Companions,
I hate to think that we have as a Nation thrown in the towel on History. Not sure if anyone had my experience over the Presidents’ Day Week, but there was a real challenge in finding documentaries and biographies on our leaders and Presidents in the media. I know there must have been more, but I only found the one on U.S. Grant. If you watch any of the shows that ask our young people about History and Historical events, they (editing of the pieces being understood) seem to highlight the lack of awareness of where we have come from and how we got here, thereby contributing to a what I would view as a lack of some direction as to where we are going.
February was a great month for opportunity to focus on leadership with the birthdays of who are arguably our most prolific and iconic leaders in George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. We have; however, even relegated the recognition of their triumphs over the turmoil through which they led our country to an afterthought and a day for Retail Sales in Presidents’ Day. We have our Naval heroes from the past from the Revolution through the War of 1812, Barbary Coast, Civil War, Spanish-American War, WWI, and WWII and Korea. Our focus over the past 60 years of naval history seems to have forgotten the deeds and the heroes who kept us free along the way.
The Naval Order is doing many things in our Commanderies to keep a focus on history alive. Be it monthly meetings, the Monthly History presentation, placement of historical Markers and monuments, our History day competitions, and just general dialogue that supports the remembrance of the events so important to our heritage. The Commanderies are able to reach out to Companions as well as other Veteran Organizations and local governments to keep the traditions in the forefront. We have speakers and access to historians to fill most any requirement for knowledge……we must let them know and offer these services. This is not a mission for one or two but a mission for all.
For the Good of the Order