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 Preshow Return to index of stories... |
Next on New Hampshire Outlook tonight. Once it was known as decoration day. Tonight we trace the history and origins of Memorial Day. New Hampshire's war monuments. We'll hear from one historian about their many meanings. And we visit a place where hundreds of families remember their loved ones. |
| Good Evening Return to index of stories... |
Good Evening. Welcome to this special edition of New Hampshire Outlook. For many, Memorial day is a time to remember those men and women who gave their lives while serving our nation. In New Hampshire alone, 7000 people have died in the nation's wars. Tonight we'll express our gratitude to those American heroes who have lost their lives in the line of duty and the loved ones they have left behind. |
| Intro Memorial Day Return to index of stories... |
We begin tonight with a look at the history of Memorial Day. Producer Chip Neal visited a local cemetary with UNH American Studies Professor and gravestone expert, David Watters. |
| Memorial Day History Return to index of stories... |
In this story University of New Hampshire Professor of American Studies, David Watters walks us through the history and evolution of the Memorial Day holiday. We learn how it started after the Civil War as a ceremony to honor the Civil War dead. Then over the years it expanded to include all war dead. It also featured a custom of decorating the graves with flowers and other items. In fact the holiday has also been called "Decoration Day" because of this tradition. Since the holiday started simultaneously in dozens of locations around the country, in 1966 President Lyndon Johnson declared Waterloo, New York as the official birthplace of Memorial Day. They claimed a memorial day celebration of their Civil War dead on May 5, 1866. In this story Professor Watters also talks about the changes and trends in gravestone decorations we are seeing recently. Changes that reflect a return to some more ancient traditions of gravestone decorations. Money and broken glass and personal jewlery might be found on gravestones now. |
| Intro Monuments Return to index of stories... |
Throughout the state, in nearly every community, there are public monuments remembering the sons and daughters who have served in wars. When you stop to take a look, you'll find that each has a different story to tell. Professor Charles Wood, an historian from Dartmouth College takes us on a monument tour and shares the history of some of his favorites. |
| Intro Walk of History Return to index of stories... |
Just a few years ago, New Hampshire veterans and their families who wanted burial in a military cemetery had to leave the state to find one. That changed in 1997 when the state set aside 104 acres in Boscawen for the New Hampshire Veterans Cemetery. Since it opened, the veterans' cemetery has become a place for hundreds of families to remember their loved ones. As producer Richard Ager tells us, it will soon be a place to commemorate more than three centuries of New Hampshire's military history. |
| Walk of History Return to index of stories... |
Track: This peaceful corner of rural New Hampshire has become a final resting place for American soldiers, sailors and flyers who served their country around the globe but whose final desire was to come home to New Hampshire. Bite: NH Vet Cemetery tape 13:38 We ask our men and women to give their lives for our democratic principles and that doesn't come to conclusion until we've buried them appropriately with military honors. And being a military man for 35 years, I hope when my day comes that I will be able to be placed in a military cemetery and have appropriate honors. And I think that's what we look forward to. Track: Richard Ducey served in Vietnam and has been diagnosed with terminal cancer caused by Agent Orange. Bite: Richard Ducey tape 00:00;08 I've selected the NH Veterans Cemetery as my final resting place even though I was eligible to be buried at Arlington National Cemetery. I had at one time thought of doing that, but it was more important to me to be buried here. When I left to fight for my country, I had a sense not only of fighting for America in general - most of which I had never seen - but fighting for NH, for my community, for my neighborhood. That was about all the experience I'd had at 18 years old. But as I look back on it, it occurs to me that I'm very proud to live in NH. I've traveled all over the world but I always come back here. This is home. And it's the home of my family and I'd like to be there. Track: With 128,000 veterans, New Hampshire has one of the country's highest ratios of veterans to population. NH Vet Cemetery tape 46:59 Standup: Chief Warrant Officer Ernest Holm, a veteran of World War One and World War Two, was the first to be buried here at the cemetery in November, 1997. Since that time, more than 600 others have been interred here and the pace is expected to increase as the veterans population continues to age. By 2008, they expect more than one burial a day. Track: When Roger Desjardins took charge of the veterans cemetery last year, he found the cemetery rules had denied burial to a decorated veteran of World War Two - because he lived in Massachusetts while his grown children lived in New Hampshire. So Desjardins pushed hard to change that - and succeeded. Bite: NH Vet Cemetery tape 24;02 As a veteran of 31 years, it really bothered me that we had to say no to a veteran. It's not right. I believe that NH is really going to stand out because NH is the first state veterans cemetery in the east to allow out of state veterans to be buried in their cemetery. It's common in the west - but we're the first in the east. The Dept. of Veterans Affairs is very proud of us for doing that, and we're very proud of that as well. Track: Another point of pride is the Walk of History that will soon be constructed at the cemetery. It will feature 20 marble monuments to New Hampshire's military history from the first militia in 1680 to modern times. Soundup: Desert Storm tape 48:15 Homecoming Track: Most Americans can recall the homecoming of the troops who served in the Gulf War. The overwhelming speed of victory in that conflict seemed to ease the more painful memories of the Vietnam War. But as the veterans of the world wars and Korean war succumb to age, memories of those conflicts are fading. Film preserves images of the Spanish-American War a century ago - but earlier times are easily forgotten. The walk of history will educate visitors with information that can surprise, even about well-known historic events in nearby Boston. Bite: NH Vet Cemetery tape 26:23 A famous battle that took place there was the Battle of Bunker Hill as we know it today. The history shows that there were 1500 citizen soldiers that fought against 2500 of what was considered the best of the British army. The history also shows that 960 - about 2/3 of those 1500 - were NH citizen soldiers - who put down their plowshares to go defend what they felt was appropriate at that time. Track: For 320 years, New Hampshire's fighting men and women have served their country and state and many have paid the ultimate price. Richard Ducey tape 00;01:35 I have no regrets about that because, having survived Vietnam, I am so much luckier than the 57,000 who didn't. And having had 30 years before this terminal illness, I've had the opportunity to have a wife and a family and a career. I have no regrets whatsoever and my family is well aware of that. I don't think that I've done anything extraordinary at all. I think that I've just simply stepped forward as every American should be willing to do in order to perpetuate what we have, what we enjoy, and not take it for granted. Track: On these 100 acres in Boscawen, veterans receive their due; a final payment for their service. It is a place for the lessons of history. For NH Outlook, I'm Richard Ager. |
| Tag walk Return to index of stories... |
This Wednesday, the NH Veterans Cemetery Association will be holding a special Memorial Day event to honor the past 320 years of New Hampshire's military history. Guests include former Senator Bob Dole and New Hampshire's Congressional Delegation. Proceeds will go to the Walk of History building fund. For information on tickets or how to contribute to the fund, call this number. 227-1592. |
| Intro guest Return to index of stories... |
Joining me now to talk about his experiences, Doctor Amos Townsend. Dr. Townsend is a retired colonel with the United States Air Force, MC. He ran the medical facilities in the Central Highlands during the Vietnam War in 1969 to 1971 - and he has also worked among the refugee camps in Thailand as a civilian MD from 1979 to 1984. Having spoken with Dr. Townsend prior to our program we could probably fill a few hours with conversation but we've tried to narrow our focus today to a few areas. |
| thanks Return to index of stories... |
Dr. Townsend, thank you for joining me with your thoughts on Memorial Day. |
| Goodnight Return to index of stories... |
That's it for this edition of New Hampshire Outlook. For all of us here at New Hampshire Public Television, thanks for joining us. Stay tuned for National Memorial Day Concert. We'll be back tomorrow at 7:30. Good night. |
| founders Return to index of stories... |
Thanks to our founding sponsors who have provided major funding for the production of New Hampshire Outlook: New Hampshire Charitable Foundadtion Public Service of New Hampshire Alice J. Reen Charitable Trust Putnam Foundation Stratford Foundation |
| key: history Return to index of stories... |
DATE:5/28/01 TOPIC:just a few years ago, New Hampshire veterans and their families who wanted burial in a military cemetery had to leave the state to find one. That changed in 1997 when the state set aside 104 acres in Boscawen for the New Hampshire Veterans Cemetery. Since it opened, the veterans' cemetery has become a place for hundreds of families to remember their loved ones. As producer Richard Ager tells us, it will soon be a place to commemorate more than three centuries of New Hampshire's military history. SEGMENT LENGTH:5:12 NAME OF PARTICIPANTS: CG:LOWER3RD\Gen. Joseph Simeone\NH Adjutant General |
| key: history Return to index of stories... |
DATE:5/28/01 TOPIC:Joining me now to talk about his experiences, Doctor Amos Townsend. Dr. Townsend is a retired colonel with the United States Air Force, MC. He ran the medical facilities in the Central Highlands during the Vietnam War in 1969 to 1971 - and he has also worked among the refugee camps in Thailand as a civilian MD from 1979 to 1984. Having spoken with Dr. Townsend prior to our program we could probably fill a few hours with conversation but we've tried to narrow our focus today to a few areas. SEGMENT LENGTH:7:00 NAME OF PARTICIPANTS: Col. Amos Townsend\USAF, MC Ret. |
| Tonight 7:30 Return to index of stories... |
Tonight on New Hampshire Outlook. Join us tonight at 7:30 only on New Hampshire Outlook. |
| Tomorrow Return to index of stories... |
Tomorrow on New Hampshire Outlook - It's seasonal employment, but the experiences last forever. We want you to meet some of those people - they work in the clouds, at the AMC huts. Tomorrow USE CG TEMPLATE |
| key: history Return to index of stories... |
DATE:5/28/01 TOPIC:We begin tonight with a look at the history of Memorial Day. Producer Chip Neal visited a local cemetary with UNH American Studies Professor and gravestone expert, David Watters. SEGMENT LENGTH::4:42 NAME OF PARTICIPANTS: |
| Intro Song 2 Return to index of stories... |
Here's a look of stocks of interest to New Hampshire investors. |