Patriotic Essay: "The Patriotism and Leadership of Abraham Lincoln"

Maryland Department Patriotic Instructors Message for October 2010

The Patriotism and Leadership of Abraham Lincoln

As we near election day in November, let us remember an earlier time when America also seemed to be moving towards  a political and constitutional chaos.  In Abraham Lincoln the nation found a man who would lead it through four arduous years of civil war and preserve the sacred Union that had been crafted by the founding fathers. 

Abraham Lincoln was a sincere and passionate defender of the great republican principles first laid out in the Declaration of Independence  by Jefferson and later codified in James Madison's United States Constitution.   Lincoln had undoubtedly been brought up to believe that the prosperity of America, depended on the virtue of the people,  as exemplified by self sacrifice.  Virtue could be seen in every man's contribution of a portion of himself,  lest the nation would face self destruction.   Patriotism for an American , as Lincoln most likely saw it, would be defined by obedience to the law and discharge of the social responsibility and duties of his citizenship

On October 20th Lincoln received a confidential note which stated that the writer " On a recent visit to the east . . . was informed that a number of young men in Virginia had bound themselves, by oaths the most solemn, to cause your assassination, should you be elected."  Many a man in receipt of such a letter might have sought to remove himself from the van guard of controversy which shrouded the political stage of the time.  However, for Lincoln his love of country was a force stronger than that of self interest and Lincoln placed his trust in providence and was obedient to the call he had been given .  Abraham Lincoln understood the value of his and every mans moral virtue to the betterment of the American nation.  He weighed the merits of self interest and national interest and committed himself to the preservation of his nation. 

Virtue was then and  is still now the principal force at work in Patriotism.  As Lincoln put aside his individuality and exemplified the ethics of Patriotism so must all the progeny of the founding fathers work to ensure the nations survival and prosperity for future generations yet unborn by exhorting virtue and self sacrifice

 

Mark R. Day

MD Department Patriotic Instructor

Patriotic Essay: "MD Department Patriotic Instructor May 2010"

MD Department Patriotic Instructor May 2010 

"Memorial Day"  General Logan's  Instructions and a Message

       With Memorial Day near at hand, we find ourselves in a new battle to preserve the true spirit in which it was established.  In many ways the purpose for celebrating Memorial Day has passed out of the conscience of America.  Today small groups of men and women, hold to tradition, attend ceremonies in cemetery's, town squares, and memorial parks in hope of honoring the heroes of Americas past.  However, the  great mass of Americans pass the day with little thought to the men who have given all for the freedom they enjoy.  We have lost part of ourselves; apathy and ignorance have permeated the fabric of America, caused people to question their sense of Patriotism, or worse still label it unpopular and anachronistic. 

     In  the opening paragraphs of General Order #11 General  John Logan gives two important instructions to the future generations of America.  First we have a duty and a sacred trust to preserve the resting places of the fallen heroes.   General Logan underscores the point of preserving the memory of the fallen by saying "What can aid more to assure this result than by cherishing tenderly the memory of our heroic dead . . .  We should guard their graves with sacred vigilance."  As camps and members of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, the descendant group of the GAR,  General Logan's Order #11 reminds us that our generation too; has a duty to find, mark, and preserve the resting places of the "Boys in Blue.  In large measure this is how we can ensure that physical evidence of the sacrifice made between 1861 and 1865 survives within the corporate American memory. The second instruction that General Logan passed on to us is that, we as members must ensure that the story of that sacrifice is taught to the next generation of Americans less the lesson of that sacrifice be lost to them.  The following quote from order #11 defines our task; "o vandalism of avarice or neglect, no ravages of time, testify to the present or coming generations that we have forgotten, as a people, the cost of a free and undivided republic." We must share the responsibility to secure a future in which apathy and ignorance for sacred days such as Memorial Day have no place.  We must stand up, testifying to the values of Patriotism and the values of the men we seek to honor.  Camps should become involved with their local schools.  The National SUVCW has a program for "Adopt-a-School.  Identify and contact the people who teach history in all grades. K - College.  Camps can put together a speakers bureau that local history teachers can call upon to present programs in the classroom.  Have your camp start up a local history teacher of the year award, this is great way to gain local community media exposure.  In order to educate the public we must become involved at the grassroots in our communities by seeking out and working with the other patriotic groups such as the  SAR or DAR  to increase awareness.  If you have not already established an Eagle Scout or JROTC program do so.  The requirements for these programs can be found on the national web site and their cost is small in relation to the benefits and rewards they reap. 

     If we are to preserver in our goals to bring Memorial Day back to the original purpose we must educate the public to that original purpose.  We are the front line in this endeavor and it is up to us to take an action and take it soon.

 

The Battle Cry of Freedom (excerpts)

Yes, we'll rally round the flag, boys, we'll rally once again

shouting the battle-cry of freedom

We will rally from the hill-side, we'll gather from the plain

Shouting the battle-cry of freedom

The Union forever, hurrah boys, hurrah!

Down with the traitor, up with the star

While we rally round the flag boys, rally once again

Shouting the battle-cry of freedom

We are springing to the call of our brothers gone before,

Shouting the battle-cry of freedom

                                                                                                  George Frederick Root

 Written by Mark R. Day, May 2010, Copyright Mark R. Day 1 May 2010, all rights reserved

Poem "The Changing World"

On and on through the sable veil of space; the world spins in elegant grace.
For time immemorial the earth, in peace and grace, has completed the cycle of day and night

But through some folly or natures inevitable evolution; earth is changing before man's eye.
Familiar things are passing away; as does day into night, bringing a fear of the unknown.

Quixotic man resists the very senses he possesses, and fails to see the need for humility.
The world will go on in timeless flight but will temporal and transitory humanity.

Man!  Respect the world; accept the challenge of change and realize that you are but a
small part of universal creation.

As wind and water erode the mountain and stars are born and die; the powers of nature are unyielding  not mans to manipulate or engineer.  

All things have a season; destiny is not ours to control.  Mankind must learn to live in the world nature is constantly redesigning or the world will transition and move on without them.



Written by Mark R. Day 1/12/13.  Copyright by Mark R. Day, all rights reserved, 1/12/13

Poem "The Power of a Smile"

 

Her smile is always present amidst the tumults of a stormy life.

No pain,  no sorrow, nor unrelenting affliction shall whisk the happiness away.

How comes one to such serenity and peace when life casts you upon the rocky shoal.

She draws on love as the source of her smile in the  darkest hour of the night

A smile the anchor which, holds fast in the persistent  gale which blows about her.

Yes, her smile is always present amidst the tumults of life and that has made all the difference.

 

 

Written by Mark R. Day, 1/12/13.  Copyright by Mark R. Day 1/12/13, all rights reserved.  As, I wrote this the words came from my memories of a dear cousin whom has always been a source of inspiration for me as I deal with the problems of life.  God blessed her with a beautiful smile, a big heart, and immense courage.    I thank him for sharing her with me and teaching me, through her, about his grace..

Photo "Virginia Winter: Mountain Snow and Fallow Field"

 

Photos taken by Mark R. Day on 27 December 2012, of the Peaks of Otter and Blue Ridge Mountains in Bedford, VA.,  using a Canon Power Shot SX100IS.

Copyright by Mark R. Day, December 27, 2012, all rights reserved

Christmas Message to the Second Military District SVR

Headquarters Second Military District 104 Mullbury Place Lynchburg, Virginia 24502

Families and Friends  of the Second Military District,

     This morning, as I sat down to write you, my mind was stirred with the many thoughts, which flow so freely at this joyous time of year, and I was reminded that so many of the most common traditions, now practiced in America, developed during the years of the Civil War.  Our ancestors have left us so much more than just the memory of war and sacrifice; for we are also the inheritors of such rich traditions as the Christmas Tree , Christmas Spirit, and yes even Santa himself.  In the darkness of war and destruction soldiers both north and south found a moment to spread forth a light, which pressed back the darkness and revealed the humanity of all mankind.  Alfred, Lord Tennyson, England's poet laureate once wrote:

The larger heart, the kinder hand; Ring out the darkness in the land.

I believe that in the midst of darkness our ancestors took it upon themselves to put words such Tennyson's into action and in many small and private ways provided light to a world wrapped in the darkness of war and strife.

     Today the world still contains many a dark place and as we go out into our communities, I pray that we will emulate the spirit of those men and women who struggled in the darkness of 1861-1865.  When you hear the gentle peal of Christmas bells ringing softy in the dark, remember the voices that rise to sing the hymns in vacant stillness on the distant fields of war and picture the family gathered round the hearth with a chair left empty for the missing son. Be a light in the world for light is needed today just as it was in the past.

     I leave you with the words of a true Christmas Carol of hope, written in 1864 by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow:

 

"I heard the bells on Christmas Day
Their old familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet
The words repeat
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!


And thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along
The unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!


Till, ringing, singing on its way,
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime
A chant sublime
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!


Then from each black accursed mouth
The cannon thundered in the South,
And with the sound
The carols drowned
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!


It was as if an earthquake rent
The hearth-stones of a continent,
And made forlorn
The households born
Of peace on earth, good-will to me

And in despair I bowed my head;
"There is no peace on earth," I said;
"For hate is strong,
And mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!"


Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
"God is not dead; nor doth he sleep!
The Wrong shall fail,
The Right prevail,
With peace on earth, good-will to men!"

 

May each of your Christmas celebrations be filled with peace and joy.  Merry Christmas and Happy New year

Mark R. Day, Major

Commander 2nd Military District

 

 

 

Speech: Brief Remarks upon the Rededication of the Irish Brigade Monument at City Dock in Fredericksburg, VA

Good Morning

Today, I stand here as the representative of the Department of the Chesapeake, Sons of veterans of the Civil War and as an American of Irish Heritage.  The Irish Brigade, whom we honor today,  was a continuation of a proud tradition of  Irish manhood's service in the pursuit of justice and freedom.  On this blood soaked field of combat these  Irish ex-patriots, who so recently had sojourned to the shores of America, followed in the footsteps of those Irish country lads know as the "Wild Geese" who fought on the great battlefields of Europe, such as Fontenoy and Culloden, in hope that victory would lead to Irish Independence.  These men knew the oppression of tyranny and saw in the United States a new hope, which was worth risking death to preserve, and so with their green banner proudly unfurled leading the way, they crossed the Rappahannock and marched into immortality upon the ground of Marye's Heights.

In 1792, the man who would later become King Louis XVIII acknowledged the loyalty of his Irish soldiers by presenting them a flag upon which was emblazoned the words "Semper et ubique Fidelis" [Always and everywhere faithful].  Today we can add our tribute to America's heroic sons of Erin by adding our pledge of fealty so beautifully stated in the inscription on this monument, which reads:  "To the Sons of Erin, who put God, Country, and Duty before self, we must never forget the sacrifices they made for our freedom.  Erin Go Braugh!"

May God bless the souls of these; our  honored dead.