Remembering WWII in Linden, Tennessee
On September 24, 2016, my sons and I set foot into the small, unassuming town of Linden, Tennessee. In doing so, we magically stepped back a period of seventy-two years. We had entered into the year 1944. During our time-travel voyage, the boys and I experienced a taste of life as it was in both Europe and on the homefront during that momentous period of history. There were war bonds to buy. Food was rationed at the markets. Air raid sirens cracked the morning calm and the threat of an enemy attack was at the forefront of everybody’s mind. We were suddenly caught up in the largest event ever recorded by history – we had entered into a world at war.
Newsboys take to the streets heralding the story of impeding doom.
What had started in a Linden resident’s home to honor local veterans, Remembering WWII has now blossomed into an award winning national event that draws in thousands from across our nation. The motto of this fascinating event is to remember your past and honor your heroes. Its founder, Anthony Courter, stated the following:
We began Remembering WWII, not to glorify war or advocate a return to “the good old days”, but to cast a vision of the future by helping our generation understand the lessons of the past.
Posted in Historical Journeys and tagged linden, reenactment, Tennessee, WW2.
Visit Palo Duro Canyon and See the Grand Canyon of Texas
Palo Duro Canyon, otherwise known as the Grand Canyon of Texas, is approximately 120 miles long and 800 feet at its deepest point. It is the second largest canyon in all of the United States. “Palo Duro” is a Spanish word meaning “hard wood“. As I began a short descent down the rocky trail it became abundantly clear as to why the Palo Duro Canyon received such a name. Junipers, mesquite, cottonwood, cedar, and other hardwoods sprang up from the walls and floors of the canyon in common form. Wildflowers, buffalo grasses, sage brush, yucca, and prickly pear cactus also dotted the panoramic landscape offering an array of splendid colors.
“Palo Duro” is a Spanish word meaning “hard wood“. (more…)
Posted in Adventurous Places, Historical Journeys, North America and tagged palo duro canyon, texas.
Golden Day in the Emirates
Dubai has a tropical desert climate and the weather gets insanely hot! With summer temperatures reaching an average 106 degrees, it would be easy enough to just to stay indoors, lounge on the couch, and remain completely sheltered from the sun… easy enough, only… you’re in Dubai! You’re in an Arabian paradise, the crown jewel of the Emirates!
With Rebecca as my partner in crime, we set off to steal some of that summer fun unique to this Arab Emirate city. Fortunately for us, Dubai has countless recreational activities and fun events for indoors or outside.
Photos snapped from our taxi cab as we race towards this phenomenal city in the Emirates. (more…)
Posted in Adventurous Places, Asia and tagged Dubai, emirates, United Arab Emirates.
A Snowfall on the Fields of Gettysburg
Perhaps there is not a more hallowed and reverent tract of earth in all of our beloved country than the battlefield at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Gettysburg is the most famous and important battle of the Civil War and was centered around the quaint market town of the same name. It began as a mere skirmish, but by its bloody end it involved approximately 160,000 brave American soldiers.
The Confederate Army of Northern Virginia was made up of 70,100 men and 280 guns. It was commanded by the talented and much-respected General Robert E. Lee. The Federal Army of the Potomac consisted of 93,700 men and 372 guns commanded by the fearless Major General George G. Meade.
| General Robert E. Lee
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Major General George G. Meade
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When we arrived at this national landscape on a cold January morning, the snowy landscape offered up a view that would have stood in stark contrast to what the soldiers experienced on the blistering hot morning of July 1st, 1863. The Battle of Gettysburg was fought on three of the hottest days of a Pennsylvania summer. During Pickett’s Charge on July 3rd, 1863, temperatures soared to a hellish 90 degrees. In the end, 51,000 men were reported killed, captured, or missing in one of the costliest battles of the Civil War. (more…)
Posted in Adventurous Places, Historical Journeys, North America and tagged Civil War, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.
John Brown’s Last Big Stand at Harpers Ferry
John Brown believed that he had been chosen by God himself to bring about the end of slavery in America. Although the raid on Harpers Ferry ended in failure, the actions of this abolitionist brought the question of slavery to the forefront. The death of this martyr would soon demand an answer from a divided nation.
Traveling with Rebecca and the kids through West Virginia, I couldn’t possibly pass up the opportunity to explore this notable piece of American history. The historic section of Harpers Ferry, WV, is now preserved inside of a federal park on the confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers . Visitors to the site are shuttled from a parking lot via bus to the entrance of this beautifully restored 19th century town. Unfortunately my camera-phone died halfway through our self-guided tour, but I did manage to snap some rather interesting scenes.
The historic town of Harpers Ferry, West Virginia awaits visitors stepping off the shuttle onto Shenandoah St. (more…)
Posted in Adventurous Places, Historical Journeys, North America and tagged Civil War, Harper's Ferry, John Brown, slaves, West Virginia.