It was an honor to help out
[edit] A day later his grave stone still stands and his flag flies (nearest in photo), right along with those of his fellow “Yankees”. I also talked to cemetery staff and they are going to take care of it. I am pleased.
As I start to get back in shape, I walk as many days a week as possible. As mentioned before, I love to walk through the Mount Feake Cemetery here in town, and so often stumble upon something interesting there:
Today as I was approaching the cemetery exit I saw the grave of a soldier, broken and toppled (natural causes I think/hope). His flag was also down, in the mud.
It was my honor to lift it back up on its base and re-plant the flag. But it needs care (it’s going to fall again) and the cemetery office was closed. So if they don’t find and address it before hand, I’ll stop in the next time I go. I will also ask them to clean and/or consider retiring or burning the flag, and plant a new one, if needed.
The soldier, a Sergeant in the 101st Infantry Division, died in France in 1918.
It’s stuff like this that makes me so sad to think about what America is now. It sure is not what people fought for back in another lifetime.
A little history from Wiki:
The 9th Massachusetts had been protecting the Mexico–United States border near El Paso, Texas from 18 June-22 November 1916, and was prepared for other such mobilizations, which would prove to be vital in April 1917, when the United States joined the Allied Powers during the First World War.[3] In order to prepare the regiment for service, it was redesignated the 101st Infantry Regiment, and was assigned to the 51st Infantry Brigade of the 26th Infantry Division, the “Yankee Division.” The 102nd Infantry Regiment was also assigned to the 51st Brigade. The regiment mustered in its new form on 22 August 1917 in Framingham, Massachusetts and arrived in France in September. It was the first Army National Guard unit of the American Expeditionary Force to arrive in France, and was also the first National Guard unit to enter frontline combat.[3] Alongside the French Army, the 101st made a raid into German lines on 23 February 1918, marking the first time an American unit had launched a raid in the war. Commanded by Edward Lawrence Logan, the 26th Division, including the 101st Regiment, engaged the Germans in numerous battles along the Western Front including; the 1918 German spring offensive, the Third Battle of the Aisne, the Second Battle of the Marne, the Battle of Saint-Mihiel, and the massive Meuse-Argonne Offensive. It was here in the Meuse-Argonne Offensive that Private First Class Michael J. Perkins from Boston, earned the Medal of Honor. While advancing with D Company, 101st Infantry, he single-handedly neutralized a fortified pillbox with grenades, and captured 25 prisoners and 7 machine guns with his trench knife. The bloodied regiment was mustered out of service in April 1919 at Camp Devens.[3]
Amazing.
Thanks for doing that Gary. That soldier and his familiy deserves whatever we can do.
You bet, Sharkage!
Thanks for sharing that Gary and performing that small act of respect.
It’s the least I could do, John.
Great post!