Announcements
Valued GMS Member: A reminder to please renew your annual dues in support of the society's mission.
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| | WELCOME NEW MEMBERS! The General Meade Society would like to welcome the following new members who joined the Society during the period April 2022 through April 2023: |
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| GENERAL MEADE SOCIETY OF PHILADELPHIA, INC.
P.O. BOX 45556
PHILADELPHIA, PA 19149 Founded 1996
The General Meade Society of Philadelphia is an educational non-profit & 501(c)(3) organization chartered by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The mission of the society is to promote and preserve the life and service of Maj-Gen. George Gordon Meade, (USA), commander of the Army of the Potomac.
The Executive Board of the General Meade Society of Philadelphia meets at the Cannstatter Volksfest Verein, 9130 Academy Road in Northeast Philadelphia. Meetings are held on the second Thursday of January, April, September and December; the starting time is 7:00 p.m., meetings are open to all society members, friends and guests.
To Contact the Meade Society:
https://generalmeadesociety.org
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| Travis Arnold Thomas Asselta Harry Bierbach Irving Meade Day IV Paul Eilbes John & Mary Farley Peggy Frankenberger John-david Franklin Ray Hahn Carol Hill Brian Jackson Mike & Laura Laue Peter Lomedico John McDonald Lewis & Carol Neilson Clare O’Reilly Irving Paris Ron Perisho Ruan Sexton Bryan Sigmund Joseph Smallberger Charles Townsley Matthew Whitehorn |
| Windsor, Pennsylvania Newfield, New Jersey East Greenville, Pennsylvania Charlotte, North Carolina Cedarburg, Wisconsin Warminster, Pennsylvania Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Millville, New Jersey Wallingford, Pennsylvania Conway, Arkansas Monroe, Michigan Sudbury, Massachusetts Norristown, Pennsylvania Villanova, Pennsylvania Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Howell Township, New Jersey Gettysburg, Pennsylvania Northbrook, Illinois West Deptford, New Jersey Blue Bell, Pennsylvania Elkton, Maryland Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
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| I am very pleased to report that the response to "FORGET NOT YOUR DUES" has been very well heeded!
From January through April, the General Meade Society has received $5,300.00 in dues and donations from YOU, our loyal supporters!!!
Among these were MIKE GABRIELE, PETE ROMEIKA, SCOTT SIGMUND, and JOHN VORIS who became LIFETIME MEMBERS of the General Meade Society. Also, we received a generous donation from our good friends ,members ,and supporters JAY & JACQUIE NEWMAN. Many, many thanks to all of you for your generosity and support.
As a result of your generous financial support, the General Meade Society has continued to support the following organizations with financial donations :
- The Friends of Laurel Hill/West Laurel Hill
- Camp Curtin Civil War Round Table
- Temple University Underground RR & Black History Conference
- Carpenter's Hall Restoration Fund
We hope you will also contribute to our ongoing Special Funds:
- The General Meade Society Foundation Fund(for the Meade School)
- The Fund for Historic Preservation
- The Wm. Boehmer/Betty McCormick (Billy & Betty) Memorial Fund
- The G.A.R. Post #1 Marker Fund
Please let me know if you would like further info about donating to these special funds. Meanwhile, for your convenience, I'm sure you appreciate that we now offer the ability to donate by credit or debit card. Just go to www.generalmeadesociety.org
On behalf of our board of directors, THANK YOU for helping to keep the General Meade Society of Philadelphia a strong and vital organization, dedicated to historic preservation and education.
Sincerely, Jerry McCormick, Treasurer |
| Meade's Contribution to Surveying
| Member John Voris who has been auditing college courses at West Chester University has been taking a course called History of Astronomy. His presentation at the end of this Spring semester was on the topic of Geodetic Mapping, which is the use of surveying the earth using astronomical alignments.
His Powerpoint presentation to the other 8 students in the class included: ancient odometers, chronograph timepieces created by the famous John Harrison used for determining Longitude of ships at sea in the 1700's, and a discussion of the Mason Dixon Line near Philadelphia and its accompanying problem with a small area called the Delaware Wedge.
The presentation also included George Meade's contribution as Chief Topographical Engineer in 1857 when he was surveying the Lower Michigan Peninsula. In Meade's published Survey of the Northern & Northwestern Lakes of the U.S. in 1860, he measured lake shores and navigation hazards and other criteria important for the expanding commerce on these inland waterways.
General Meade's contribution to surveying was the first use of a telegraph to compare the time difference between the celestial sightings at two different locations on the peninsula - which was then referred to as the American Method. This method did not require shipping a preset, synchronized clock to the second location in order to mark the time difference of the same event in the sky as seen from these two different locations.
Meade also had his own improvement on this new use of the telegraph. Rather than just recording the time difference seen at the western point of observation, he had both the east point and the west point record their time of seeing the same event in the night sky, and both time differences were then compared to ensure better accuracy of the readings. |
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Upcoming Events - Veterans'Flag Placement at Laurel Hill - May 21, 2023
- Memorial Day Observation - May 28, 2023
- The Meade Society Spring Excursion, June 10, 2023 -- Sold Out!
- Annual Baseball Outing, Phillies Vs. L.A. Angels, August 29, 2023
- GMS Fall Excursion, October 21-23,2023-THE HUDSON VALLEY & THE ROOSEVELTS.
Check the GMS website for upcoming details soon ! - Major Octavius V. Catto Honor Ceremony, Saturday, October 7, 2023, Catto Monument, Philadelphia, City Hall
- US Marine Corp Birthday Observance, November 10, 2023, Laurel Hill Cemetery
- Annual Champagne Brunch & Awards Ceremonies, Sunday, November 12, Cannsatter Volkfest-Verein, Philadelphia
- Remembrance Day at Gettysburg, PA, Saturday, November 18, 2023
- General Meade Birthday Celebration, December 31, 2023, Laurel Hill Cemetery
For complete details and registration (if required) click on the above links |
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In Memorium - A statement on our proposed speaker at the April 2, 2023 Meade Society symposium at West Laurel Hill Cemetery on the 'Mexican War' as training ground for many Civil War Commanders. It is a tribute to speak of Prof. Rick Trimble who tragically passed away a short time before the planned event.
Thoughts of Rick Trimble from members and friends:
“It is difficult to select one of the many experiences with Prof Trimble but I will try. I needed to take U.S History as part of my program at OCC. When I asked around, the one professor that came highly recommended by everyone was Prof. Trimble. However they never told me how unique and inspiring he was. During the Gettysburg trip I learned from him how living and important history is. Because of this, history became my content major for teaching certification”. Tony Mellilo ~
“I had the pleasure of having Professor Trimble at OCC for Russian History. His old school overhead projector and TV cart and VHS player will always make me smile when I think of him. I'll never forget the day he called me in his office to ask me, ‘Jim, what's your major?, I told him I wanted to be a high school history teacher, and his reply was, "Good, I knew from the start it was something like that. I would have encouraged you to become a teacher, but you're on your path already! I know you'll be a great teacher someday. I'm sure of it’. Here I am in my first year of teaching, thanks to some strong inspiration from a great man. May he be blessed and rest in peace. Thank you for everything Professor Trimble”. James Cascio ~
“It would be very difficult for me to isolate on one memory of Rick (My memories would fill a hundred newsletters), I was a Student, a student athlete (Coached by Rick), Coaching, Teaching Colleague and Friend for 52 years! He was a tremendous influence on my life. I still can't comprehend not having him around! I guess in relation to our Jersey Shore Civil War Roundtable the thing that sticks out is our yearly trips to Gettysburg and his guided tours of the battlefield. So many members and non-members looked forward to that trip with him and nobody was better! He was truly one of a kind”! Kim Kamaris ~
“I took a HISTORY OF RUSSIA course with Rick when I first moved to Ocean County....,by April it was terminated by covid, but in less than 10 classes rick gave me an appreciation of Russian history I could never have imagined without him.......for the rest of my life whenever I read or investigate some aspect of history I will always think of Rick Trimble.....some wise man once said ‘The greatest teacher is a student of his pupils’... that was Rick, always learning”,.....During my one and only course with Rick, he asked a question about some persona that had to do with the 3rd century....I volunteered an answer but Rick immediately pointed out that my answer was a little off by about 2 centuries. He then spent about 2 minutes detailing who and what I was talking about before getting back on track.....I attended 3 colleges in my lifetime plus numerous classes and seminars about my job etc.....I have never known anyone as astute about history as Rick......my particular historical favorite has always been the 20th century ,particularly WW 1 and the period in between and ww2 and the period after.....Rick was a gold mine of facts concerning these time periods....i could talk for hours with him......I greatly regret not knowing him earlier.....we talked about going to Gettysburg, Antietam and possibly Normandy someday.......maybe we will.........”
“We would like to express our sincerest condolences at the passing of Rick Trimble. He is a great loss to Civil War and Military history. With sympathy” Anthony (Andy) Waskie, Ph.D. president General Meade Society ~
“I’ll always have fond memories of Rick. He was a compassionate caring person who gave freely and selflessly of his time and himself. I knew Rick as a co-worker at OCC, a teacher who made learning fun, I was lucky to have taken a few of his classes, and a friend. His knowledge was amazing, from the classroom to his Gettysburg trips, which I was privileged to go on, to the JSCWRT which he invited me to join! He also was instrumental in procuring a piece of 9-11 steel which is on display in the OCC Library. He was an educator in every sense of the word who will be missed”. Debbie Daley ~
“I first met Professor Trimble at a Kean University Russian history class. The first thing I noticed before I even walked in was the smell of coffee! Yes, Professor Trimble rolled a coffee pot into the classroom and made fresh coffee at every class. He also rolled in his own overhead projector. (As many of you know, he has a strong aversion to computers. By the end of my second semester with him I understood: Professor Trimble doesn’t need a computer; he IS the computer!) Toward the end of my first class with him, he asked the class ‘Did I give you enough information? Is everything clear?’ My reply: ‘like drinking water from a fire hose’. The first class assignment was an oral presentation. I volunteered to go first. His feedback went like this: ‘well, you didn’t wow me, but you volunteered to go first so you get extra credit for that. Professor Trimble is the reason I edit this newsletter; One day he asked for help typing something up. Next thing I knew…..! ….. I have learned so much from Professor Trimble, am incredibly thankful for the time we worked together and will always remember him”. Debra Mandio ~ |
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April 16-22, 2023, is National Volunteer Week. Every volunteer makes a difference in our Veterans’ lives and enhances the Veteran experience. One of those volunteers is Albert El, a gallery curator volunteer at the Philadelphia VA museum.  It’s not unusual for El to show up in Civil War-era military uniform, as he did recently in February 2023 in honor of Black History Month. El has been a mainstay at the Philadelphia VA since 1998. As its volunteer museum curator for the last 25 years, he paints a vivid picture of military and Veteran history for employees, volunteers and Veterans who visit.
Veterans he meets experience a rejuvenated sense of pride. El has fostered deep connections among Veterans and staff at the medical center through his storytelling skills and magnetic presence. Paratrooper with 82nd Airborne El joined the military when he was 17 and served in the Air Force, Army and Army National Guard. From 1959 to 1964, he served in the 82nd Airborne as a paratrooper in Special Operations. El’s service spans other organizations, including the Civil Air Patrol for forty-five years. He was the Deputy Commander and Lieutenant Colonel at the West Philadelphia Composite Squadron 1006. Dedicated to preserving stories El has a striking presence wherever he goes, with his suits, imposing height and charisma. If anyone has a question about military heritage or local history, El is eager to answer, and he takes great pride in educating whenever possible. He is still active in Civil War re-enactments and often presents history talks and lectures for various organizations throughout Pennsylvania. El has been married to his wife Irene for 58 years and they have one son, Ahmed. His patriotism and dedication to preserving stories ensures that Veterans have another champion at VA and that their service is brought to life. We thank him for his continued service and encourage others to visit the VA volunteer website to learn more about volunteering opportunities in your area. |
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A MEMORIAL DAY TRIBUTE TO ONE WHO DIDN'T COME HOME By Jerry McCormick |
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 World War II combat deaths included over 291,000 American soldiers, many of which are buried in the places where they lost their lives in service to their country.
One of these brave soldiers was Lt. Maxwell McKeen Brown. Born and raised in Philadelphia ,he enlisted in the U.S. Army and was trained at Fort Benning, Georgia. Lt. Brown was a 2"d lieutenant in the 424k Infantry Regiment,3rd Battalion,l06th Infantry Division, with K Company ,U.S. Army. He was killed in action in the Ardennes Forest at Malmedy, Belgium on January 13th, 1945 and his remains are in the Henri-Chappelle American Cemetery in Belgium with almost 8,000 other American war dead from 194l-1945.. He was 22 years old.
Among other commendations, Lt. Brown was posthumously awarded the Silver Star and the Purple Heart.
I first became aware of Lt. Brown while placing flags on the graves of my family and friends at Westminster Cemetery in Bala Cynwyd on Memorial Day a few years ago. As you see by the photo, he has an impressive cenotaph there which was erected by his family in their plot to honor his memory.
A cenotaph (Greek - kenos taphos "empty tomb") is a monument erected in honor of someone whose remains are elsewhere. Since Lt. Brown's family chose to leave his remains in Belgium, it was very fitting to have the cenotaph made so that the ultimate sacrifice he made while fighting against tyranny could be remembered and honored at home.
On Memorial Day, we remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice, serving our country far away on foreign soil. Lt. Brown's remains are there, but his memory lives on where he lived.
His story is a poignant reminder that we Americans are only free because of the brave.
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General Meade School In The News General George G. Meade School is a historic elementary/middle school located in the North Central neighborhood of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is part of the School District of Philadelphia serving grades K-8. The mission at General George Meade School is to help students develop the necessary tools to become stronger and more confident in themselves academically, socially, and emotionally. The school values the racial and cultural identities of every student and community member. They honor the many pathways students can take in life and support them on their journey. They provide varied experiences that allow students to realize their academic potential and they foster strong critical thinking and decision making skills. They are accountable, open and willing to make changes, and grow. The Meade School is a proud community of teachers and learners. |
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Alex Palma and I visited the General Meade School in March and were invited to join a 1st grade class as they were involved in the 'Shopping Day' at school. By good conduct, efforts and achievement, students are awarded points which accumulate and can be used to go shopping at the school store. The Meade Shop has a large supply of fascinating items that most pupils really enjoy. They run the gamut from real NFL footballs to sports apparel to games; watches; toys of all kinds; candy and snacks and drinks galore. The kids all had a ball shopping for their well deserved 'goodies'. The session was led by Mr. Adam Bergevin, known as 'Mister Adam' and his assistant who led the session. There was great rapport evident. Questions on General Meade were asked and answered enthusiastically by the kids. I even got the chance to tell them the story of 'Old Baldy' for which they seemed thrilled. Adam spoke of the partnership of the General Meade Society with the Meade School and praised the Society for funding the acquisition of the items used to reward the pupils' good efforts. The students applauded and thanked the Society for our participation. Alex and I were delighted at the wonderful program which is greatly enjoyed by ALL the students and is used as an incentive to better efforts all around. Afterwards, we viewed the period portrait of General Meade that once hung in the Main Hallway in the school, but is now hidden away in a closet. We renewed our proposal to help with the restoration of the portrait and the school promised that if it is restored they would once again hand the venerable portrait of General Meade, so that all students, staff, families and community could once again be inspired by General Meade, the namesake of the school since 1874. Respectfully, Andy Waskie, president General Meade Society |
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Meade at Gettysburg: A Study in Command by Kent Masterson Brown book review by John Chaballa
 On June 27, 1863, Major General George Meade was ordered by President Lincoln to assume command of the Army of the Potomac. He did so reluctantly out of a profound sense of duty. For the next three weeks, under the most difficult of circumstances. Meade rapidly pushed the army, short of food, fodder, shoes, and most everything else needed while suffering from disrupted communications with Washington (thanks in large part to Stuart’s raid) toward his planned confrontation with Robert E. Lee. Brown’s analysis sheds a clear light on the trials and intentions of Meade as the antagonists approached the field of battle. When Meade faced a monumental trial that would confound any new commander, he more than rose to the occasion and gave the Country, and the army, the most significant victory of the war to date. Meade has been largely overlooked due to the self-serving machination of a few enemies, Dan Sickle chief among them, and the purposeful marginalization of his character by the press of the day. Nor was he supported for his achievement as he should have been by Lincoln, Stanton, and the Washington establishment. Meade himself wrote to his wife in December of 1863 “I suppose after a while it will be discovered I was not at Gettysburg at all.” Following in the footsteps of recent scholarship, Kent Brown takes a great leap in addressing the slights given to a great man. |
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General George G. Meade: PA Historical & Museum Commission Markers Gettysburg Campaign Dedicated on December 12, 1947, and located on Taneytown Rd. (PA 134), in Mount Joy Township, Adams County, the text reads, Gen. George G. Meade, who had replaced Hooker as Union commander, June 28, 1863, traveled this road from Taneytown to Gettysburg the night of July 1. He made his headquarters just south of Gettysburg. Camp George Gordon Meade  Dedicated on October 10, 1966, and located at PA 441 at Middletown Area High School, in Lower Swatara Township, Dauphin County, the text reads, Covering three square miles, the former Camp Meade was situated a half mile to the northwest. Named for famed Civil War General, it was opened during the Spanish American War and visited by William McKinley on August 27, 1898.
George Gordon Meade (1815-1872)  Dedicated on November 6, 1999, (Sponsored by the General Meade Society of Philadelphia) and located on S. 19th Street, between Panama Street & Delancey Place, in Philadelphia, the text reads, Soldier, civil engineer, Major General, U.S. Army Commander, victorious Army of the Potomac at Battle of Gettysburg, 1863. Philadelphia was his family’s home; he died at No. 1836, in a house given to him for his service to the nation.
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Monuments to General George G. Meade Philadelphia, Pennsylvania --- The Meade Monument  General Meade commanded the Union Army of the Potomac during the Civil War, and is best known for defeating General Robert E. Lee at the Battle of Gettysburg in 1863. Meade also served as military governor for the Georgia district during Reconstruction, and a commissioner of Fairmount Park. He is responsible for designing many of Fairmount Park’s drives, walks, and bridle paths.
In 1887, over thirty thousand people watched Meade’s grandsons unveil the Meade Statue. Following Meade’s death, the Fairmount Park Art Association (now the Association for Public Art) initiated a campaign to finance an appropriate memorial. Though fundraising was slowed by Jay Cooke’s September panic of 1873 and competition from the Centennial, the Meade Memorial Women’s Auxiliary Committee finally raised the balance and a competition to select an artist began. The artist chosen was Alexander Milne Calder, sculptor of William Penn atop Philadelphia’s City Hall. Calder based his rendering of Meade on his own memory, photographs, and the recollections of family members and friends. In 1887, over thirty thousand people watched Meade’s grandsons unveil the Meade statue, which was Calder’s first large-scale bronze and the first major commission project of the Association. General Meade and his horse “Baldy” continue to gaze out across the park landscape in the direction of Laurel Hill Cemetery where Meade was buried. From Public Art in Philadelphia by Penny Balkin Bach (Temple University Press, Philadelphia, 1992). The ‘Meade Monument’ is located behind the Please Touch Museum (Memorial Hall) in West Fairmount Park and along a bike path that leads to the Fairmount Park Horticultural Center. Gettysburg, Pennsylvania --- The Meade Equestrian Statue The monument to Major General George Gordon Meade is south of Gettysburg on Cemetery Ridge. (Hancock Avenue at The Angle or Hancock Avenue at Ziegler’s Grove tour maps) The monument was dedicated by the State of Pennsylvania on June 5, 1896. Meade was ordered to take command of the Army of the Potomac just three days before the Battle of Gettysburg when General Joseph Hooker abruptly resigned. Before that Meade had been in command of the army’s Fifth Corps.  About the monument
The monument features General Meade seated on his horse, Old Baldy. He is looking out over the field where Pickett’s Charge was turned back in what would come to be called the high water mark of the Confederacy. When the State of Virginia monument was built some twenty years later a mile away across the field, its statue of Robert E. Lee looks back at Meade. The two army commanders face each other across eternity. Sculptor Henry K. Bush-Brown created the statue, which was cast in Philadelphia’s Bureau Brothers Foundary. Bush-Brown also created the equestrian statues of Generals Reynolds and Sedgwick at Gettysburg as well as the bust of Lincoln on the Lincoln Speech Memorial. Meade’s statue cost $37,500. It is over 11 feet tall and stands on a pedestal that is almost 8 feet high. Old Baldy Old Baldy was a cavalry mount ridden by General David Hunter at the Battle of Bull Run. He was wounded there but returned to service. Meade purchased him in the fall of 1861. Meade rode Old Baldy at Gettysburg. The horse was wounded on July 2nd by a ball that entered his stomach after passing through Meade’s trouser leg within a half inch of his thigh. Old Baldy again survived, but after another wound he was considered unfit for service in August of 1864, and Meade sent him back to Philadelphia for a well-deserved retirement. Old Baldy did so well in his retirement that Meade resumed riding him after the war. The horse survived the general by ten years, taking part in Meade’s funeral procession in 1872 as the riderless horse. Old Baldy died in 1882. From the tablet on the right side of the monument Major General George Gordon Meade United States Army Commander of the Army of the Potomac Born-December 31 1815 Died-November 6 1872 From the tablet on the left side of the monument Cadet U.S.M.A. Sept 1,1831; Brevet Second Lieut. 3d U.S. Artillery July 1, 1835; Second Lieut. December 31, 1835; Resigned and honorably discharged October 26, 1836; Second Lieut. Topographical Engineers May 19, 1842; First Lieut. August 4, 1851; Captain May 19, 1856; “For fourteen years continuous service” Major July 18, 1862 (Merged into Corps of Engineers March 3, 1863); Vacated commission July 3, 1863 Brig.-General U.S. Army July 3, 1863; Major General August 18, 1864. Brevetted First Lieut. U.S. Army September 23, 1846, “For Gallant Conduct in the Several Conflicts at Monterey, Mexico,” Brig.-General U.S. Volunteers August 31, 1861; Major-General November 29, 1862; Vacated commission in volunteer service December 6, 1864. The Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled resolved (joint resolution approved January 28, 1864) “That the gratitude of the American people and the thanks of their representatives in Congress are due, and are hereby tendered ** To Major-General George G. Meade ** and the officers and soldiers of that army (Army of the Potomac) for the skill and heroic valor which at Gettysburg repulsed, defeated, and drove back, broken and dispirited, beyond the Rappahannoc, the veteran army of the rebellion. The Meade Equestrian Statue at Gettysburg is on Cemetery Ridge on the east side of Hancock Avenue. It is about 175 yards northeast of the Copse of Trees. www.gettysburg.stonesenteniels.com Washington, D.C. --- The George Gordon Meade Memorial  The George Gordon Meade Memorial, also known as the Meade Memorial is a public artwork in Washington, D.C. honoring George Meade, a career military officer from Pennsylvania who is best known for defeating General Robert E. Lee at the Battle of Gettysburg.
The monument is sited on the 300 block of Pennsylvania Avenue NW in front of the E. Barrett Prettyman United States Courthouse. It was originally located at Union Square, but was removed and placed in storage for fourteen years before being installed at its current location. The statue was sculpted by Charles Grafly, an educator and founder of the National Sculpture Society, and was a gift from the state of Pennsylvania. Prominent attendees at the dedication ceremony in 1927 included President Calvin Coolidge, Governor John StuThe memorial is one of eighteen Civil War monuments in Washington, D.C., which were collectively listed on the chell Fisher, Secretary of the Treasury Andrew W. Mellon, and Senator Simeon D. Fess. The memorial is one of eighteen Civil War monuments in Washington, D.C., which were collectively listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976. The marble and granite sculpture, which includes depictions of Meade and seven allegorical figures, rests on a granite base and granite platform. It is surrounded by a public plaza and a small park. The monument is owned and maintained by the National Park Service, a federal agency of the Interior Department. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. |
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Decoration Day, Philadelphia Inquirer, June 1, 1868 IN AND AROUND THE CITY. OUR SOLDIERS GRAVES --- GRAND FLORAL DECORATIONS of them --- BEAUTIFUL AND IMPRESSIVE CEREMONIES --- Saturday last was a day to be remembered by the relatives and friends of the noblemen who fought, bled and died for the salvation of the nation, and whose remains are interred in the various cemeteries throughout the country.
The graves throughout the land of these martyrs to the cause of Union and liberty were decorated with flags and other devices, and strewn with flowers, the beautiful and appropriate ceremonies being performed by the various “Posts” of the Grand Army of the Republic, in accordance with the following proclamation of the Hon. John A. Logan, Commander-in-Chief of the Grand Army of the Republic:-
“The 30th day of May, 1868 is designated for the purpose of strewing with flowers or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion, and whose bodies lie in almost every city and village and hamlet, and churchyard in the land. In this observance no form of ceremony is described, but posts and comrades will in their own way arrange such fitting services and testimonials of respect as circumstances may permit”. “We are organized, comrades, as our regulations tell us, for the purpose, among other things, ‘of preserving and strengthening those kind and fraternal feelings which have bound together the soldiers, sailors, and marines who united to suppress the late Rebellion.” What can aid more to assure this result than by cherishing tenderly the memory of our heroic dead, who made their breasts a barricade between our country and its foes.” “Let us, then, at the time appointed, gather around their sacred remains, and garland the passionless mounds above them with the choicest flowers of spring time: let us raise above them the dear old flag they saved from dishonor: let us in this solemn presence renew our pledges to aid and assist those whom they have left among us a sacred charge upon a nation’s gratitude --- the soldier’s and sailor’s widow and orphan.” “It is the purpose of the Commander-in-Chief to inaugurate this observance with the hope that it will be kept up from year to year, while a survivor of the war remains to honor the memory of his departed comrades. He earnestly desires the public press to call attention to this order, and lend its friendly aid in bringing it to the notice of comrades in all parts of the country in time for simultaneous compliance therewith.” Below will be found an account of the ceremonies at different cemeteries in and around the City of Philadelphia:- The principal cemeteries where the graves were decorated in this vicinity were Laurel Hill, Glenwood, Monument, Odd Fellows’, Mechanics, Franklin and Leverington. The different Posts of the Grand Army of the Republic assembled at their quarters at three o’clock in the afternoon, and were accompanied to the various cemeteries by hundreds of the relatives and friends of the departed warriors. The Posts were proceed by bands of music, and in addition to flowers, evergreens, etc., left at the commanderies, numerous contributions were made from residences, and at different points along various routes. As the procession filed into the various cemeteries the band performed dirges, and the baskets of flowers, wreaths, bouquets, etc., were gathered together, and positions were taken up around the different mounds. |
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Join the General Meade Society
Not a member?
Consider joining our organization or making a tax-deductible contribution to support our organization and related causes.
Membership can be completed online here or by mailing the following form along with your payment.
Contributions can be made via debit/credit cards online here. |
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Board of Directors - Officers
Andy Waskie, PhD, President Mike Peter, Vice President Jerry McCormick, Treasurer Michael Wunsch, Corresponding Secretary Joe Hauptmann, Recording Secrretary
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| Board Members
Albert El Carol Ingald Herb Kaufman Tom Kearney Alex Palma Jeanne O'Toole Tom O'Toole |
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Joe Perry Joseph Pugh Bill Linhard Ed Zongolowicz John Voris Bernie Bujak |
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Visit our website: generalmeadesociety.org | | | | The General Meade Society of Philadelphia, Inc. P.O.Box 45556 Philadelphia, PA 19149 |
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