President Ronald Reagan’s Speech at the Veterans
Day Wreath-Laying Ceremony at Arlington National
Ceremony on November 11, 1985.
History of Veterans Day
“The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional to how they perceive the Veterans of earlier wars were treated and appreciated by their nation."
—George Washington (Military General, Founding Father, and the first President of the United States of America. He led Patriot forces in the nation’s War for Independence).
“Honor to the soldier and sailor everywhere, who bravely bears his country's cause. Honor, also, to the citizen who cares for his brother in the field and serves, as he best can, the same cause.”
—President Abraham Lincoln (16th President of the United States of America. He led our nation during the Civil War).
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This article is about a Catholic solider who was killed in battle during the Civil War.
"In Awe Before the Lord" (By Cardinal Edwin F. O'Brien, former Archbishop of the Military Services and currently the Pro-Grand Master of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem)
Publication: Columbia Magazine (Knights of Columbus)
Date: April 2003
http://bitly.com/PNCHX8
[Editor: The following address was given at the first Knights of Columbus Eucharistic Congress in Washington, D.C., June 22, 2002.]
In the beautiful rolling hills of western Maryland lies the historic battlefield of Antietam. There on Sept. 17, 1862 (“the Glorious 17th”) was fought the bloodiest battle of any American war. More than 20,000 soldiers from both sides of the Civil War lay dead or wounded. The battle was finally won for the North by the heroic exploits of the Irish Brigade, known as the Fighting 69th. Several years ago I was invited to celebrate Mass on that sacred field — sacred because so many thousands of young men are buried there, where they fell. The occasion was the dedication of a Celtic cross to honor the gallantry of the brigade.
The day before the dedication, thanks to a graduate student at The Catholic University of America, I happened upon a letter buried in the National Archives for 135 years.
It was written from the Irish Brigade in Harpers Ferry, Va., on Oct. 9, 1862, by Lt. Bernard O’Neill, commanding officer of Pvt. Thomas Connors. It is addressed to the private’s father on Mulberry Street in what is now lower Manhattan.
LETTER TO THE FATHER OF A SOLDIER WHO DIED IN BATTLE
Dear Sir,
I have just received your letter of the 6th instant. Your brave and gallant son Thomas was buried among the other brave men of the 69th who fell in the battle. Of course, if you wished to bring his remains to New York, I am not aware of anything to prevent your doing so. But exhuming the body would disturb the remains, the sacred remains of his comrades who fought and fell beside him and whose remains lie beside him in a piece of ground which I believe has been consecrated by our beloved Chaplain, the Revd. Father Willet.
All last winter his comrades in Company C were edified by his regular attendance at Mass every morning, and also by his so often approaching the Most Holy Sacrament. He was also at Confession on the morning of battle. So you must not mourn his fate as I trust he now stands in the presence of God interceding for his old comrades of the Irish Brigade who were not so fortunate as he was, to be called by the Almighty when he had everything prepared for the great and inevitable journey.
I believe Capt. Whitty saw him fall, and as the Captain is now in New York, he will be able to let you know all about Thomas, and I am sure will assist you. … I, myself, assisted in carrying him from the place where he fell to the grave. I also assisted in burying him. The scapulars, beads, and Agnus Dei which were round his neck were buried with him…
If there is anything more you wish to know about him, I will give you the information with pleasure, and if you intend exhuming the body, I will describe to you minutely the place where he is buried. But it would be difficult to find him after the lapse of so long a time, to identify him from his comrades. And besides, what better grave could a brave soldier have than on the field where he fell and where he contributed to gain the victory.
†
It touched me deeply that the Mass I celebrated at Antietam was the first time that letter was publicly read since Mr. Connors had last read it to the proud family and friends of young Thomas. Indeed, it proved to be deeply moving to the several hundred listeners on that cold and windswept battlefield several years ago.
PHOTO: Battle of Antietam, by Thure de Thulstrup, A.D. 1887.
