The American Soldier Memorial Project
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Sgt. Major Phillip R. Albert, 41, Terryville, Conn., November 23, 2003, Afghanistan¬ Taken
Sgt. Benjamin L. Gilman, 28, Meriden, Conn., January 29, 2004, Ghazni, Afghanistan ¬Taken
Lt. Col. Michael J. McMahon, 41, Conn., November 27, 2004, Bamian, Afghanistan¬Taken
Maj. Stephen C. Reich, 34, Washington Depot, Conn., June 28, 2005, Afghanistan
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Pfc. Jeffrey F. Braun, 19, Stafford, Conn., December 12, 2003, Baghdad, Iraq¬Taken
Chief Warrant Officer William I. Brennan, 36, Bethlehem, Conn., October 16, 2004, Baghdad, Iraq¬Taken
"Delivered"® Pfc. Anthony D. Dagostino, 20, Waterbury, Conn., November 2, 2003, Al Fallujah, Iraq ¬Taken (D'Agostino)
"Delivered"® Sgt. Felix M. Delgreco, 22, Simsbury, Conn., April 9, 2004, Baghdad, Iraq ¬Taken
Staff Sgt. Richard S. Eaton, Jr., 37, Guilford, Conn., August 12, 2003, Ar Ramadi, Iraq
Spc. Tyanna S. Felder, 22, Bridgeport, Conn., April 7, 2004, Balad, Iraq¬Taken
Barbara Heald, 60, Stanford, Conn., January 29, 2004, Baghdad, Iraq (this lady was a State Dept Worker -- civilian -- non military)
Spc. Christopher L. Hoskins, 21, Danielson, Conn., June 21, 2005, Ramadi, Iraq
"Delivered"® Spc. Robert W. Hoyt, 21, Ashford, Conn., December 11, 2004, Baghdad, Iraq ¬Taken
Spc. Jacob D. Martir, 21, Norwich, Conn., August 18, 2004, Sadr City, Iraq¬Taken (Martir-Gutierrez)
Pfc. Wilfredo Perez Jr., 24, Norwalk, Conn., July 26, 2003, Baghdad, Iraq
Staff Sgt. Thomas E. Vitagliano, 33, New Haven, Conn., January 17, 2005, Ar Ramadi, Iraq
Cpl. Stephen R. Bixler, 20, Suffield, Conn., May 4, 2006, Iraq
Cpl. Kemaphoom A. Chanawongse, 22, Waterford, Conn., March 23, 2003, Iraq
¬Taken
Sgt. David J. Coullard, 32, Glastonbury, Conn., Aug. 1, 2005, Iraq
Cpl. Kevin J. Dempsey, 23, Monroe, Conn., Nov. 13, 2004, Iraq
Lance Cpl. Lawrence R. Philippon, 22, Hartford, Conn., May 8, 2005, Iraq
Lance Cpl. John T. Schmidt III, 21, Brookfield, Conn., May 11, 2005 (from injuries sustained in Iraq)
Staff Sgt Phillip A. Jordan -- Enfield, CT -- KIA Iraq March 23, 2003
Staff Sgt. Henry E. Irizarry -- Waterbury, CT -- KIA Iraq Dec 3, 2004
To request Gold Star flags please E-MAIL the necessary information to both www.thirdvp@bluestarmothers.org and to sales@servceflags.com.
Please order from Service Flags via email if at all possible. If working with a limited time frame, contact them directly at 1-866-887-6678.
They will work with the National Third VP as needed or if any complications arise.
Please fill out the Gold Star Banner Requisition form found on all the Yahoo site files. It is also available on the Blue Star Mothers Web Site.
Information that you will need to include with your request:
1. Name of service person, i.e., which branch of service?
2. Spouse's name and address
3. Names of parents and their address. If divorced, both sets of names and addresses
4. When and where service will be held
5. Your name, address and telephone number, as well as what BSM chapter you belong to.
6. Address to where flags are to be sent
7. Time frame in which flags are needed.
1. Children's names and ages for letters of condolences sent with the banners for the parents/spouse.
Please use the Gold Star Banner requisition form available on the Yahoo sites and the web site.
When working on this program for our Fallen Military Members we work with the Casualty Assistance Officers. Sometimes it is necessary to contact the Funeral Director, explain what organization you are with and what we present, and ask them to give the CAO your contact information to get in touch with you as soon as possible. Contacts and verification that the family would like to receive this honor are to be made prior to attending any events regarding presentation of the banners.The following is done at a local level:
Operation Teddy Bear (optional) was started for the children of fallen soldiers. The bears may be presented when the flag is presented. They are furnished by the individuals, the chapter, or department presenting the banner by purchasing a teddy bear they feel would be appropriate to give to the children.
Memory Books (optional)There are poems referring to Gold Star Mothers that can be downloaded. These poems can be framed or placed in a Memory Book.
The Casualty Assistance Officer (CAO) assigned to the family should have Gold Star lapel pins for them. For the family to request additional Gold Star lapel pins for other family members, print out a form for each family member, one form per pin. The information is available at www.dior.whs.mil/forms/dd0003.pdf. There are instructions and the mailing address on the form.
We recommend that you also download information regarding TAPS (Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors). This is a wonderful support group for grieving families.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)
1) Who provides the Gold Star Banners and for whom?Blue Star Mothers of America, Inc. along with Service Flags (serviceflags.com) provide the Gold Star Banners at no cost for the Mother and Father (both if divorced) and surviving Spouse. These have the fallen military member’s military branch and name on them. These are the official banners recognized by the DOD. There is combination Blue & Gold Star Banners available for families with more than one child serving. There is information on ordering this Blue & Gold Star Banner on the Gold Star Banner Requisition form. Please include accurate information with the banner order. 2) What if there isn't enough time to get a Banner?
Service Flags works as quickly as possible to get them out to you, many times having to mail them overnight. When at all possible we try not to do this due to costs for us but in a last minute situation it is done.
Sometimes due to locations it is impossible to get it to the destination overnight but they take all necessary steps to try to do so.
Any Gold Star Banner will suffice especially in a tight time schedule if presenting at a memorial, prayer service or funeral. If you need one immediately and time doesn't allow it then you may use any Gold Star Banner but still honor the family with the official one with their loved one’s name/branch on it. If necessary you may simply mail these to them. If this happens you do not ask for the original one to be given back. Many states/chapters get keep ones on hand with no name/branch on it for emergencies. You may purchase these from serviceflags.com.3) How do we order the Gold Star Banner?
To order a Gold Star Banner please follow the instructions listed above. Fill out the attached requisition form which you may also find on the national website. This information is also uploaded under "files" on the yahoo groups. Send a copy to both Service Flags and the 3rd National VP at thirdvp@bluestarmothers.org. 4) How do I find the Casualty Assistance Officer (CAO) for the Fallen?
This can be a difficult task. If you do not have a contact locally you can start by using the Internet, newspapers and news to help you can find the funeral home. Call them and ask for the name and number of the Casualty Assistance Officer. The phone number posted with the names of the Fallen on the DOD postings is for the press releases. Some have used this as a starting place. Persistence is necessary to contact the correct post if doing this as you may be redirected to many sources before you are able to locate the correct one.5) When is the appropriate time to present the families with the Gold Star Banner?
When the family wants it presented. This is about them and their child or spouse, not about us.
Each family is different. They may want it at the prayer service, memorial, or funeral, presented in private, at a later date or mailed to them. Some choose not to receive it at all. If that happens give the CAO your information for the family to contact you if they so choose at a later date. Contacting the family directly should be the last resort.
When you contact the CAO, explain who we are, who you are with as well as information about presenting the Gold Star Banner. Ask him/her to check with the family to see if or when they would like it presented to them. Share with the CAO the options with the understanding that it also depends on the availability of a Blue Star Mother at that time. Respect their decision no matter what, be willing to go with the flow, if things change it is about their wishes/choices.6) What if part of the family or funeral is taking place in another state?
If this is the case and you need to contact someone in another state check the national website for a chapter located near where events are taking place or contact the National 3rd VP at thirdvp@bluestarmothers.org.
States with Departments and/or Chapters should have a Blue to Gold Liaison appointed and keep the National 3rd VP updated with contact information for this individual.
7) Who presents the banners or is a part of the presentation?
The Blue to Gold Liaison is the person that overseas the ordering of the banners and makes arrangements with the CAO or family which ever is appropriate in the particular situation. The National 3rd VP should be notified of who this person is.
That does not mean that someone else can’t do this duty but if you have a Blue to Gold Liaison for your state please check with that individual. If there is one appointed through a department they should notify the chapters of dates/times/places for the funeral or memorial service.
If the person doing the back ground work for this chooses to be part of the presenting or handing over of the flag please respect that, although it is not required that this individual make the presentation.
It is best to at least have two individuals do the presenting of the banner, but that isn’t always possible. One individual can read the presentation and one read the Gold Star Mothers Poem. Do what works for each individual situation. Location is also a consideration, since at times a chapter may be located close to the family and they may handle the presentation.
We need to put the families of the Fallen first, to keep in mind that this is a moment for them, not about us.8) What if the CAO/Family tells us not at this time?
Respect the family. No matter where, when or what put the respect of the family of the Fallen Military first. 9) Operation Teddy Bear, what is this about? (Optional – see previous information)
The teddy bear program is for the children of the Fallen or young siblings. At this time you find a patriotic teddy bear to give to the children. The Chapter/Department find any bear that you feel is appropriate, the chapters and/or departments pay for these.10) What are the Memory Books? (Optional)
These are put together by the chapters or members. An album honoring the fallen and their family with poems, information about Blue Star Mothers and information on Gold Star Mothers or Wives, the forms for receiving the Gold Star Pins (link on website). Many mothers have worked on these and if you would like to receive a sample on disk please contact the National 3rd vice president. Ask questions on the At-Ease Yahoo sight for help from others that have done this duty. You can also request information from others on the message board.
11) Do we follow up with the families at a later date?
Yes! Please contact TAPS at www.taps.org to obtain an information packet to mail out to the families a couple of weeks after the funerals/memorials. This is a necessary part of helping the families to grieve. TAPS volunteers will work with your chapter and assist you in any way they can.
TAPS: The Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors, Inc. (TAPS) provides a wide variety of programs and information to survivors, military and casualty personnel and others. TAPS is a national non-profit organization made up of, and providing services to, all those who have lost a loved one while serving in the Armed Forces. The heart of TAPS is our national military survivor peer support network. We also offer grief counseling referral as well as case worker assistance and crisis information, all available to help families and survivors cope and recover. We provide these services 24 hours a day free of charge! Please call us at 1-800-959-TAPS (8277) or e-mail us at info@taps.org if we can help.
12) Bereavement Training, who do we work with?
TAPS: "Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors". They have information about this on their website as stated above. Click into the Resource Room, you will find a lot of help and assistance which you can read at your convenience to help you with the process. They also work with the military closely and have links to bring you to the different military branches.
Obviously, anyone that wants to do training on their own is able to do so; you may choose to work with a military group locally for any available in-person training.
Either way please follow-up with sending the information from TAPS to the families as a resource for them.
What NOT to do:
Do Not: Present a Gold Star Banner for the 1st time without consulting the National 3rd Vice President.Do Not: Contact the family during the stages of funeral arrangements. Work with the CAO and if unavailable then the Funeral Director.Do Not: Be rude or disrespectful to anyone, especially the family and military. Do not be disrespectful during a Review, Funeral or Memorial. If asked to leave by the Funeral Director, CAO or anyone above him/her or the family you do so. Do Not: Put your wishes above those of the family.
_________________________________________________________________________
It is important that once a Department and/or Chapter starts this program, they maintain consistency in the presentation of the same information and items to all the Families of the Fallen.
The 3rd National VP needs notification of every banner that is ordered and presented. This is vital to keep an accurate record of this program. If you have any questions regarding the program please contact the National Third Vice-President at thirdvp@bluestarmothers.org or call 937-307-9219. If complications arise the National 3rd VP must be notified immediately either by phone (937-307-9219) or via email at the above address.
This is a National Program. These guidelines should be followed as closely as possible.
What we have ACCOMPLISHED :
WE HAVE SENT over 750 care packages
filled with goodies, supplies, and support messages from the Central Valley!
We educated the public on showing positive support to Our Heroes that are currently serving or that have served, and our Wounded Warriors.
We encouraged students, citizens and organizations to show their support by collecting goods, and writting letters to those in a combat zone.
If you would like to have a Modesto Blue Star Mother come and speak at your school, business or organization, or if YOU would like to help
please email for more info:
For our Deployed Heroes:
Collecting donated goods for our goal of sending care packages to our troops !!
Oakdale
2469 Rainwood Drive
Turlock
2462 Arabian Way
2305 E. Marshall St.
Stanislaus County American Red Cross
1230 Sixth Street Modesto
523-6451
LIST OF SUGGESTED ITEMS
Food Items
Trail Mix
Hot Chocolate Mix
Beef Jerky
Tuna in foil packages
Microwave popcorn
Personal Hygiene
Shampoo (travel size)
Conditioner (travel size)
Lotion (travel size)
Mouthwash
Baby wipes
Other personnel essentials
Anti-itch creams
Bug repellant
Kleenex packages
Eye drops
throat lozenges
Wish list items
Sunglasses
Hand held games
Pre Paid Phone cards (AT&T only)
Comic Books
Puzzle and word game books
Paddleballs
Nerf footballs, basketballs
Disposable cameras
Travel games
Small flashlights
Frisbees
Music CD’s
Three Gifts You Can Give Returning Veterans
info for family members of combat veterans
HAS BEEN CALLED TO WAR
Military One Source
The Defense Department has established
a "one stop" place to go whenever service members
or family members need assistance with any kind of problem.
Family members include parents, siblings,
spouses and their children.
We have personally called,
and they will help ANY family member
who needs to talk, counseling and/or needs information.
This is a great resource!! Please use it!
You can call 24/7 & 365 days a year
1-800-342-9647
The Modesto/ Central Valley Blue Star Mothers
& Families
mission:
shall be to support the Armed Forces of the United States of America and it’s Veterans;
to advocate for America’s Armed Forces
and those men and women who have served their country with honor;
to maintain allegiance to the United States; to educate our members
and others not to divulge military, naval, or other government information;
to assist and participate in ceremonies which honor, remember and support
our military men and women and Veterans;
to honor those families whose children have died in service to our country;
to assist in Homeland Security
and to uphold the American principles of freedom, justice and equal rights.
We shall be a non-political, non-sectarian, non-racial and non-profit organization,
and shall not be used for personal or partisan purposes.
“COMING HOME”
A Guide for Parents, Extended
Family Members or Friends
of Service Members Returning from
Mobilization / Deployment
Copied from www.dod.mil
As a parent, extended family member, or friend of an
active, Guard or Reserve Service member, who is just
coming home or is arriving soon, you are probably
both excited and nervous about the homecoming.
Even if you’ve been through a mobilization/
deployment before, this one has been different
because of the increased stressors of the time.
Regardless of your experience and Service member’s
assignment, there will be a period of adjustment. You
may find this tip sheet helpful in ensuring a successful
homecoming and readjustment.
What to Expect When the Service member
Comes Home:
You have certainly missed your Service member,
as they have missed you. Reestablishing
relationships will take time and communication.
It’s normal for the returning Service member to
“need space” upon their return.
It’s normal to feel nervous and anxious about the
homecoming. Plan for homecoming day. After
homecoming, allow the returning Service
member to schedule the next few days or weeks.
Expect things to be different. Take time to
understand how the Service member has
changed. Be prepared and flexible.
The Service member may have seen or
experienced some things that were very
upsetting. Some normal reactions to these
abnormal situations are fear, nervousness,
irritability, fatigue, sleep disturbances, startle
reactions, moodiness, trouble concentrating,
feelings of numbness, and frequent thoughts of
the event. Talking with others who were there
and/or counselors trained in crisis stress
reactions are very important. The Service member
may be facing a change in job assignment or a move.
Readjustment and job transition cause stress. This
may be especially true for demobilizing Guard and
Reservists who are transitioning back into civilian life.
Making the Reunion Easier:
Take time to get reacquainted. Communicate
your love and concern.
COMMUNICATE!! Tell each other how you
feel—nervous, scared, happy, that you love and
missed them. Listen to each other. The best
way to get through the reacquaintance jitters and
regain closeness is to talk and actively listen.
Reassure the Service member that they are
needed, and that you are happy he/she has
returned safely.
Be calm and assertive, not defensive, when
discussing events that have taken place during
the Service member’s absence. The service
member may need to hear that it wasn’t the same
doing these things alone, that you’re glad
he/she’s back, and that you’d like to discuss
problems and criticisms calmly.
Prepare children of the extended family for
homecoming and involve them in reunion
activities.
Take Time for Yourself to Make the Reunion
for Everyone Concerned Easier:
Make time to rest. Negotiate social events and
activities.
Limit your use of alcohol. Remember alcohol
was restricted during the Service member’s
deployment and tolerance is lowered.
Go slowly in getting back into the swing of things.
Depend on family and friends for support. You are
part of the Service member’s support network.
Remember…
Go slowly – don’t try to make up for lost time.
Accept that your Service member may be different.
Take time to get reacquainted.
Reassure your loved ones.
Seek help for family members, if needed.
Many of these tips have cross-application to the
Service member, spouse, and children, extended
family members, and friends. If you feel like you
are having trouble coping with adjustment, it is
healthy to ask for help. Many normal, healthy
people occasionally need help to handle tough
challenges in their lives. Contact a counseling
agency or a minister, a Military Family Center,
Military Chaplain, the Veterans Administration, or
one of your community support groups that has
been established in your area
-----------------------------------------------
Profiles in courage:
HONORING OUR FALLEN
From the Central Valley
Soldiers from the Central Valley
Published by the Modesto Bee
May we all pray for your safety and your safe return home to the
families and communities that love you.
******
from Delhi, CA
MIA Vietnam April 21, 1967
through
PlEASE READ:
Mangino, Hasenbeck,Nidds and Winters
through
Click on the links to learn
All POW-MIA Network
National Alliance of POW/MIA Families
National League of POW/MIA Families
We would like to encourage family members to submit a photo and profile of their soldier. Please email WEBMASTER for info on how to submit.
“Poor is the nation that has no heroes……shameful is the one that has them and forgets.” Author Unknown
test
Links:
Army Emergency Relief http://www.aerhq.org/
Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society http://www.nmcrs.org/
Air Force Relief Society http://www.afas.org/
Coast Guard Mutual Assistance http://www.cgmahq.org/
The Stanislaus County American Red Cross
is in desperate need of funds for their
Armed Forces Emergency Services Program
This program provides funds to local military families
in a financial crisis due to the deployment of a loved one,
or from the injury or death of a soldier.
The families of our local heroes need us.
Please make a donation.
Send a check with a notation that it is for the
Armed Forces Emergency Service Program to:
American Red Cross
1230 Sixth Street
Modesto, CA 95354
For more info call:
Jim Money
(209) 523.6451
.
Operation Band Aid The families of our local heroes need us. Please make a donation. Send a check with a notation that it is for the Armed Forces Emergency Service Program to: American Red Cross 1230 Sixth Street Modesto, CA 95354 For more info call: Jim Money (209) 523.6451
over 150+ Resources!!!
SOLDIER FUND
www.Soldierfund.org
This program provides funds to local military families
in a financial crisis due to the deployment of a loved one,
or from the injury or death of a soldier.
PACKED WITH PRIDE http://www.packedwithpride.com/
Your extra miles today can help our soldiers
get home to their families tomorrow.
Americans have donated their unused frequent flyer miles to the Department of Defense to help troops travel home and spend quality time with their loved ones, without worrying about how much it will cost.
OSupport families whose loved ones are being treated at military and VA hospitals through
a donation to the Fisher House
O Operation Shoe Box : Take time today to send a package. If you don't have a family member deployed overseas, check with your friends, colleagues, or church members to get the address of someone who is serving.
http://www.operationshoebox.com/
O Support your troops and lift their spirits by sending them a special "Gifts From the Home Front" certificate. It's a great way to support our deployed American men and women in the military.
Angels in Camouflage
http://www.angelsncamouflage.org/
http://www.defendamerica.mil/nmam.html
OVolunteer at:
VA Hospital to honor veterans who bore the lamp of freedom in past conflicts.
http://www1.va.gov/opa/vetsday/
Red Cross Our chapter is Stanislaus County Jim Money
209-523-6451
http://www.usafreedomcorps.gov/
¤Other Military Support Sites
Gold Star Mothers
"a Gold Star is placed upon the Blue Star on the banner.
To distinguish those who made the ultimate sacrifice in the fight for freedom"
¤ 4 Military Families Great resource site
http://www.4militaryfamilies.com/
¤ Silentwarriors SW has been helping families
and friends on the web since 1998.
http://www.silentwarriors.net/
¤The Adopt a Platoon Soldier Support Effort (AAP) is a
nonprofit 501C-3 organization managed by volunteer
mothers. Our mission is to ensure that no U.S. deployed soldier is
forgotten, rally the nation behind our troops and teach
¤ Military Reserves Wives Website
¤ Families Attached to Military Website
¤ US Armed Forces News Service
http://www.usafns.com/bsf.shtml
Blue Star Families
News from our servicemembers in the air, on the front or on a fleet.
¤ Online Christian Ministries/Chaplain Services
¤ National Military Families Association -
The only national organization dedicated to identifying and resolving issues of concern to military families.
¨History
(click on flag for site to purchase)
http://www.homeofheroes.com/hallofheroes/1st_floor/flag/1bfb_disp9b.html
&Military Blogs
journal entries by servicemen and women and their families
http://mudvillegazette.com/milblogs/
-Tributes to Our Soldiers
This web site is dedicated to those who have sacrificed so much and received so little. Those men and women who have served their country with little or no recognition.
http://www.fdnylodd.com/9-11-Never-Forget/Memorials/Blood-Of-Heroes.html
- Holiday Tribute to Our Troops in Iraq
http://troopholidaypoem.fws1.com/
“Maspeth: Long May She Wave"
by: Kenneth Rudzewick
On a sun drenched Labor Day afternoon the citizens of Maspeth roared their approval as the service flag was stretched across 72nd Street off Grand Avenue. Patriotism was at an all-time high on September 7th, 1942 as members of the community serving in the armed forces had their names displayed on the flag.
As a boy of five the image is a bit cloudy, but with the accompanying photos and the reminiscences of my mom and dad certain clarity takes place. We lived on 72nd Street or the "Police station block" as it was referred to then. My grandfather Joseph DeBorger was the local air-raid warden and he took his job very seriously it seemed. Our house was in total darkness, even when there was no drill. As he said many times while drawing the heavy drapes "Just in case". The siren was perched atop P.S.73 and sounded as though it was located on your very own roof.
People on the home front were very conscientious about gas and food rationing, collecting metal and paper, air raid drills and the latest news from the European and Pacific fronts. Many an evening was spent gathered near the 'Philco' console radio, hoping to capture some good news from the latest reports. My friends and I were always busy "playing war" in the nearby lots, mimicking what we saw in the newspaper and news reels.
Many homes on our block had blue star flags in the window depicting a family member was serving in the armed services or a few had gold star flags which meant that household suffered a fatality. The first gold star flag that I remember was that of the Davey family, they lived around the block. Thomas Davey was killed in France, it hit home because he was a good friend of my Uncle Tom DeBorger who was fighting in France as well. Eventually 128 Maspeth boys would pay the ultimate sacrifice for freedom during World War II.
Seventy Second Street was the best place in the world to live and not only because my family made their home on the block. A victory garden was commonplace, but a coop with thirty odd chickens and two ducks with their own swimming hole were a bit unusual. Before Sunday dinner my grandfather and I would walk the half block to Basler's to have his metal "Growler" filled. This white enamel growler was special and held between seven and eight glasses of beer. My grandmother was the careful "chemist" filling the glasses, avoiding someone getting a short pour. Our house was located four doors off Grand Avenue with the 112th Police station, housing the friendly P.A.L. officer on the end of the block and Bar and Grills on both corners on the other. Neiderburger's on the Northeast corner, boasting 10 cent, 16 oz. beers and Basler's with a free lunch counter on the southeast corner. Philip Basler donated the store used by the service center, next to his establishment and Crimi's shoe repair adjacent to the center. Mr. Crimi was a kind older man and would ask me in broken English to occasionally stick my long skinny arm into one of his scary machines to retrieve a lost object. The reward for my heroics was a piece of penny candy of my choice.
The service center was the hub for all war effort activities, from war bond rallies to air raid warden headquarters. There were flags, meeting notices and warning posters like, "Lose lips sink ships" displayed in the window. Some of the posters had Hitler, Hirohito, and Mussolini heads grotesquely super imposed on rat or pig bodies.
It was easy to understand, even at a young age, that these were evil people and had to be defeated at all cost. It was early in 1942 and people in our part of town wanted to do something special for our boys in service and at the same time boost morale on the home front. The service flag was a perfect vehicle. My grandfather, his daughter, my mom Elsie and a host of other people formed the service flag committee. Contributions poured in, permission from Christopher Merklin and Philip Basler was granted to suspend the flag from the roofs of their properties. The flag was selected, one hundred and fifty four names sewn on both sides and the dedication day selected.
A vast enthusiastic parade kicked off the festivities, a program at the service center featuring Alex Frontera as the master of ceremonies followed. It is interesting to note some program highlights:The weather was perfect, the unfurled flag enthralled the crowd and everyone went home with a feeling of accomplishment. Not for long! A hurricane whipped through Maspeth that fall and our beloved flag was ripped to shreds. Undaunted, the flag committee renewed their efforts and a new flag was manufactured and rededicated on June 27th, 1943. With the war effort in high gear the committee added one hundred new names to the flag. The home front produced many service flags, banners, billboards and such throughout America. Our town of Maspeth was but a piece of the great mosaic of America during the war years.
Now on Memorial Day we honor the memory of those who made the ultimate sacrifice. Next year display "Old Glory", hold your hand over your heart as the glorious flag passes and say the prayer of thanks.
War mother
No mother had more at stake in the war than widow Esther McCabe, whose 11 sons all served overseas.
by Hugh Conrad
Esther McCabe had 12 children. That was a lot, even in the 1940s. But it wasn’t what really made her stand out—nor was the fact that 11 of her children were boys, or that she raised them alone. Her claim to fame was that all 11 of her sons were in the military in World War II. It didn’t take long for all of America to find out about that.
McCabe’s first public recognition as the quintessential war mother came in 1943. It came during a gathering in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, to support a war bond promotion by the Blue Star Mothers of America. McCabe shocked other attendees by naming her sons in the service (10 at that time), along with their ages and locations around the world. “I insist that my sons buy bonds, and I buy them myself whenever I can, for I feel that the war will be over that much quicker if we all help in every way possible,” she said. “I always did think the Blue Star Brigade was a fine organization, doing a good job, and I wanted to join for some time, but couldn’t get away before from my chores around the home and my letter writing.”
On Mother’s Day the following year, when still a mere 10 of the McCabe boys were serving their country, the organization War Mothers in the United States named McCabe the Nation’s Number 1 Mother. Soon afterward, another McCabe signed up for service, and his mother earned the unique distinction of having 11 sons in the war. Eight were in the army, two in the navy, and one in the merchant marine. She also had a daughter, Alice, the sole remaining civilian of the bunch. Before long, McCabe received another award, Pennsylvania’s Number 1 War Mother, from the Pennsylvania Newspaper Publisher’s Association. Soon, she began appearing as a guest on regional and national radio shows.
Like the family McCabe raised, the family she came from was a large one. Born in 1889, she was one of eight children of Thomas and Alice Scanlan, who lived on a slice of west-central Pennsylvania’s Washington Township that’s still known as Scanlan’s Hill. She and her sisters Ruth and Margaret were educated to be teachers, and she earned her teaching certification from Indiana Normal School (now Indiana University of Pennsylvania). After giving birth to her first son in 1909, however, she refocused her efforts from pursuing a career to raising a family.
By the time the United States was drawn into World War II in December 1941, Esther had been raising her 12 children alone for eight years. Her husband, Emmett, a United Mine Workers organizer, had died in 1933 (he was hit by a train in what was ruled an accident, but which some suspected was foul play). McCabe stayed put in their house in the small coal town of Lilly, a few miles north of Scanlan’s Hill.
As a widow with a dozen kids, she relied on her family for support. The Scanlan garden, for example, was critical to feeding all those hungry mouths during the Depression in the 1930s. “They used to get a couple acres plowed every year,” said 81-year-old James McCabe, the only one of McCabe’s children who is still alive. “They would bring in a horse and plow to get the land ready. They had a real big garden and called it The Farm.”
James, who goes by Jim and resides in Glendale Heights, Illinois, appreciated the recognition his mother received during the war. “I was happy about it for my mother. I think that she deserved something,” he says. “She was a very good Catholic. I thought a lot of her. She was evidently pretty smart to be able to raise all of us. She was a great woman.”
Jim signed the papers to join the navy in 1943 and entered the service in 1944, still a few months shy of his 18th birthday. “When I was growing up, all of my friends’ fathers were in the service,” he says. “That is what you wanted to do. I thought that the war would be over before I could get in, so I joined a little bit before I had to.” After the war, Jim returned to Lilly to work in the coal mines, but after a short time, he decided that life on the seas was better than toiling underground. He re-enlisted in the navy and stayed for 20 years before settling in Illinois.
Jim’s brother Leo, it turned out, was a bona fide war hero, but no one in the family knew about it. Leo, who was known as the European theater in 1944 and 1945. After the war, he returned to his hometown to settle down and raise six children. Like so many veterans, he was reluctant to discuss his wartime accomplishments. “We all got home from the war in one piece,” he said in an interview in 2004. “When we got home, we never talked about the war much. We just considered ourselves lucky to make it home alive.”
When Leo died in 2007, his family found out about his heroics. Serving as a technician with an anti-aircraft artillery battalion, he fought in Normandy, Northern France, the Rhineland, the Ardennes, and Central Europe. He earned five Bronze Stars, the European–African–Middle Eastern Theater Service Medal, and the Distinguished Unit Badge. His heroics included pulling a man from a fire caused by enemy rockets. When his children were young, he never breathed a word about his wartime deeds. They never knew about their father’s medals. “Never once did he bring it up,” says Linda (McCabe) Ronan, Leo’s daughter, who lives in Ashville, Pennsylvania. “That is why we were so shocked when we found out about it.”
With all 11 McCabe boys surviving the war (though two of them suffered emotional problems that haunted them until their deaths), World War II ended happily for Esther McCabe. She lived until 1971, still residing in her Lilly home, still caring for her two shell-shocked sons, and still unsurpassed by any other American mother in the number of sons contributed to wartime service. Jim McCabe can’t help but resort to a word he’s reluctant to use in describing his mother’s and his whole family’s wartime accomplishments: proud. “Sure, I was proud,” he says. “It was a pretty great thing. Nobody else did it.”
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American War Mothers - Fayette County, Kentucky
In Memorium
By John S. Arkwright
"O valiant Hearts, who to your glory came
Through dust of conflict and through battle-flame;
Tranquil you lie, your knightly virtue proved,
Your memory hallowed in the Land you loved.
Proudly you gathered, rank on rank to war,
As you had hoped for, all you had, you gave
To save Mankind--yourselves you scorned to save.
Splendid you passed, the great surrender made,
Into the light that nevermore shall fade;
Deep your contentment in that blest abode,
Who wait the last clear trumpet-call of God.
Long years ago, as earth lay dark and still,
Rose a loud cry upon a lonely hill,
While in the frailty of our human clay
Christ, our Redeemer, passed the self-same way.
Still stands His Cross from that dread hour to this
Like some bright star above the dark abyss;
Still, through the veil, the Victor's pitying eyes
Look down to bless our lesser Calvaries.
These were His servants, in His steps they trod
Following through death the martyred Son of God:
Victor He rose; victorious too shall rise.
They who have drunk His cup of Sacrifice.
O risen Lord, O Shepherd of our Dead,
Whose Cross has bought them and whose Staff has led--
In glorious hope their proud and sorrowing Land
Commits her Children to They gracious hand."
"I pray that our Heavenly Father may assuage
the anguish of bereavement and leave you
only the cherished memory of the loved and lost,
and the solemn pride that must be yours to have
laid so costly a sacrifice upon the altar of freedom"
Abraham Lincoln.
