Cover Photo by Mark R. Day

Sunday, February 14, 2016

Speech: Comments for the Taylor-Wilson Lincoln Birthday Dinner at Lynchburg College, Lynchburg, VA 24502


 

Brother Mark R. Day Junior Vice Commander in Chief, SUVCW                                            
Comments for the Taylor-Wilson Lincoln Birthday Dinner at Lynchburg College,   2-13-2016

First of all the CinC, Eugene Mortorff, has asked that I extend his greetings to the Brothers of the Taylor-Wilson Camp 10 and the ladies of the Taylor-Wilson Auxiliary.  Gene regrets his inability to be here with us this evening and hopes that everyone enjoys the meal and the entertainment.  

We are here tonight celebrating the birth of President  Lincoln 207 years ago.   Yesterday is was my privilege to join with Brother Mortorff, Brother Martin, Sister Martin, and dozens of other members of the SUVCW and the Military Order of the Loyal Legion in attending the National Celebration of Lincoln's birth held at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C.  This was my first time attending the event and as I sat only a few yards from the massive statue of President Lincoln I felt, that his eyes were fixed upon me.  I was drawn to return the gaze and soon understood, that  the Presidents face seemed fixed with a purpose.   I don't know if that fixed expression was the message intended by the sculptor, but it was the message sent to me and I could not take my eyes off his face.

As the ceremony proceeded there came a point when a group of students began to sing the Battle Hymn of the Republic  and as I listened I closed my eyes, but Lincoln's face remained.  The people in the Memorial were silent as the singers voices resonated from the Marble walls, which bear Lincoln's own immortal words, to a people locked in the struggle of Civil War, and while the words of the song were familiar, in my mind it was as if I was hearing them for the first time, and I felt a sudden rush of emotions. 

I understood that the task, which Lincoln wanted to accomplish, remains unfinished.  I wondered if that resolute face on the statue was remembering the voice of Marian Anderson singing beneath it on the steps of the Memorial after she was denied the right to perform in the Constitution Hall of the Daughters of the American Revolution.  I wondered if the face of Lincoln had felt the pain of a people when Martin Luther King spoke of his dreams in 1963 and I wondered if the wind had carried the tensions of our recent experiences to brush against his beard.

I will leave you with a quote from a speech given on another cold and blustery day and a reminder:
 "The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us—that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion—that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain—that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom— and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."

We must Remember that, Abraham Lincoln nobly advanced the cause of Freedom, that he is among those honored dead who gave the last full measure, and that we need to take increased devotion to the cause of freedom,  so that he did not die in vain.

Sunday, February 7, 2016

Poem: Where "Grace" Begins


"Grace"  is found in many acts

a handshake

a greeting

a smile

an embrace

However it always begins in the heart

for the heart is the home of "Grace"

the heart filled with love creates it

to share with the whole wide world.

 

Written by Mark R. Day 2-7-16.  Copyright by Mark R. Day 2-7-16, all rights reserved.

Saturday, February 6, 2016

Journal Entry: Notes made during the observance of the 150th anniversary of Lee's surrender to Grant at Appomattox Court House Part 1


Early Thursday morning April 9th, 2015 (150 years)
Between 2:45 am and 3:30 am there was a terrible storm. At times there appeared to be a yellow glow outside of the tent, as the lightning flashed and thunder roared in the pitch black sky. The rain came as alternating sheets of water and then simple droplets, which tapped on the sides of the tent like fingers slowly tapping on a drum. The experience was both exhilarating and frightening simultaneously. I thought throughout the event of those men who, 150 years ago, experienced such wicked storms and spent many dark nights in a field or a forest under circumstances similar to those occurring about me. They had often borne the brunt of nature without tent or blankets. What a hearty breed of men they were, so much braver than myself to take on such conditions and simply continue to soldier on.
What an amazing day 4/9/15 will be. Indeed it began very early, for most everyone was up and about by 4:30 am. Last night's storm had awakened them and few were able to return to slumber. We have eaten breakfast in darkness and are preparing to report to the Battalion Commander by 5:30 am. The First Sergeant and the Captain had us fall in along the narrow dirt road which passes before our camp of dog tents, shebang's, and other assorted forms of cover. I can see that the glowing embers of our campfire are receding from my sight as we march eastward along the road and our mornings work. Arriving at the Brigade Headquarters we joined with several other companies in practicing the stacking of arms and other drill. Soon the order was given to fall in for inspection of our weapons and then we were on the march again by 6:30 am. This time we were going to the rendezvous location to meet the North Carolina Regiments. As we reached the outer edge of the village of Appomattox Court House a halt was called and we once again stacked arms and rested beside a split rail fence that ran along the road. Soon the North Carolina men appeared, we took up arms, and began the march to the breakout reenactment. We marched into the village of Appomattox Court House, past the Court House itself, and onto the Lynchburg Stage Road. Near the McLean House the Brigade was ordered off the road and into a field, on the right of the Stage Road, were we formed into lines of battle. There was a soft haze covering the field and occasionally the shapes of horses and men could be seen in the mist, but they did not move toward our position. Our Colonel ordered our company, the 11th Virginia, to form skirmish lines and move out to probe the field ahead of the main body. A battery of artillery was positioned on the right of my company to ensure that our flank was protected. As we moved out in good order a single line of skirmishers about twenty-five feet apart was established. We moved slowly through the haze covered field and at one point a line of small bushes suddenly appeared ahead of us just feet away. The Captain passed down the command to march obliquely toward a line of trees that began to appear ahead. The trees would offer some cover and allow us to re-align ourselves after the trek through the mist. Suddenly we observed the movement of men and horses about 250 yards ahead on a small hill and we engaged them. The tree line was a perfect place for us and we drove the Calvary off. Shortly after this we were ordered to rejoin the Battalion and later discovered that the Cavalry we fired on was actually Confederate Cavalry who were screening our Battalions movements from a line of Union dismounted Cavalry on a second hilltop a quarter mile away. On our right the Battery of Cannon, which protected our flank began to fire. I assumed they were firing at the Union soldiers hidden on that ridge further ahead of us. The smoke from the Canons mixed with the morning haze to create an impenetrable grey cloud, which obscured all the features of the land and blinded us to the movements of the Union Soldiers. An order came down from the Colonel, "Move Forward". My company was again ordered to form a skirmish line ahead of the Brigade. I could see two other Battalions of Grey Clad men on our left, they were the 44th Virginia and the 26th North Carolina. Slowly we moved forward up the ridge we had seen the Confederate Cavalry upon; earlier that morning. Topping the hill we could see that the Union Army was about three hundred yards away on top of a ridge higher than that we had just climbed. The Captain ordered our skirmish line to halt and prepare to fire and advance against the Union line . Behind and to the left the Three regiments of our Brigade fired a volley in unison and the Rebel Yell could be heard rolling like thunder over the field. Moving on the command of the Captain we began to advance toward the second hill. Our company performed the maneuver perfectly each man waiting on the other to load before firing and moving forward ten yards at a time. We fought our way toward the enemy but soon Union Canon began to fire from behind the hill. Our forward movement was halted by the Canon fire, the enemy soon brought up infantry support, and we were forced to fall back over the ground we had just won. Soon we were back in the tree line we had started from. Once again the Confederate Army would not breakout from Appomattox. Reflecting now upon the engagement, which mirrored the one 150 years before. I could not help but share the anguish and disapointment, which they most surely felt, as we made that long march back to camp.
Epilogue
Re-enacting is truly theater of the real. When you can find yourself able to experience the emotion and find a bond with the men who fought upon the ground of Appomattox Court House; then history can come alive and real knowledge is obtained.

A Life of Love for One Another: The Secret to Ending Human Grief


How can one life is more important than another's

On what basis is such a decision made

Are not all of equal importance regardless of their wealth.

 

How can one man see himself the better of another

On what basis is such a decision made

Are not all of equal value regardless of their religion.

 

How can one people see themselves better than another

On what basis is such a decision made

Are not of equal status regardless of their race.

 

How can we learn to love one another

On what basis is such a decision made

Are not all loved by someone regardless of themselves.

 

How can one think themselves loved but love not another

On what basis is such a decision made

Are not all of worthy to be loved regardless of difference.

 

Love!

Love!

Love!

All we need is Love! says the song.

So let Love be our purpose

So let Love heal our World

 

 

Written by Mark R. Day 6 February 2016, Copyright by Mark R. Day 6 February 2016, all rights reserved.