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A little look back at 2024's Heritage Music Gathering  Did You visit the Windham Post Office for the exhibit "COMMEMORATING 160TH ANNIVERSARY OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN’S GETTYSBURG ADDRESS” ? WHEN STANDING ERECT LINCOLN WAS SIX FEET FOUR INCHES TALL. HE WAS BORN IN KENTUCKY, RAISED IN INDIANA, AND LIVED IN ILLINOIS. AND THIS IS WHAT ABE LINCOLN SAID AT THE GETTYSBURG NATIONAL CEMETERY DEDICATION ON NOVEMBER 19,1863:
“THAT THIS NATION UNDER GOD, SHALL HAVE A NEW BIRTH OF FREEDOM; AND THAT GOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLE, BY THE PEOPLE, AND FOR PEOPLE, SHALL NOT PERISH FROM THE EARTH.” LINCOLN WAS A QUIET MAN. ABE LINCOLN WAS A QUIET AND MELANCHOLY MAN. ON NOVEMBER 19, 1863 OUR 16TH PRESIDENT GAVE WHAT BECAME HIS MOST FAMOUS SPEECH ON THE BATTLEGROUND AT GETTYSBURG. THIS IS WHAT HE SAID: “WE CANNOT CONSECRATE, WE CANNOT DEDICATE, WE CANNOT HALLOW THIS GROUND. THE BRAVE MEN LIVING AND DEAD, WHO STRUGGLED HERE, HAVE DEDICATED IT FAR ABOVE OUR POWER TO ADD OR DETRACT - WE CAN NEVER FORGET WHAT THEY DID HERE - THAT FROM THESE HONORED DEAD WE TAKE INCREASED DEVOTION TO THAT CAUSE FOR WHICH THEY GAVE THE LAST FULL MEASURE OF DEVOTION - THAT THESE DEAD SHALL NOT HAVE DIED IN VAIN.” CIVIL WAR SMOOTHSIDE CANTEEN WITH COMPANY, REGIMENT AND NEW YORK STATE IDENTIFICATION. OVER 413,000 UNION VOLUNTEERS ANSWERED LINCOLN’S CALL DURING THE CIVIL WAR – NEW YORK STATE CONTRIBUTED THE LARGEST NUMBER FROM ANY STATE. OVER 23,000 NYS VOLUNTEERS FOLLOWED THEIR NATIONAL & REGIMENTAL COLORS AT GETTYSBURG AND ALMOST 6,700 WERE KILLED OR WOUNDED IN THE BATTLE AT GETTYSBURG – MORE THAN OTHER STATES EITHER SIDE. “THE GETTYSBURG ADDRESS” THE WORDS THAT REMADE AMERICA PRESIDENT LINCOLN SPOKE FOR ONLY ABOUT TWO-THREE MINUTES. HIS SPEECH HAS NEVER BEEN FORGOTTEN. HISTORIANS SAY THE 272 WORDS THAT WERE EXPRESSED BY THE 16TH PRESIDENT DEFINED AMERICANS AS A PEOPLE WHO BELIEVED IN FREEDOM, DEMOCRACY AND EQUALITY. ABRAHAM LINCOLN, MAN OF THE PEOPLE, MAN FOR THE AGES. HIS SPIRIT IS STILL WITH US. WE PAY TRIBUTE TO THE MAN AND THE PROPHETIC WORDS HE SPOKE ONE-HUNDRED AND SIXTY YEARS AGO. THE GETTYSBURG ADDRESS IS JUST AS VALID FOR OUR TIME AS THEY WERE FOR HIS. 1861 CARTRIDGE BOX WITH NYS PLATE BY H.A.DINGEE, NY. IN THE SUMMER OF 1863 THE UNION ARMY MET ROBERT E. LEE’S ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA IN PENNSYLVANIA FROM JULY 1 TO JULY 3. THE BATTLE AT GETTYSBURG WAS THE BLOODIEST OF THE WAR WITH MORE THAN 50,000 DEAD AND WOUNDED. CIVIL WAR CLAIRON BUGLE IN C OR B FLAT THE DISTINCTIVE BUGLE MELODY “TAPS” IS PLAYED AT U.S. MILITARY FUNERALS AND MEMORIALS. THE 24 NOTE TUNE DATES BACK TO THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR. REPORTERS DESCRIBE LINCOLN’S 1863 “GETTYSBURG ADDRESS” ON NOVEMBER 19, 1863 VARIOUS NEWSPAPERS, MAGAZINES AND EVEN THE ASSOCIATED PRESS WIRE SERVICE REPORTED ON PRESIDENT LINCOLN’S REMARKS AT THE NATIONAL CEMETERY AT GETTYSBURG. NEWSPAPERS CRITICAL OF THE PRESIDENT SAID THE SPEECH WAS TOO SHORT AND INAPPROPRIATE FOR THE OCCASION. LINCOLN SUPPORTERS, ON THE OTHER HAND, PUBLISHED GLOWING REVIEWS AND NOTED THE HEARTFELT EMOTION OF THE ADDRESS. These are some excerpts… CHICAGO TRIBUNE: “THE DEDICATORY REMARKS BY PRESIDENT LINCOLN WILL LIVE AMONG THE ANNALS OF MAN.” THE PATRIOT-NEWS: “WE PASS OVER THE SILLY REMARKS OF THE PRESIDENT. FOR THE CREDIT OF THE NATION, WE ARE WILLING THAT THE VEIL OF OBLIVION SHALL BE DROPPED OVER THEM.” (THE PATRIOT-NEWS LATER REGRETTED THE ERROR OF ITS INITIAL REPORTING BEING ON THE WRONG SIDE OF HISTORY) THE PHILADELPHIA EVENING BULLETIN: “READING OF THE PRESIDENT’S WORDS WILL MOISTEN THE EYE AND SWELL THE HEART.” SOLDIER’S WAIST BELT WITH OVAL U.S. BRASS PLATE & CAP BOX WITH U.S. STAMP THE COMMUNITY OF WINDHAM FOUNDATION (COWF) IS PROUD TO OFFER THIS DISPLAY IN TRIBUTE TO THE NATION’S VETERANS OF ALL WARS – WE THANK THEM FOR THEIR SERVICE.
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 WWII Exhibit Community of Windham Foundation sponsored, recently on display at the Windham Post Office
WORLD WAR II – WARTIME BLACKOUT AFTER THE ATTACK ON PEARL HARBOR THE UNITED STATES PREPARED TO PREVENT EXPOSURE TO AIR ATTACKS FROM JAPAN OR GERMAN SUBMARINE RAIDS ON ALLIED SHIPPING IN COASTAL WATERS. BLACKOUTS COLLECTIVELY MINIMIZED INDOOR AND OUTDOOR REFLECTIVE LIGHT. WWII RATION BOOKS WAR RATION BOOKS WERE PRODUCED BY THE UNITED STATES OFFICE OF PRICE ADMINISTRATION (OPA) IN 1942. SHORTAGES OF ESSENTIAL WAR MATERIALS SUCH AS RUBBER, GASOLINE WERE INITIALLY ANTICIPATED BUT SOON THE RATIONING GREW TO INCLUDE FOOD AS WELL AS FUEL AND SUGAR. HOME FRONT COUPONS WERE ISSUED FOR A VARIETY OF PRODUCTS INCLUDING COFFEE. SORRY – NO STARBUCKS. WWII CORPORATE LEADERSHIP PHILLIP K. WRIGLEY CEO IS MOST KNOWN FOR HIS UNUSUAL MOVE TO SUPPORT US TROOPS AND PROTECT THE REPUTATION OF THE WRIGLEY BRAND DURING WWII, IN WHICH HE DEDICATED THE ENTIRE OUTPUT OF WRIGLEY’S SPEARMINT, DOUBLEMINT AND JUICY FRUIT TO THE US ARMED FORCES. ON JUNE 6, 1944 MORE THAN 160,000 TROOPS STORMED THE BEACHES OF NORMANDY DURING THE D-DAY INVASION. LESS KNOWN IS THAT AN UNLIKELY SNACK HELPED POWER THE ALLIES BEFORE, DURING AND AFTER THE HISTORIC MISSION – HERSHEY’S CHOCOLATE BARS. EACH BAR HAD TO WEIGH 4 OUNCES, BE HIGH IN ENERGY AND WITHSTAND HIGH TEMPERATURES. EACH BAR WAS PACKED IN A 4 OUNCE MOLD BY HAND. WWII BATTLE OF THE BULGE ARDENNES HOT WINTER FOOD RATIONS ARE SERVED TO AMERICAN INFANTRYMEN IN FREEZING CONDITIONS. 610,000 TROOPS TURNED BACK THE LAST MAJOR GERMAN OFFENSIVE CAMPAIGN ON THE WESTERN FRONT DURING THE WAR. THERE WERE 81,000 AMERICAN CASUALTIES INCLUDING AT LEAST 8,400 KILLED. THE “BULGE” WAS LARGEST AND BLOODIEST SINGLE BATTLE FOUGHT BY THE UNITED STATES IN WORLD WARII. WWII MESS KIT & CANTEEN THE MESS KIT WAS USED TO RE-HEAT PRE-MEASURED SERVINGS OF CANNED PRE-COOKED MEAT RATIONS OR DRIED FOOD ITEMS. THE MEAT CAN BODY, WITH ITS FOLDING HANDLE EXTENDED SERVED AS A CRUDE SKILLET. TO COMPLIMENT THE MESS KIT SOLDIERS USED A STAMPED CUP ESPECIALLY MOLDED TO FIT OVER THE BOTTOM OF US ARMY’S STANDARD ONE-QUART CANTEEN. THE CUP COULD BE USED TO BOIL WATER FOR COFFEE, OR FOR HEATING RECONSTITUTED SOUP OR OTHER FOODS. WWII “SPAMVILLE” SOME SOLDIERS NAMED THEIR UNITS “SPAMVILLE” IN TRIBUTE TO THE UNREFRIGERATED MEAT PRODUCT. THE U.S. MILITARY PURCHASED A VARIETY OF CANNED MEATS TO FEED THE TROOPS OVERSEAS. HORMEL PRODUCED OVER 100 MILLION POUNDS OF SPAM FOR THE AMERICAN AND ALLIED TROOPS. 
 We have been informed by the City of Saratoga Springs that the 77th NY Volunteer Statue will be re-installed on November 16th in which you are invited to see happen, a time will be announced as soon as it is made available and will be posted here in the very near future as a future update. At this time there is no ceremony or dedication planned.
Please see the full press release herein from the City of Saratoga Springs DPW: NY 77th Infantry Regiment Monument to be Re-installed November 16th Commissioner of Public Works Anthony “Skip” Scirocco announced today that the NY 77th Regiment Monument will be re-installed in Congress Park on November 16, 2021. The statue was damaged by vandalism in July of 2020 and required extensive repairs, no arrests were made in connection with the damage. “The repaired, original statue, will be installed back onto the granite base in Congress Park on November 16,” said Scirocco. “While the statue was repaired and returned a few months ago, coordinating the company to come back and install it, making landscaping improvements, and ensuring new security systems were installed in the park were a priority prior to installation.” The vandalism resulted in sections of the statue breaking apart and small parts of the statue, such as the hand, being broken into pieces. Immediately following the vandalism, DPW worked to identify a vendor with experience repairing or restoring zinc statues and learned that Evergreene Architectural Artists, located in Maryland, had repaired identical soldiers as the City’s. The entire statue was transported to their conservation studio, where repairs were made, a stainless-steel armature was added, and a new coating was applied. The final aspect of Evergreene’s work is installing the statue back onto its base in Congress park. Repair costs equaled $58,218 and were covered under the City’s insurance program. Community donations totaling $14,215.90 were also made that were utilized for landscaping and security improvements. These donations were organized by the New York State Civil War Sesquicentennial Committee and the Col. George L. Willard Camp #154, Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War. “I want to thank everyone who worked diligently to repair this statue and for the community support to ensure it’s return to Congress Park,” said Scirocco. In 1875 the monument was donated by Veterans of the 77th Regiment at a cost of $3,000. The cast iron and zinc soldier statue was cast from the foundry of J.W. Fiske of New York City, and at the time was a catalog item offered by J.W. Fiske Company. Accompanying the statue and granite base is a plaque that reads: “The Seventy-Seventh Regiment, New York Volunteers (Bemis Heights Battalion, Third Brigade, Second Division, Sixth Corps, Army of the Potomac, 1861-1865). Took part in all campaigns of the Army of the Potomac, also in the Battle of Fort Stevens at Washington, D.C. and in the Campaign in the Shenandoah Valley under Sheridan.” Thank you again for all of your donations and support! And, we would also like to express our appreciation to the City of Saratoga Springs for spearheading this project. Posted 11/05/21 by Sons Of Union Veterans Of The Civil War (Article and Photo Courtesy of The City of Saratoga Springs DPW) Not too long ago, the 77th NY Regimental Balladeers performed a special concert at Peebles Island for the Battle Flag Preservation project. Our “Rally Round the Flag” CD raised over $2000 to help preserve several Civil War flags. During the sesquicentennial Bandleader John Quinn worked with the DAR chapter in Hudson, NY on their “One Nation” exhibition. There collection included remnants of the 128th NYVI regimental colors including the NYS Excelsior emblem. As part of the exhibit the DAR worked with the folks at Peebles Island to reconstruct and preserve the flag. The preserved flag was displayed in the main foyer of the Hendrick Hudson Chapter House as a central focus of the “One Nation” exhibit. At the flag’s unveiling the band played “Rally Round the Flag” prior to the opening of the exhibit.
More recently, In recognition of Veterans Day, the New York State capitol has posted a short "Virtual Tour" of the Capitol Flag Room, hosted by Military museum Curator Chris Morton. Click here to watch it. There are a number of other virtual Visits available at; https://empirestateplaza.ny.gov/virtual-visit including one about the Veteran's Memorials on the Empire State Plaza. BALLADEERS EFFORTS TO AID SARATOGA SPRINGS HISTORY MUSEUM: CONCERT PLANNED. GOFUNDME LINK SHARED.8/5/2020 
You can donate directly to the restoration here. This link will take you away from our site.https://charity.gofundme.com/o/en/campaign/restoration-of-saratoga-springs-77th-soldier-monument-civil-war Together we can see this representation of history, the effort to preserve our nation, restored! |
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