Now and Then: Thankful For Our Troops

I'm thankful for all the men and women whom ever served, and are presently active in the Armed Forces of the United States of America - and to those whom find themselves in harms way during this holiday season.

My mind is with you, and your families as well.

If I may, as a veteran, when we take the oath to defend and preserve this great nation, we do so willingly and with great understanding into the perils that obligation potentially entails.

To that affect, our forces are supremely trained, and when called to deploy, their minds are fixed towards performing the task at hand. As young as 18-years old, our various members are experts at their respective crafts.  They execute their individual skills to the best of their abilities as part of a greater coordinated effort.

In a sense, they enter hostile situations prepared for the moment.

Families, however, are the ones who stay behind.  Even when seemingly surrounded with a supreme support group, there comes a time in every day or night when they suffer in silence.

These our our mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, friends and loved ones, whom serve our country under increasingly dangerous circumstances.  Likewise, they are the ones awaiting our nation's loved one's safe arrival back home.

Families are as much a part of theater of operations as any component of the military.

I'm thankful for all you do.

Giving Thanks to the Maryland 400: The Battle of Brooklyn

The BrooklynPapar.com (Nov. Vol. 38, No. 46) recently revisited the development of a known Revolutionary War battle site at 9th Street and 3rd Avenue in Brooklyn, where local historians believe lay the remains of the famed Maryland 400 - the First Maryland Regiment - whom fought in support of General George Washington during the Battle of Brooklyn.

The formerly empty lot in question adjoins the VFW Post (pictured below), which is now being developed into a pre-kindergarten center.

Affixed to the  front edifice is a plaque that reads:

Here lie buried 256 

Maryland Soldiers who fell 

in the Battle of Brooklyn

Aug. 27, 1776

The New York Times originally featured local historian and president of the Brooklyn Preservation Council, Robert Furman, in 2012, regarding the site (once dug up in 1957 but revealed no evidence of a burial ground/grave site).

Nevertheless, in Mr. Furman's words, "These men saved the Revolution."  They protected Gen. George Washington's rear during the Continental Army's strategic retreat out of Brooklyn, and in doing so, suffered casualties among two thirds of their unit against advancing Red Coats.

*

The Maryland Regiment is also recognized a few blocks away 

at 3rd Street between 4th and 5th Avenue at the Old Stone House.

• Battle of Brooklyn 
• The Old Stone House 
• Prospect Park Maryland Monument

Happy Thanksgiving!