Catching Up

I looked at the blog this morning and realized how much you must have missed of my month.  We saw Dad onto an airplane in Baltimore shortly after my last post.  We then spent some time with Fidelio and her energetic family.  (BTW, Becket Gamgee is SO cute!)  After that, we went to...

Mother Seton's Shrine

One of the rooms she taught in [Stone House]

The room where she died [white house]

The Basilica

Her Tomb

Mount St. Mary's Lourdes Shrine

Nativity Statue

And we also visited Gettysburg(!)  It was a breathtaking experience.  I couldn't believe how far you could see from Little Round Top and how far away the Seminary tower was (where Buford observed the battle).  It was awesome to follow up our Maine trip with a trip both to Fredericksburg (June) and Gettysburg. 

View from Little Round Top

Gen. Warren's statue at Little Round Top

Monument to the 20th Maine

The "end of the line"

Chamberlain's right flank

The ground on Little Round Top

This is the field where Buford's calvelry held off the Confederate Army until the arrival of the Union infantry

The Seminary tower (right, barely visible over the treetops)

Lee's Headquarters

Seminary Tower

Monument to the Tennessee Volunteers

Notice the Vultures flying over the Wheatfield

Lee's Statue

Little Round Top

Monument to the Irish Brigade

Monument to Fr. Corby, the priest/chaplain for the Irish

The Pennsylvania Monument

We had a great time and now we're enjoying the company of little ones...and going nuts.

"CHOO-CHOO!!!"

Valentine's Day TTT

HAPPY ST. VALENTINE'S DAY!

1.  This is one of the most beautiful love letters I have ever read.  It was written by Colonel Chamberlain to his wife, Fanny, "My darling wife I am lying mortally wounded the doctors think, but my mind & heart are at peace.  Christ is my all-sufficient savior. I go to him. God bless & keep & comfort you, precious one. You have been a precious wife to me. To know & love you makes life & death beautiful. Cherish the darlings & give my love to all the dear ones. Do not grieve too much for me. We shall all soon meet. Live for the children. Give my dearest love to Father, Mother & Sallie & John. Oh, how happy to feel yourself forgiven!  God bless you evermore precious, precious one. Ever yours, Lawrence."

2.  I found out today (due to Fidelio's incredible research) that I am descended from a line of British noblemen that dates back to the 12th century.  Sir Robert Needham, who lived in the 1600s, was the Viscount Kilmorey, the Baron of Orhera, a representative of Ireland in Parliament, and a staunch supporter of Charles 1st.  His son Charles succeeded him in these positions and was a member of the Irish House of Lords.  In other words, I'm the (innumerably) great granddaughter of a Jacobite viscount!

3.  In addressing the Army of the Potomac, Alexander Hamilton said, "The time is now near at hand which must probably determine whether Americans are to be freemen or slaves; whether they are to have any property they can call their own; whether their houses and farms are to be pillaged and destroyed, and themselves consigned to a state of wretchedness from which no human efforts will deliver them. The fate of unborn millions will now depend, under God, on the courage and conduct of this army. Our cruel and unrelenting enemy leaves us only the choice of brave resistance, or the most abject submission. We have, therefore, to resolve to conquer or die."

My Choice

That was a difficult poll for me.  I was really torn because the Civil War is my favorite part of American History (namely because of one general).  However, I couldn't help my feeling that if I were to choose a time in history to live in, it would be the 40s.  There was no other time in American history, save the War for Independence, that the whole country united under one cause: to protect our country's ideals and halt the advance of Communism, a great threat to the growth of Christianity.  I often long to return to the patriotism and industry so common and dear to the hearts of the brave men and women of WWII. 

Anyway, it was a 50-50 chance, so I went for the forties. 

Two Truths Tuesday



Movies!

1.  I saw Captain America with Papa and Big Bro.  Excellent!!  Definitely made for teenagers and adults, though.  The movie is great because it captures the spirit of Americans and shows the makeup of a true hero: a completely unselfish kid from Brooklyn.  Steve Rogers is an all-around, good-hearted American soldier who uses his abilities to save lives and stop bullies. 

2.  Gods and Generals is my favorite movie, especially in its portrayal of Colonel Chamberlain.  I love its outlook on Southern life and traditions.  I do prefer Martin Sheen for Lee rather than Robert Duvall, though. 

3.  Just watched North and South (story by Elizabeth Gaskel) again.  Great movie!  After knowing the story, I see that, morally, Mr. Thornton was right on most of the issues Margaret disliked him for.  (Such as punishing the man who lit his pipe in the factory.)  I love the book, too.

Two Truths Tuesday: Answer



Aha!!  You did get the right answer again, Mozart.

1.  This was supposed to be correct, but I accidentally added an extra lie.  Douglas MacArthur was the son, not the grandson, of Arthur MacArthur.  But, uh...  they were related!  :)

2.  This is the lie!  In 1864, Lawrence Chamberlain was the Brigade Commander of the Army of the Potomac when he was shot through the hip.  Nonetheless, Chamberlain thrust his sword into the ground in front of him to keep him upright while he rallied his men.  The field surgeon proclaimed the wound to be mortal and General Grant personally thanked Chamberlain for his bravery by advancing his rank to Brigadier General.  However, Chamberlain lived, went on to gain the rank of Major General, fight in the Appomattox, personally receive the sword of General Lee, become Governor of Maine, and live until the ripe old age of 85!

3.  I was surprised that you didn't think this was the lie, after the impression given by the movie Gods and Generals.  We actually took a tour of Stonewall Jackson's home and the tour guide said that peaches were Jackson's favorite fruit, not lemons.  It just happens to be that lemonade was a universal treat in the Southern states and he liked to indulge in a cool drink.

Two Truths Tuesday

Today's subject is Civil War history!  Can you guess which is not true?

1.  Did you know that World War II General Douglas McArthur's grandfather, Arthur McArthur, received the Medal of Honor for his gallantry in storming Missionary Ridge at the Battle of Chattanooga in 1863?

2.  Did you know that Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain was mortally wounded in the battle of Petersburg and was posthumously awarded with the rank of Brigadier General?

3.  Despite popular belief, did you know that General Stonewall Jackson's favorite fruit was peaches?

Quote

(Click to view larger)

Two Truths Tuesday





Lawrence Chamberlain,
by Jeff Daniels 

  

1.  I've watched Gods and Generals and am in the middle of the movie Gettysburg.  I just finished the Civil War chapter of American History and thought it was rushed and confusing.  So, we've been watching the movies, which have helped a lot.  And, Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain is my new hero.  I think he becomes my new hero every time I see the movie.

2.  We shot off our own fireworks last night!  They couldn't be too big in the neighborhood, but it was still a lot of fun.  We did not have noisemakers 'cause none of my family likes them.  It's established that Mr. B. is afraid of the 4th of July.  :)

3.  I sang the Responsory Psalm for Sunday's Mass from the Lectern.  Quite and amazing feat, for me.  This is the person who would cry if pressured to play piano in front of ten people.  And she stood up in front of about 300 people at the Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul to sing!  I am proud of her.