For several decades, the cremated remains of more than two dozen American Civil War veterans languished in storage facilities at a funeral home and cemetery in Seattle.
The simple copper and cardboard urns gathering dust on shelves only had the name of each of the 28 soldiers — but nothing linking them to the Civil War. Still, that was enough for an organization dedicated to locating, identifying and interring the remains of unclaimed veterans to conclude over several years that they were all Union soldiers deserving of a burial service with military honors.
Thanks Wirecutter, for posting this. It made me look at the recent election in a new light, sort of. No matter how much Americans fight and disagree, at the end of the day, we need to remember that we all enter the same way and leave to face the same future.
ReplyDeleteI hope that we can somehow, someway, come together as a nation, and learn from the election that unless we unite, we will surely fail.
A soldier is a soldier is a soldier.
DeleteIndeed. Every Confederate soldier was granted Veterans status by Congress, just for that reason. They were all Americans in the end.
DeleteA wrong was righted. Gentlemen, please accept the long overdue honor due to your name and your family.
ReplyDelete-Just a chemist
"When you have someone who served in a war but especially this war, we want to honor them." I reckon I get what he is saying but it aint the war that's special buddy, it's the man.
ReplyDeleteBury Me With Soldiers by Charles R. Fink - 199TH Light Infantry
ReplyDeleteI've played a lot of roles in life;
I've met a lot of men.
I've done some things I'd like to think
I wouldn't do again.
And though I'm young, I'm old enough
to know some day I'll die,
And to think about what lies beyond,
beside whom I would lie.
Perhaps it doesn't matter much;
still, if I had my choice,
I'd want a grave 'mongst soldiers when
at last death quells my voice.
I'm sick of the hypocrisy
of lectures of the wise.
I'll take the man, with all the flaws,
who goes, though scared, and dies.
The troops I knew were commonplace
they didn't want the war;
They fought because their fathers and
their fathers had before.
They cursed and killed and wept---
God knows
they're easy to deride--
But bury me with men like these;
they faced the guns and died.
It's funny when you think of it,
the way we got along.
We'd come from different worlds
to live in one no one belongs.
I didn't even like them all;
I'm sure they'd all agree.
yet I would give my life for them,
I hope; some did for me.
So bury me with soldiers, please,
though much maligned they be.
Yes, bury me with soldiers, for
I miss their company.
We'll not soon see their like again;
we've had our fill of war.
But bury me with men like them
'till someone else does more.
All true ... but how did they end up in Seattle?
ReplyDeleteA boom town after the war drew many looking for a fresh start.
Delete