To me, the most significant event of 2012 was the passing of the planet's Last Surviving Veteran of World War I.
I wanted to close 2012 by making a tribute video for Florence Green, the Last Surviving Great War Veteran who passed away earlier in the year. You can hear the fireworks in the background ... it was very close to midnight. Florence lived from February 19, 1901 to February 4, 2012 ... fifteen days prior to what would have been her 111th Birthday.
Included in the following video is a newspaper article from Britain. Sadly, the article about Florence is on page 52 instead of its rightful place on page 1.
It is December 30, 2012. Earlier today I travelled to Mount Holly, New Jersey to commemorate the 300th Anniversary of the Shinn-Curtis Log House. The House is believed to have been built in the year 1712. At one point, the House was incorporated into a modern home and that modern structure was demolished in 1967 while the historic log cabin was preserved. As for the day itself, the wind and cold were absolutely brutal. It was my own fault for waiting until the end of the year to film and photograph the house. After filming and snapping the photographs, I went into my car and sat there for a while because my hands and fingers were not in a condition to grab the steering wheel and drive the car out of there. I am glad I made the trek though since it was very important to me to be present on this Tercentennial occasion.
It is Christmas Day, December 25, 2012. Tonight I have for you a piece of the Victorian Christmas Experience. The cane or walking stick in this video was presented to Nicholas Cantwell by the Male Scholars of Saint Philip Neri's Parish School on this day in the year 1853. The Parish was and still is part of the Archdiocese Of Philadelphia. The recipient of this very splendid piece of Victorian History passed away in the year 1899.
If the video above does not embed properly, here is the url: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1HFijKWl-_g The ornate details make it a wonderful specimen of the Victorian Period. Here are some close-up, high resolution jpegs of the cane/walking stick ...
The inscription: "Presented to the Rev'd Nicholas Cantwell by the Male Scholars of the St Philip Neri's Parrish School Dec.r 25th 1853."
It is December 19, 2012 and I traveled to Valley Forge National Historical Park for the 235th Anniversary Commemoration of The March Into Valley Forge. On this day, in the year 1777, George Washington and the Continental Army marched into this location. Tonight, we commemorate this event.
Note: This was more of an observance or a remembrance rather than an actual reenactment.
I snapped a number of photographs as well. Some will be redundant because I switched between the "Auto" and "Night Portrait" features and I liked both styles.
First, a tour guide walked visitors up the hill.
Two passwords were needed to get past the guards and into the area of the Replica Muhlenberg Brigade Huts.
The Choir ...
Here is a replica map of the Continental Army's Camp that I picked up in the gift shop:
Today is December 18, 2012. I am continuing the observance of the War Of 1812 Bicentennial. On this day, two hundred years ago, an Ensign of the 16th Regiment Infantry of the United States Army named Thomas J. Martin worked on and completed the document pictured below. It pertains to recruitment. I acquired this document two months ago and I am elated to show it to you right now ... on its 200th Birthday!
Here is the transcription: Philadelphia December 18th 1812 Received from Lieutenant Colonel Richard O Dernig Two hundred Dollars for Bounty Premiums and Contingency in the recruiting service _ Signed duplicates _ Dollars 200 Thomas J. Martin Ensign 16th Regiment Infantry -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
It is December 17, 2012. On this day in the year 1770, Ludwig Van Beethoven was baptized. The registry of his baptism is the earliest documentation that references the famed composer. The date of his birth is not known. The date of December 16, 1770 is cited as his birthday because it is one day prior to his baptism and his own family acknowledged that day as his birth date. The video below features some Beethoven items ... a tie with his image, a dollar store bust of Beethoven, a cabinet-style photograph dating to roughly the 1880s and an 8-track tape that I will put into a player for you to hear!!! Tonight we celebrate the man and the music he created ... music that could very well be the most recognizable pieces on Planet Earth!
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