable men who served their country with pride. The US flag was flying high when some of those boys gave their life for their country in World War 1. The twins, Frank and Joe Bauer, grandsons of John Baptist Bauer, who served in World War 1.
Unfortunately, because St Mary’s was a mere settlement in the wilderness in the 1840s through the 1860s, there were not very many Civil War veterans. However, those men served in the Pennsylvania Bucktails, the 42 Pennsylvania Infantry, 1st Pennsylvania Rifles, and the 13th Pennsylvania Reserve.
The Gausmans as far as I am aware did not have either Civil War or World War 1 veterans. However, their family line includes many World War 2, Korean Conflict, and Vietnam Conflict. Men who served with honor and distinction, just like this men on riding on the camels in Egypt. Did you notice the great pyramid of Giza in the background? That is one of the perks of service in the military, the potential to see the great wonders of the world.
Have a glorious Memorial Day and remember all of those who died for the freedoms we all possess. Never take those for granted
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Love this tribute and the history Rainey! What a special day honoring these brave men. Hope you have a good week. ox