Friday, May 23, 2014

Military Week 2014 - Friday - Gold Star Mother

Ethel I. Davis
1897-1963
Mount Olivet Cemetery
Frederick, Frederick County, Maryland

I have not seen too many Gold Star Mother emblems in my journeys but came across this at Mount Olivet Cemetery recently.



So to all the mothers who have had to lost sons and daughters for this country, your loss is our loss.  

Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Military Week 2014 - Wednesday - Robert Bruce Reifsnider

Robert Bruce Reifsnider
August 22, 1896 - October 4, 1918
Emmitsburg Memorial Cemetery
Emmitsburg, Frederick County, Maryland

I recently explored a new (to me) cemetery and as I was leaving, I noticed this headstone. I recognized the name as being on the World War I Memorial in Memorial Park in Frederick, Maryland.



I was able to find an article in the local paper about his death. We take for granted today the ability to find out about events around the world in seconds. Private Reifsnider's parents had to wait three months to find out about their son's death.

Gettysburg Times
Gettysburg, PA
January 14, 1919

DEAD THREE MONTHS
____________
And Parents just now Receive Official Notification.

     Two months ago the name of Robert Bruce Reifsnider, Smithsburg, Md., appeared in the overseas' casualty list. He had died of disease on October 4, according to the report.
     At Emmitsburg Mr. and Mrs. Kester Reifsnider sent a son, Robert Bruce Reifsnider, away to war last September a year ago and when they read the name of Robert Bruce Reifsnider, Smithsburg, in the casualty list they became very much alarmed. Mrs. Reifsnider felt that possibly the War Department had made some mistake and that it was her son who had died in France of disease.
     So worried did the mother become that she made inquiries at Smithsburg about a certain Robert Bruce Reifsnider who, according to the casualty list, had died of disease. She was told at Smithsburg that there was no such person by that name who had gone to war from there. And up until a few days ago Mr. and Mrs. Reifsnider have been very deeply concerned about their son.
     Friday they received a telegram from the War Department which stated that their son, Robert Bruce Reifsnider, had died in France on October 4 of bronchial pneumonia.
     The last heard from him was some time in September. At that time he said he was well and happy.
     Young Reifsnider was 22 years old. He trained at Anniston, Ala., and embarked for France during the middle of the summer.

Tuesday, May 20, 2014

Military Week 2014 - Tuesday - Memorial Park - World War I

For this year's Military Week leading up to Memorial Day I will be posting various memorials and headstones I have come across.  For this week, I will be posting the names of the war dead.  For Veteran's Day, I will post the names of those who served.  Thanks to Heather Wilkinson Rojo of Nutfield Genealogy for the challenge!

This is the monument located at Memorial Park, Frederick, Frederick County, Maryland dedicated to World War I soldiers.  It was erected in 1926 so of course it dedicated to those who served during the "Great War". It also reflects racial inequalities of the times which is why when I first saw "Colored" by a few names I was a bit shocked. Then I remembered the time period and thought thank goodness times have changed!






This Monument Was Erected In Honor Of The Sons And Daughters Of Frederick County Who Served Their County In The Great War 1917-1918


SURNAME
LAST NAMENOTES
AdamsLewis R
AkersByron V
AlderAlbert Garland
ArmstrongClarence D
BakerMurray
BeachleyHobert McKinley
BennettMorris W
BentzelArthur H
BopstThomas R
BunkeWilliam
BurkeHarry C
BurkeJesse D
BurnsJesse L
CarrollFrederick F
ClaggettHonore Martin
CorunHugh
DarrJohn D
DertzbaughWilliam Lee
ElderFrancis Zavier
EtzlerMorris
EylerBenjamin F
FirorCarl Lawrence
FirorPaul
FraleyWilliam
GelwicksCharles Francis
GrahamWilber Ecker
HahnMartin Luther
HallerNorman C
HarperEarl J
HargettHarvey Lycurgus
HoffmanRoy
HooperWilliam Shuff
HufferRoy C
JacobsCharles Winfield
KeenanA D
KelbaughRoy O
KingWilliam C
KlineBenjamin F
KoogleDavid F
LewisGaither Leon
LowryHenry
LutzMartin Luther
MartinRoland Wordsworth
McNalleyFrank T
MercerJacob
MonathWalter A
MorningstarGeorge S
MyersWalter Thomas
OhlerVernon Ross
PeugnetCharles P E
PontonAndrew J
PryorJesse
QuinnLeonard Melville
ReedBenjamin
ReifsniderRobert Bruce
RickettsWilliam
RoeberGeorge W
RoweFrancis E
SaundersGeorge C
SchleyJohn Reading
SelbyLeslie F
ShankleDaniel Austin
ShawGeorge S
SmithGuy Austin
SmithHarry Beachley
SmithHerman E
StaleyFranklin L
SteadmanHoward W
StitelyClifford Martin
StreamsCharlesColored
StullRaymond C
TomsStanley M
WalkerCharles
WatkinsRussell J
WatersJames Somerset
WebbJohn R
WheelerNevel E
WilhideJames Edward
WilliamsGeorgeColored
WiseAlva E

"At The Going Down Of The Sun And In The Morning We Shall Remember Them."

Thursday, May 1, 2014

May 1, 1993 - Bernard Daniel Nikirk

Bernard Daniel Nikirk
August 9, 1909 - May 1, 1993
Christ Reformed Cemetery
Middletown, Frederick County, Maryland



Frederick News
May 3, 1993