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Today, the in laws and I attended the dedication of a World War II monument in Hamilton, Massachusetts. The high school band played, school kids read "In Flanders Fields" the fire and police color guards marched and the local pols ran down the vocabulary of "fight for freedom" "greatest generation" "Americans who gave the ultimate sacrifice" although they(the speakers) didn't look as if they had sacrificed as much as gin and tonic personally.
We were there because my wife's uncle flew in for the occasion: he was born and raised in Hamiliton and had been a WWII vet, then made a career in the Army. One of the names on the monument is famous: George S. Patton was also a Hamilton resident. The town is graced with the "Patton Peace Park" the only peace park I know that has two howitzers and a Sherman tank.
In the middle of the American Legion commander's remarks, the proceedings got unpleasantly interesting, my 9 year old pitched over in a faint. A police officer brought us into an air conditioned office in town hall, got her some cold water, and in a few minutes she was fine. As we were leaving, a few concerned people asked what had happened and if the little girl was OK. "She's fine," I replied. "I pushed her down myself, to have an excuse to skip the speeches."
Last edited by matthew mckeon : 09-17-2006 at 08:09 PM.
Matt, it's pretty cool that you're exposing your kids to history early, through these local events, like your trip to Lexington and the pancake breakfast etc. a while back. I think kids should learn about the history of the country. If they choose not to pursue the study of it later on, at least they'll have a little knowledge and a basic foundation built upon the events of the past to use as a reference when processing current history. Hope your little girl is feeling better now.
Terry
__________________ "In this great struggle, this form of Government and every form of human right is endangered if our enemies succeed. There is more involved in this contest than is realized by every one." Abraham Lincoln - August 18, 1864 Speech to the 164th Ohio Regiment
I understand that the go ahead will be given today for a monument to be built and dedicated to President Dwight David 'IKE' Eisenhower. This will be on The Mall in Washington DC. It is overdue for the great man.
Met Raymond W. Clayton, a B-29 pilot the other day and bought his book ($27 delivered). We were talking about the B-29 and I told him that my family was very grateful for the Enola Gay & Bock's Car for dropping the bombs on Japan. It meant my uncle didn't have to fly in a B-17 in that theatre. They figured they were cooked meat since the B-17 wasn't much in comparison to the B-29. He told me that he wrote a book and I bought a copy. Before leaving, I shook his hand and thanked him for serving. His email is ww2clanton@hotmail.com and his website is www.b29flyer.com
Thanks for the heads up on that Gary. It's a cool web site, and I read some interesting info about the B-29 that I didn't know before visiting his site. I'm going to drop him a line through his email address and thank him as well. Just wish I could shake his hand too.
Terry
__________________ "In this great struggle, this form of Government and every form of human right is endangered if our enemies succeed. There is more involved in this contest than is realized by every one." Abraham Lincoln - August 18, 1864 Speech to the 164th Ohio Regiment
I'm teaching World War 2 and the Holocaust through two reading books (Number the Stars and The Devil's Arithematic)...great books. I'm also giving my class history on the two using interactive timeline websites that I've found at historyplace.com and my background knowledge. We will conclude the unit with a Veterans' Luncheon sometime in November and the kids will get to design their own Holocaust Memorials. I'm REALLY looking forward to it, so are the kids.
Bart
__________________ "Thank You....Noooo."
Major Charles Emerson Winchester III M.A.S.H. 4077th
Bart:
Are you compelled (personally, not officially) to combine the holocaust with the conditions leading to WWII? I can't imagine a WWII lesson plan that didn't at least hint at it. But, from my take, the holocaust was incidental. Genocide had nothing to do with eliminating the Nationalist So******t menace. It sounds really good in the retelling, and it adds another layer of horror to the Nazi threat. But this was really all after the fact, wasn't it?
At the time there was little attention placed on the plight of the Jews -- it was Hitler's designs on ruling Europe and eventually the world that started the ball rolling. Invading Poland tipped the switch, not krystallnacht, not the roundup, not the trains to Aushwitz, Buchenwald, et alii. (forgive, please, the spelling) Clue everybody! WWII in Europe was not waged to save Jews!
A heavy load for 6th graders. Maybe too much, too soon? Thank goodness you are there to keep it straight and appropriate.
Ole
__________________ I never knew a man who wished to be himself a slave. Consider if you know any good thing that no man desires for himself. A. Lincoln
That's a puzzlement. ****** is censored? Someone will have to explain how that is unacceptable.
Ole
__________________ I never knew a man who wished to be himself a slave. Consider if you know any good thing that no man desires for himself. A. Lincoln
Let's try this again. So******t. I was typing S o c i a l i s t. It comes out that c i a l i s is some sort of dirty word. I'll admit that my education in dirty words is less than ultimate, but I've never come across ******.
Ole
__________________ I never knew a man who wished to be himself a slave. Consider if you know any good thing that no man desires for himself. A. Lincoln
Let's try this again. So******t. I was typing S o c i a l i s t. It comes out that c i a l i s is some sort of dirty word. I'll admit that my education in dirty words is less than ultimate, but I've never come across ******.
Ole
Probably has something to do w/ CIA List...
Let Ami or Mike know... expect a wait as the little one is due at any moment. If not already on deck screaming for food.
__________________
Shane Christen
American Legion Post 352
SUVCW Camp Abernethy# 48
Lifetime NRA member
3rd MN VI
For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow. Eccl 1:18
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