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 Hello/Intro Hall FlagsReturn to index of stories... |
Hello. I'm Beth Carroll. Welcome to this special edition of New Hampshire Outlook. As you walk in the main entrance at the State House in Concord, the first thing you see is the hall of flags, where banners are displayed from nearly every war fought by the citizens of this state. But now age and deterioration threaten the existence of the oldest flags. As Richard Ager tells us there's a new effort to save them. |
| Hall of Flags Return to index of stories... |
Reporter: The Grade 4 visit to the statehouse is a New Hampshire tradition that begins and ends in the Hall of Flags. It is where school children encounter these most visible remnants of the conflicts that shaped our history. Sometimes, when I look at these, I see people fought their lives and a lot died just so we could win some wars. For 140 years old, you'd think they'd be tattered. But there are other reasons they are in such bad shape. Could you figure something out - what might have happened to them? What do you think? Got shot - what else? Swords might have slashed them - right. You noticed that. Some of them did get burned. Cannonballs through them - right. JESSIE, WHAT DID YOU THINK OF THE TOUR YOU JUST TOOK? It was really interesting and fun. And I really liked the flags. WHAT DID YOU LIKE ABOUT THEM? That they tell a lot of history - and they were really cool to look at. Some of them were really tattered up and torn - but they were still pretty cool to look at. DO YOU KNOW WHY THEY WERE ALL TATTERED AND TORN? They were in the wars - like different wars. Reporter: Ken Leidner has given the tour to nearly 200,000 school children over the past 15 years. He says each flag carries its own tale of sacrifice, duty and heroism. There's a little note here and I'll read what it says. "Torn from the flag of company G, 6th NH volunteers, at the battle of Antietam, Maryland, in 1862. And kept by Henry P. Whitaker, the color bearer. That was the guy who actually carried the flag. Whoa - man - I think it got shot off and he may have picked it up and kept it because it was his flag to take care of. And I did a little research and wondered if there's anything about this guy - Henry Whitaker. I found a picture of him - would you like to see a picture? Reporter: Henry Whitaker did his best to save his regiment's colors. Now, age and deterioration threaten the survival of many of these flags. Reporter In 1900, the legislature appropriated $3000 to build these oak cabinets to hold the flags. Fifty years later, during the Korean War, lawmakers set aside another $20,000 to treat and repair the flags. That is the last time these cases were opened. Reporter: With a statehouse dating to 1819, many legislators express an interest in history - and will sponsor bills such as the recent effort to posthumously promote Civil War hero Col. Edward Cross to general. Reporter: Of course Cross's promottion required no funds. Restoring the flags could cost an estimated $1.5 million. Remember who these are - fifth volunteer regiment. We went to Fredericksburg - these flags were at Fredericksburg. Reporter: That is where Barry Bodell comes in. Along with Ken Leidner, Bodell is setting out to raise the needed funds. We're going to reach out to private foundations, public grants, corporate sponsors. We've had some interest expressed in that already. We're hoping to work with the Congressional delegation. We want to reach out to the friends of the flags - and that's the school kids who come in here regularly. Private citizens. WHY ARE YOU CONCERNED? Why am I concerned? I have been walking through this great hall for 25 years - and they always grab me. You can't help but be moved when you think about where these have been, whose hands they have been in, and it's obvious that we must do something. We recently lost the Old Man - one of our true treasures. I'd hate to see these go the same route. Reporter: With no funds of its own, the legislature is welcoming the plan. It's a typical NH effort, somebody volunteers to do something for us at no cost, and it seems as though they've got a good idea and it's a project that needs to be done, so obviously we would support it. We're looking at flags from the 2nd regiment and they have seen better days. Track: Not all the heroes represented by the flags were men. For example, the 2nd regiment's Harriet Dane, who spent 4 ½ years tending to the wounded. Bite: Flags tape 3 03;04:05 Well Harriet Dane, after a year in the field, was tapped by Clara Barton to begin the rounds of the hospitals and make sure the prisoners were well fed and their dressings were changed on a timely basis. Bite: Flags tape 3 03;04:41 Her men, the year after she died, from a photograph they had, had a portrait painted. This is the first portrait of a woman ever put on the walls of the statehouse here in Concord. Track: Ken Leidner served in Vietnam, but surrounded by reminders of other wars, he still feels a duty unfinished. Bite: Flags tape 2 02:24:50 I'm paying a debt to those who didn't return from Vietnam. I'm paying a debt to those that gave their lives at Bella Wood and the Argonne in the First World War, and obviously I'm trying to pay a debt back to the close to 5000 young men who gave their lives during the Civil War. ON BEHALF OF ALL OF US? On behalf of all of us. A gift that they gave to all of us to take care of. That's what I want to do - take care of it. Track: For NH Outlook, I'm Richard Ager. Soundup: Flags tape 1 01;13:34 All of these flags have stories like that - and that's one of the reasons we're trying to take care of them so that when you grow up, you can bring your kids in and show them the flag. OR Soundup: Flags tape 2 02;06:40 * Those are in pretty good shape.. Yeah. Must have been. |
| Tag Hall of Flags Return to index of stories... |
The flag initiative already has some students excited. A high school class from Woodsville is currently working on developing a website for information on saving the statehouse flags. If you'd like to help, you can send contributions to: NH Flag Legacy. State House Visitor Center. Concord, NH 03301. You can also e-mail them at: nhflaglegacy@aol.com |
| Intro Vietnam Return to index of stories... |
Family and friends of New Hampshire veterans that lost their lives in the Vietnam War or who are still missing.have a new place to honor their memory. Earlier this month hundreds gathered at the state's Veterans cemetery in Boscawen to dedicate a new memorial in their honor. Photo-journalist Steve Giordani captured the moment. |
| Intro Final Respects Return to index of stories... |
When individuals join the military, in many instances, they're in it for life, even after active service ends or , even after death. That was the case for Dorothy Martell. Producer Richard Ager first brought us her story in 2001. tonight we revisit the story of a mother, grandmother and World War Two Navy veteran. |
| Final Respects Return to index of stories... |
Soundup: Veterans tape 1 02:40 tight on priest "So let us commend our sister to the Lord…" Track: When Dorothy Martell died last month at the age of 78, her military service lay 55 years in the past. In 1944, as WW2 raged on, Dorothy joined the Navy's WAVES - Women Accepted for Voluntary Emergency Service. Bite: Veterans tape 1 16:33 Those were the WAVES. And they were brought on board to do whatever needed to be done. And that meant everything from nurses to clerical duty to working in shipyards and helping out wherever people needed assistance. Bite: Veterans tape 1 20:58 Her need to help people was something she was born with, and when the time came that people were needed, she just felt it was her turn to help. Track: Dorothy served for two years in the WAVES, performing mostly clerical duties in Washington. In November of 1946, Dorothy Martell left the Navy. With the war over, she worked as a bookkeeper and raised her two sons on her own. She always remained a quiet patriot. Bite: Veterans tape 1 24:04 When I was married, she bought a flagpole and a flag for me and put it in my yard. Bite: Veterans tape 2 03:23 At the time, I didn't associate that with patriotism, which is such an abstract thing. Mom, of all the things, a flagpole? Bite: Veterans tape 1 24:10 And she put a flagpole in her driveway, and she couldn't see it by looking out the window. So she got another flagpole and put a second flagpole and put it by the back door so that when she looked out the window, she could see the flag and the flagpole. Track: As Dorothy got older, she developed serious health problems. Bite: Veterans tape 2 2:25 For several years, I tried to get her to go to the VA to see about medications or new glasses or whatever, and she would always say 'they won't remember - it was so long ago. Oh no, no.' Anyway, one day she did and I think she was proud beyond belief and surprised that - yeah, they did remember. Track: Though decades had passed, Dorothy finally claimed her due. And in her final year, with her memory gone, she lived at the NH State Veteran's Home in Tilton. Bite: Veterans tape 1 14:13 We didn't know her as a young woman, we didn't know her as a young mother, grandmother. We only knew her at the end of her life, but felt very proud to be able to care for her during her last days with us. Bite: Veterans tape 2 15:05 At a certain point she's responding to human kindness - she didn't know who they were. But that didn't matter to the people working there. They still treated her like a special friend - like their own family. Soundup: Veterans tape 1 05:04 Taps Begins Bite: Veterans tape 1 06:20 "On behalf of the President of the United States, and the chief of Naval Operations, please accept this flag as a symbol of appreciation for your mother's dedicated service to her country and a proud navy. - salute Track: The military honor guard is the final act in a bond of duty between veteran and country. It signifies continuity in the military, as each generation pays respect to those who have gone before it. Bite: Veterans tape 1 19:48 I get a sense of personal satisfaction - and I think it's very important that the family see a full circle - and I like to be that piece of the circle. That's what I get out of it personally. Someday, I think my son will be getting a flag from somebody else - and - the circle continues. Track: The honor guard is also a reminder that veterans served in their youth and vigor. Bite: Veterans tape 2 8:40. My sense of my mother in these last few years is this tiny, shriveled-up little old lady. Go visit her in the hospital and can't find her in the bed, she's so small- holding onto a little teddy bear. Going through the photographs, the years in the service - with her family - she had a life. |
| Intro Police Memorial Return to index of stories... |
Finally tonight, remembering the heroes fallen in the line of duty in New Hampshire. Recently, the state's 40 law enforcement officers who lost their lives serving the people of New Hampshire were honored at the state's law enforcement memorial in Concord. Photo-journalist Steve Giordani was there for the tribute. |
| Goodnight Return to index of stories... |
If you'd like to support the Police Officer's Memorial fund or the campaign to save the hall of flags at the state house, visit our website at nhptv.org for more information. Until next time I'm Beth Carroll. Thanks for watching. |
| Tomorrow Return to index of stories... |
On the next New Hampshire Outlook - The unique way folks are raising money for a permanent memorial for the Portsmouth Peace Treaty-- the peace process that ended the war between Japan and Russia in 19-05. |
| Web Pointer Return to index of stories... |
That is it for this edition of our program. For information and links to our guests and interviews, connect with us on-line at nhptv.org. Join our online discussion and tell us what's on your mind. You can also find streaming video of all our broadcasts. |
| key: History Return to index of stories... |
NEW HAMPSHIRE OUTLOOK Air Date/Time: 05/31/04 22:00 HOST: Beth Carroll Length: 7:35 minutes Welcome to this special edition of New Hampshire Outlook. As you walk in the main entrance at the State House in Concord, the first thing you see is the hall of flags, where banners are displayed from nearly every war fought by the citizens of this state. But now age and deterioration threaten the existence of the oldest flags. As Richard Ager tells us there's a new effort to save them. PRODUCER/REPORTER: Richard Ager NAME OF PARTICIPANTS: Eliza Cowie\Gr. 4 Student - Russell Elementary School, Rumney Ken Leidner\Director, State House Visitor Center Jessie Berman\Gr. 4 Student, Russell Elementary School, Rumney Richard Ager\NH Outlook Barry Bodell\NH Flag Legacy Rep. David Welch\Chair, Joint Legislative Historical Cmte Ken Leidner\NH Flag Legacy |
| key:War/Veterans Return to index of stories... |
NEW HAMPSHIRE OUTLOOK Air Date/Time: 05/31/04 22:00 HOST: Beth Carroll Length: 5:50 minutes Family and friends of New Hampshire veterans that lost their lives in the Vietnam War or who are still missing.have a new place to honor their memory. Earlier this month hundreds gathered at the state's Veterans cemetery in Boscawen to dedicate a new memorial in their honor. Photo-journalist Steve Giordani captured the moment. PRODUCER/REPORTER: Beth Carroll NAME OF PARTICIPANTS: Rick Lagasse\Pres, Granite State Vietnam Veterans Foundation Ann Goulet\Vietnam Memorial Designer Bruce Taggart\Brother Died in Vietnam War General John Blair\Helicopter Ambulance Pilot in Vietnam |
| key:War/Veterans Return to index of stories... |
NEW HAMPSHIRE OUTLOOK Air Date/Time: 05/31/04 22:00 HOST: Beth Carroll Length: 4:55 minutes When individuals join the military, in many instances, they're in it for life, even after active service ends or , even after death. That was the case for Dorothy Martell. Producer Richard Ager first brought us her story in 2001. tonight we revisit the story of a mother, grandmother and World War Two Navy veteran. PRODUCER/REPORTER: Richard Ager NAME OF PARTICIPANTS: Lt. Commander Ken Georgevits\U.S. Naval Reserve Peter Martell\Son Joseph Martell\Son Ellen Douville\NH Veterans Home |
| key:Crime/Legal Issues/Law Enforcement Return to index of stories... |
NEW HAMPSHIRE OUTLOOK Air Date/Time: 05/31/04 22:00 HOST: Beth Carroll Length: 7:20 minutes Finally tonight, remembering the heroes fallen in the line of duty in New Hampshire.Recently, the state's 40 law enforcement officers who lost their lives serving the people of New Hampshire were honored at the state's law enforcement memorial in Concord. Photo-journalist Steve Giordani was there for the tribute. PRODUCER/REPORTER: Beth Carroll NAME OF PARTICIPANTS: Craig Benson\NH Governor Peter Heed\Attorney General Keith Lohmann\NH Police Standards & Training Council |
| Tonight 10:00 Return to index of stories... |
Tonight on New Hampshire Outlook: What's being done to pay tribute to the Portsmouth Peace Treaty. Join us tonight at 10:00 only on New Hampshire Outlook. |
| WEB PROMO Return to index of stories... |
Tonight on New Hampshire Outlook. . Tonight at 10pm on New Hampshire Public Television. |
| Post Show Log Return to index of stories... |
Monday, May 31, 2004: Pre-taped the show for the Memorial Day on Friday afternoon. No problems. |