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Bennington
Memorial Through The Years
2009 July 18th, Saturday
2008 July 19th, Saturday
2007 July 21st Saturday
Back
to Activities in Period Clothing
USS Bennington Memorial,
July 18, 2009
Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery, Point
Loma California
It just keeps getting better! If you are a history buff
or a military historian you need to spend you next Memorial Day at Fort
Rosecran's Cemetery. This S.A.R. member is busy handing out the itinerary
with information on the history of the USS Bennington.
This year they invited the Naval Sea
Cadets who honored the Bennington dead by putting flags and flowers on
thier grave stones. It was very moving to see the tradition passed on to
these little guys.
After the ceremony you can stroll around and read the
grave markers and find some interesting facts. The one shown here is in
Memory of the Mormon Battalion Whose members made the longest military
march in U.S. History of over 2000 miles from Iowa to San Diego in 1846 -
1847. You
may like to have your picture taken in memory of the day with the Sons of
the American Revolution or the Widows. We always go to a local resturarant
afterwards, joins us for lunch! Even if you don't want lunch you can have
a beverage and just get acquainted with some of the members of SAR.
Ask them to tell you about who they were related to back in 1776 and sit
back and listen to great stories.
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The
families of the Bennington Dead expressed their appreciation for the
presents of the widows. They felt was a very thoughtful addition. |
The
Sons of the American Revolution
San Diego
Chapter, do it again!
July
19, 2008
Bennington
Memorial Ceremonies
2008
Busy, busy...This event is so well done it is sad
that not more publicity is given to it. We were handed programs of
the event that were chock full of historic details and images of the
event. Also crediting the participants that volunteer, such as the bugler,
the bagpiper and the Navy. It's amazing all that goes into a
production like this. One of the descendents of the Bennington
explosion donated the personal belongings to the Maritime Museum of San
Diego. In addition to honoring the Bennington Dead they honored the
11 survivors of the explosion the went on to receive the Navy Medal of
Honor and placed a wreath on the grave of the only one of these 11 buried
at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery. Want
to know more about the Son's of the American Revolution San Diego Chapter?
Here's
their site.
2008 |
Afterward
the Fort Rosecrans ceremony, we went to have lunch at "The Fish Market" a restaurant
right next to the USS Midway. While enjoying lunch and
conversation I learned that there was one more ceremony taking place right
after lunch. They fired their muskets and place a wreath and flowers
into the bay, was the very site of the explosion of the USS
Bennington.
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I
have been to the USS Midway several times when it first opened but now I
see the top deck was finally finished with an inventory of
airplanes. If you haven't been there lately it's time to go again...
Another fun addition to the bay was this huge statue of the famous sailor
kiss and more, I don't want to give it away.
Visit the Son of the American Revolution San
Diego Chapter website for more events and photos. |
July
21, 2007 To The Bennington Dead
Via the yahoo group online, Mari,
a fellow costumer invited me to this event that was sponsored by The
Sons of the American didn't know what to expect
but I knew I would have fun. She said to come in 1905
mourning clothes. I learned a bit about San Diego
History. In short, the Navy's worst peacetime disaster in 1905
when a boiler exploded on the USS Bennington in SD Bay. Sixty-five members
of the crew perished. Forty-seven of those who were buried in a mass
grave at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in
Point Loma. The remainder were buried
in other locations by their families. This is the Monument to the left here with me dressed in
1905 Edwardian Mourning Widows Weeds and a member of S.A.R.
My thanks to Kevin for taking this shot of
me here on the right,
it's composed well.
2007 |
Arnold, the president of the Vermont chapter of the
SAR came to give an eloquent speech on patriotism. Serving as a reminder
of our connection to each other. We listened to the history of
the Battle of Bennington of 1777. His ancestor from Vermont had a
Bennington connection. Here are two quotes I loved from his speech.
"what our great country stands
for—honor, memory, sacrifice, strength, and most importantly a sense of
connectedness as citizens, unified and resolute in our love for America—how
are we all connected?—are you a compatriot of the Sons of the American
Revolution, a member of the armed forces, a descendant of a family member
who lost a loved one in the Bennington tragedy, a lover of patriotism, or
perhaps all of the above"
"So—as I observe this memorial to
the gunboat of the USS Bennington—I recognize that we will are all part of
history. Today’s ceremonies carry on the tradition of love that exists
in our nation—a love of country, a respect for the past, and a resolute
commitment to remember all those who have served our great nation of the United
States of America, whether it be in 1777, 1905, or 2007 or anytime in between or
beyond. Thank You"
Margaret
Riddle came from Asheville, NC to participate in this event. She was the grandniece
of Ensign Perry. This presentation board is just one of
Margaret's presentation boards sharing with us photographs of the ship's crew and personal history of Ensign Newman
Kershaw Perry. I believe it was Margaret, who was behind reviving
the memory of this tragedy. She
had me sobbing as she expressed her sentiments and personal family
history. Later, we met and she allowed me a close look at the fabulous
double locket belonging to Newmen's sister; Laura Gunter (right-hand
corner of board) that she was
wearing.
Tapps
were played and they always made me emotional, then bag pipes played that
bought on the tears . As I cried... 1777 style gun salute were
fired....smoke
and all. I didn't expect to be so moved, it took everything in me to keep
from sobbing...... Above is
Margaret giving her speech in front of Fox 6 News. |
I was very impressed at the turn
out, not only the descendants
of the Bennington Dead were there but the U.S. Navy at attention the whole
time! and Fox News! who knew! If
you would like to know more about the tradition of public mourning in the
Victorian Era, click here. |
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Last
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Always a work in
progress, please visit often. We apologist for any
long periods between entries some times medical issues prevail.
Rev.
06/23/2017
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