Eleventh Month, Eleventh Day, Eleventh Hour

November 11, 1918, an armistice between the Allied nations and Germany went into effect thus ending “the war to end all wars”. 

Soldiers of the 353rd Infantry near a church at Stenay, Meuse in France, wait for the end of hostilities.  This photo was taken at 10:58 a.m., on November 11, 1918, two minutes before the armistice ending World War I went into effect

In 1926, Armistice Day became a federal holiday to honor all those who fought in The Great War.  However, in 1954, after World War II had required the greatest mobilization of soldiers, sailors, Marines and airmen in the Nation’s history; after American forces had fought aggression in Korea, the 83rd Congress amended the act by striking out the word "Armistice" and inserting in its place the word "Veterans." And on June 1, 1954, November 11 became a day to honor American veterans of all wars.

And, so, in my own small way, I honor the men and women in my family that have defended our country.  This isn’t a complete list – no uncles or brothers, no sisters or aunts and I’m sure there are many I haven’t included for lack of information.  But, here you go -

Edmund Scarburgh        Accomack, VA Militia     1631

Richard Walker  The Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company Massachusetts Militia        1638

John Wise         Accomack, VA Militia     1647

Thomas Hall      City of James, VA Militia 1668

Richard Haynie              Northumberland Co, VA Militia   1701

John Matthews              Augusta Co., VA Militia  1742

John Patterson              1st Regt, 4th Co, Farmington CT Militia   1746

Michael Woods             Virginia Militia    1754

Sampson Matthews       Virginia Provincial Militia 1754

Challis Safford  Capt Samuel Robinson Troops  1756

John George Reber       Continental Army           1775

 Thomas Posey  Provisional Rifle Corps  1775

Thomas Brown  Continental Army           1776

Thomas Oder    Continental Army           1776

Benjamin Patterson       Also acted as a spy against British         1777

James Waldrop Continental Army           1777

James Wise      NC Militia          1777

Joseph Oder     Capt Samuel Blackwell Troops   1777

Michael DeLong            5th Co, 2nd Batl, Berks, PA Militia          1777

Robert Pulliam  GA Militia          1777

William Moseley            Continental Army           1777

Gabriel Fowlkes             Virginia Militia    1778

Jones Broach    Continental Army           1778

Nathan Smith    Georgia Troops 1778

Forest Green     Continental Army           1779

James Smith     Battle of Kettle Creek, Wilkes Co, GA     1779

William W. Mitchell        Battle of Kings Mountain            1780

Jost Fickes       Continental Army           1781

Nathan Hall       Battle of Yorktown         1781

Joseph Pulliam              Ft Madison, Franklin Co, GA      1784

Nathaniel Fowlkes         VA Militia          1812

Rice Green        GA Militia          1812

Richard M. Waldrop       Williamson Co Calvary, TN         1812

Robert Pulliam, Jr          4th Regt Booths, GA Militia        1812

John H. Patrick             Georgia Militia   1824

Nathanial M. Hudson     Pontotoc MS, Anderson’s Rifles 1847

Henry Hardy Fowlkes    Mississippi Infantry        1862

James Sims      AR 31st Infantry             1862

Homer Pulliam  Mississippi Infantry        1863

Richard Waldrop           Fall of Charleston, SC    1863

Thomas Posey II           Kentucky Infantry          1863

Jones A. Broach            AR Calvary        1864

Garnet Carl Abbott        US Army           1917

Jack Pulliam Abbott      US Army           1943

Michael H. Nash            US Navy           1963

Gregory S. Hobbs         US Navy           1975

The Remembrance Day symbolism of the poppy started with a poem written by World War I brigade surgeon, Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, who was struck by the sight of the red flowers growing on a ravaged battlefield.  McCrae wrote a poem, “In Flanders Field,” in which he channeled the voice of the fallen soldiers buried under those hardy poppies.  And, so the red poppy became a symbol of remembrance for the fallen.

Today, November 11, at 11:00am, I will take a moment to thank those men and women, both listed and not.  You might too.

11 Nov 2019