Monday, May 25, 2026
A Sacred Day
America has reserved the fourth Monday of May each year as Memorial Day, a day to remember and reflect on the women and men who have sacrificed their lives in the defense of our country over the past 250 years.
I received this random message
via Facebook on Monday
I let Michael and Jacob know about this event which they both wanted to attend.
Michael contacted the people running it on Sunday night and they were happy to hear that we were coming and was it at all possible if they came in full Civil War regalia.
Michael contacted the people running it on Sunday night and they were happy to hear that we were coming and was it at all possible if they came in full Civil War regalia.
Are you kidding?
GAME ON!
Mountain View Cemetery
Altadena, California
This old school, above ground marked cemetery was first opened in 1882 and has 70,000 burials spread about in its 60 acres.
Nearly 700 of those buried here served in the American Civil War, some for the Confederacy, most for the Union.
It was a tranquil site for sure
While the boys were changing
into Union uniforms, I walked among
the interesting headstones
just one specifically?
Chronical of the short life
of a little one from 121 years ago
How is the Armenian Bible different?
Finally, our boys were dressed and . . .
. . . Ready to Report for Duty
We reported to Nick Smith
who was displaying this photo
Mr. Smith was a veritable font of knowledge when it came to the Civil War history interred at Mountain View, more on him in a bit.
Here he is holding a photo from 100 years ago at this very cemetery with several then 80+ year old Civil War veterans.
As it turned out, there were several former Union soldiers buried near where we were standing.
Mr. Smith informed us that thousands of Civil War veterans moved to California after the cessation of hostilities due to the climate and perceived economic opportunities.
John C. Kendrick
Company A, 33rd Iowa Infantry
buried with his wife Elizabeth
Mr. Smith was able to tell us something about each veteran buried near where we stood without any cue cards.
What a memory.
We were quickly detailed to an important job.
Michael would pound a stake
near the head of a veteran's marker
Jacob was in charge of the
flowers to be placed at each
veteran's gravesite
My job was to hand Michael an American flag to place in the new hole that his hammering had just created.
Our finished work
we had . . .
was, apparently, a Drummer in
the Grand Army of the Republic
Company H
150th Ohio
Company B
1st Ohio Heavy Artillery Regiment
flags and flowers
Assistant Surgeon
2nd United States Sharp Shooters
He cut a dashing figure during the Civil War, don't you agree?
that were about to commence
all of us great pearls of wisdom
His group is known as the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, General William S. Rosecrans Camp 2.
I need to find out more about General Rosecrans.
The General was an inventor, coal-oil company executive, diplomat, politician and, of course, a U.S. Army officer.
He experienced early success in the Civil War in confrontations in western Virginia and the Western Theater at the Battles of Iuka and the Second Battle of Corinth.
Given command of the Army of the Cumberland, he experienced more success in driving the Rebels out of middle Tennessee at the Battle of Stones River.
Given command of the Army of the Cumberland, he experienced more success in driving the Rebels out of middle Tennessee at the Battle of Stones River.
His military career took a major hit when his forces were defeated at the Battle of Chickamauga in Georgia in 1863.
After the Civil War ended, Rosecrans would settle in Southern California and serve two terms representing the Golden State's First District in the U.S. House of Representatives. He would later be appointed the U.S. Minister to Mexico.
Major General William Rosecrans
He is buried, not here at Mountain View, but at the Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.
ceremony to begin
It was short, meaningful, inspiring and reverent.
All of us singing The Battle Hymn of the Republic was a highlight.
whose husband died at Gettysburg
Another group shot of
our reenactors
The man on the far right was the one that first instructed Michael years ago on the proper firing procedures for artillery barrages.
Tillford Dagger
Company C
116th Indiana Infantry
Tillford and Fruzy Dagger, what a Power Couple they must have been.
of the coming of the Lord . . ."
The official service was now finished but Mr. Smith offered to take us on a spontaneous tour of some of the more interesting residents of Mountain View.
No, she did not serve in the war but her father, John Brown, was instrumental in stirring the anti-slavery sentiments with his firebrand style that culminated with his failed raid on the arsenal at Harper Ferry in what is now West Virgnia.
Security Team
He was just so darn interesting.
Finally, the boys got back into their civilian clothes, but before heading home I wanted to visit a site that I had not visited since last year's devastating Altadena Fire.
friends Susan and Michael D'Antuono
shared experiences at this grand
old home
Heartbreaking.
On the way back to Camarillo, we stopped at two post fire landmarks.
Bunny Museum
God only knows what
And She's not telling.
We needed sustenance which called for a stop in Burbank.
No Car Hop service today
A Big Boy combo please, with bleu cheese dressing on the salad, thank you.
After dropping the boys off at their home in Camarillo, Laurie and I had just one more task for the day.
It was to head over to the Oxnard Transportation Center to pick up goddaughter Mallory Johnson who, after flying from Seattle to San Francisco to visit friends, took a train from the Bay area to Bakersfield and then boarded a bus to Oxnard.
keep one entertained . . .
WHAT A WONDERFUL
MEMORIAL DAY!
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