Memorial Day 2020 Reflection

      Flowers are blooming in my garden and in many gardens

 throughout the city. 

      Many families will place bouquets on the graves of loved ones while observing social distancing; the new norm.  This Memorial Day weekend is glorious with bright sunshine and warm temperatures.  One could almost forget that we are in the midst of a pandemic.

     But this year, Memorial Day is different, and one which will be written into history.  There will be no crowds lining the sidewalks from Longfellow Square to Monument Square and gathering at the Our Lady of Victories, Soldiers and Sailors Monument.

     There will be no Veterans laying on the wreathes as in years past,

     No Civic leaders marching down Congress Street accompanied by the music of bands.  No speeches to remind us of why we gather to commemorate those who gave the ultimate sacrifice.  No crowds of Veterans " who daring to make the ultimate sacrifice lived" and honor their fallen brothers and sisters.

     There will be no procession down Stevens Avenue to Evergreen Cemetery with little girls in white dresses carrying baskets of flower petals to spread on the graves,

     No beautiful black rider-less horse bearing the empty boots to remind us of those lost, particularly during the Civil War when 72, 945 Mainers served.  7,322  were killed, 5000 from the city of Portland, one sixth of the population at that time.

     The Harold T. Andrews American Legion Post, the organizers of Portland's Memorial Day Parade each year, wanting to continue to honor the fallen will hold a procession with one single Veteran, Sgt. Richard Cobb, US Army carrying a flag to Monument Square.  Sgt. Cobb served 20 years and is a recipient of the Bronze Star received for his service in Iraq.  Sgt. Cobb will be accompanied by two police vehicles beginning at 10:30 AM from Longfellow Square.

     The simplicity of this procession seems  particularily solemn and poignant at this time and we can't forget that during the last two months, 12 former soldiers died due to Covid 19 at the Maine Veterans Home in Scarborough.

         The custom of decorating the graves of soldiers can be traced back to post Civil War and continues today with the placement of flags and wreathes. We have continued this practice  at the Presumpscot/ East Deering/Grand Trunk Cemetery since the restoration project began in 2010. 

      For several years, our Portland Girl Scouts held a simple Flag Ceremony to honor those who served in the Revolution, the War of 1812 and our one Civil War Veteran.  Because of the virus, this event could not take place.  None-the-less, city crews placed the flags and Joel and I laid wreathes.

     I'd like to add some recently found articles to the story of James Moseley, our Civil War Veteran. James  came to live in East Deering after the war, probably to reconnect with his sister Sarah who married John H.Blake, son of Samuel and Martha Blake.  James and his brothers served for three years in the 2nd Rhode Island Infantry Regiment from 1861 - 1864.  James, according to census and city directory records was here in Maine from at least 1870.  He was an iron worker at Casco Iron Works and was seriously injured as recorded in this article in the Daily Eastern Argus from April 18, 1870.

Here is a map showing the location of the Eastern Forge Company where
James Moseley worked.

     Despite his injuries, James continued to work and live residing in what was then Westbrook in a home on Ocean Street (Avenue).  He joined other Veterans of the Civil War and became a member of the Grand Army of the Republic Frederick W. Bosworth Post. 

The Bosworth Post Building on Free and Cotton Streets

Bosworth Hall was torn down in 1972/1973.  Even the corner with Cotton Street was eliminated.  It Became a big parking lot,and a new building is going up on the site now -- alas, a bit of our history gone forever.

     The Dahlgren guns out at Evergreen come from the little  side lot with bushes next to Bosworth Hall in one of the pictures you displayed.  At least some things survived !( Note from our friend and historian, Herb Adams.)

The Bosworth Civil War Monument at Evergreen Cemetery

Bosworth Post c. 1900

      In May 1891, he apparently had a stroke at work

 from which he would not recover.  James Moseley, Veteran of the Civil War, died on December 9, 1892, seven months later.  Here are his obituary and related articles.  While his obituary indicates that he served in the Navy, this is undoubtably a mistake.

     Finally, as we enjoy this weekend, despite the restrictions we may have to endure, let's not forget to honor the memory of those who paid for our freedom with their lives and those who survived to make our lives better.