Veterans Day......it began as Armistice Day back after the "Great War" was fought and the eleventh day of the eleventh month commemorated the end of World War I, November 11, 1918.
Now in America we celebrate it as Veteran's Day while Canada and the UK calls it Remembrance Day.
But especially in the US it's a Day to remember and celebrate ALL Veterans of ALL wars we have been involved in.
I can't seem to find any direct ancestors who fought in WWI but I did record a man's grave in Drake's Branch, VA while headstone hunting my own family.
Bernard Jackson Wingo served in the US Army as a Wagoner and was part of the American Expeditionary Forces in the Meuse-Argonne Offensive(also known as the Battle of the Argonne Forest). He was part of the US Army's 81st Division of the 4th Infantry(the famed NC Wildcat Division), in Supply Company 323.
He was KIA 7 Oct 1918, just 33 days before the Armistice was signed. Bernard had turned 25 just 13 days before his death.
He was KIA 7 Oct 1918, just 33 days before the Armistice was signed. Bernard had turned 25 just 13 days before his death.
Bernard was a farm boy from rural South Central VA who according to his WWI registration card was the support of his mom and dad before he was shipped out to Europe.
Bernard was not interred at the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery near the village of Romagne-sous-Montfaucon in Meuse, France, like over 14 Thousand of his fellow patriots who died there, but was brought back to his home in Virginia to be buried near family.
Bernard's younger brother, Clyde Arlington Wingo, signed up to fight in March of 1918 and happily survived the "Great War". Bernard's youngest brother, George Elmo Wingo, went on in 1942 to enlist in WWII and also survived living to the ripe old age of 64.
Bernard's headstone reads--
Bernard J. Wingo
Sept. 25, 1892
Oct. 7, 1918
Supply Co. 323 Div. 81
Died in France while in the service of his county.
Greater love hath no one than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends
Remembering these brave citizens, especially the ones who gave their lives, today. You and your service are not forgotten Bernard Jackson Wingo.
R.I.P.
R.I.P.
Update--After doing more digging around in the family tree it turns out that Bernard Jackson Wingo IS related by marriage, being the brother in-law of my 3rd cousins 4 x removed, Paschal Lee Holt.
Bernard's sister, Alma Lee Wingo, married my cousin Paschal Holt in 1906.
Sluggy
I was in the second or third grade when Armistice Day was changed to Veteran's Day. Nov. 11 is my brother's birthday. My mother was a vet.
ReplyDeleteLots of soldiers in my family- my grandpa and my late husband's grandpa both were in WWI. All of my dad's brothers 3 including Dad were in some branch of the service and my mom's only brother was in the Korean crisis. My generation didn't produce many vets though- just one cousin who was in the air force. My 5 male cousins and 2 brothers never served. My husband was in the National Guard. Today my grandsons (11 and 13 )were serving lunch at church to all veterans who show up- a nice thing for our community!
ReplyDeleteI've got tons of vets from other wars just not WW1. ;-)
DeleteNice of your grandsons to help out in the community in that way.....
I am beginning to think before you get through with your family tree, everyone in the free world is going to be related to you
ReplyDeleteAnd the frightening part of this is that all these connections are through just my mother's side!
DeleteI am also probably related to every person who came from Ireland too on the father's side. lolz