|
Posted on 12/24/2005 9:08:05 PM PST by SAMWolf
|
|
 are acknowledged, affirmed and commemorated.
|
| Our Mission: The FReeper Foxhole is dedicated to Veterans of our Nation's military forces and to others who are affected in their relationships with Veterans. In the FReeper Foxhole, Veterans or their family members should feel free to address their specific circumstances or whatever issues concern them in an atmosphere of peace, understanding, brotherhood and support. The FReeper Foxhole hopes to share with it's readers an open forum where we can learn about and discuss military history, military news and other topics of concern or interest to our readers be they Veteran's, Current Duty or anyone interested in what we have to offer. If the Foxhole makes someone appreciate, even a little, what others have sacrificed for us, then it has accomplished one of it's missions. We hope the Foxhole in some small way helps us to remember and honor those who came before us.
|
|
Holiday observances during the American Civil War  Click the flag  Lonely camp scene from an 1862 Harper's Weekly entitled "Christmas Eve". Even with all the sorrow that hangs, and will forever hang, over so many households; even while war still rages; even while there are serious questions yet to be settled - ought it not to be, and is it not, a merry Christmas?" Harper's Weekly, December 26, 1863  Harper's Weekly depicts a family separated by war in its January 3,1863 edition. For a nation torn by civil war, Christmas in the 1860s was observed with conflicting emotions. Nineteenth-century Americans embraced Christmas with all the Victorian trappings that had moved the holiday from the private and religious realm to a public celebration. Christmas cards were in vogue, carol singing was common in public venues, and greenery festooned communities north and south. Christmas trees stood in places of honor in many homes, and a mirthful poem about the jolly old elf who delivered toys to well-behaved children captivated Americans on both sides of the Mason-Dixon line. But Christmas also made the heartache for lost loved ones more acute. As the Civil War dragged on, deprivation replaced bounteous repasts and familiar faces were missing from the family dinner table. Soldiers used to "bringing in the tree" and caroling in church were instead scavenging for firewood and singing drinking songs around the campfire. And so the holiday celebration most associated with family and home was a contradiction. It was a joyful, sad, religious, boisterous, and subdued event.  "The Christmas Tree" by F. A. Chapman. Many of the holiday customs we associate with Christmas today were familiar to 1840s celebrants. Christmas cards were popularized that decade and Christmas trees were a stylish addition to the parlor. By the 1850s, Americans were singing "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear," "Oh Little Town of Bethlehem," and "Away in a Manger" in public settings. In 1850 and 1860, Godey's Lady's Book featured Queen Victoria's tabletop Christmas tree, placed there by her German husband Prince Albert. Closer to home, in December, 1853, Robert E. Lee's daughter recorded in her diary that her father - then superintendent at West Point - possessed an evergreen tree decorated with dried and sugared fruit, popcorn, ribbon, spun glass ornaments, and silver foil. Clement Clarke Moore, a religious scholar who for decades was too embarrassed to claim authorship of the 1822 poem, "A Visit From St. Nicholas," was now well-known for his tribute to Santa Claus. "Santa Claus" made his first public appearance in a Philadelphia department store in 1849, marking the advent of holiday commercialism. For enslaved African Americans, the Christmas season often meant a mighty bustle of cooking, housekeeping, and other chores. "Reward" for these efforts was a suspension of duties for a day or two and the opportunity for singing, dancing, and possible brief reunions with separated family members. Further gestures of "goodwill" by masters who saw themselves as benevolent owners were small and the semi-annual clothing allotment. By 1860, many worried about civil unrest, fearful this Christmas would be the last before the outbreak of war. An Arkansas diarist writes: "Christmas has come around in the circle of time, but is not a day of rejoicing. Some of the usual ceremonies are going on, but there is gloom on the thoughts and countenances of all the better portion of our people."
|
Hi miss Feather
We all grew up good...by the Grace of God.
Good morning Mayor.
Good morning feather.
Snippy, what is the cat's name??
Enjoying Egg Nog lattes toady?
On This Day In History
Birthdates which occurred on December 28:
1631 Ludolf Backhuysen Dutch seascape painter/cartoonist
1763 John Molson founded Montréal brewery (Molson Canadian)
1822 William Booth Taliaferro Brigadier-General (Confederate Army), died in 1898
http://www.historycentral.com/bio/CWcGENS/CSATaliaferro.html1823 Thomas Alexander Scott Assistant Secretary War (Union), died in 1881
1833 Charles Miller Shelley Brigadier-General (Confederate Army), died in 1907
1835 Archibald Geikie British geologist
1856 [Thomas] Woodrow Wilson, Staunton Va, (28 pres-D-1912-21, Nobel 1919)
1895 Auguste Lumiere twin brother of Louis who opened 1st commercial cinema
National Chocolate Day
1895 Louis Lumiere twin brother of Auguste who opened 1st commercial cinema
1905 Cliff Arquette Toledo OH, comedian (Charlie Weaver)
1905 Earl "Fatha" Hines Duquesne PA, jazz pianist (Deep Forest)
1911 Sam Levenson New York NY, humorist (Sam Levenson Show, Masquerade Party)
1917 Ellis Clarke President of Trinidad & Tobago (1976-87)
1921 Johnny Otis R&B singer
1924 Rod Serling, Syracuse NY, writer/host (Twilight Zone, Night Gallery)
1927 Martin Milner (actor: Adam 12)
1933 Jack Perkins Cleveland OH, newscaster (Prime Time Sunday, NBC Magazine)
1936 Nichelle Nichols Robbins IL, actress (Uhura-Star Trek)
1954 Denzel Washington Mount Vernon NY, actor
1981 Elizabeth Jordan Carr 1st American test tube baby
After all the goodies floating around the office, all I have to say is:
Give me chocolate, and somebody gets hurt!
The winner is "Colonel". The reason the customer chose Colonel is so the cat ranks above the dog...but we know that can't be true. :-)
Don't call me toady..lol. I plan on enjoying either the eggnog or my old standby a caramel macchiato. I'll be thinking of you. ;-)
Did someone say chocolate?
My wife's grandfather (a WWI veteran) wondered about a "merry Christmas" in 1944, as the country was gripped with anxiety about the 101st Airborne besieged in Bastogne. He thought if the soldiers wouldn't have a Christmas dinner, maybe the civilians back home shouldn't either. There's a nice family photo of grandpa, son-in-law and grandson all in Army uniforms (yes, they still fit!). WWI, WWII and Vietnam eras.
You're an ex-con and you go by the nickname "Toady". It's cute! Was that the name they gave you when you were in the joint?
xoxoxo
speaking of egg nog... we have all the ingredients for egg nog. Let's try out great-grandmother's recipe tonight!
... and as for the cat's name.. I'd'a' named him George, I think, after Mr. Washington, of course.
We finally settled on Lucy-Lou and Lily-Sue. That is much better than what we started with. Karateboy originally thought up Houdini and Juice-box.
Twist my arm a little harder.
Claws1 and Claws2 would work also.
You should scan the photo and post it here.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
