War to End All Wars

100 years ago this week, World War I broke out in Europe. On this day, Germany declared war on Russia while this past Monday, Austria declared war on Serbia. And so the dominos began to fall. 

Since 1867, the balance of power in Europe had been stable but in the 1900s, nationalism, alliances and imperialism helped to bring about the downfall of the balance. 

World War I was supposed to be the war to end all wars because it was so devestating. The Germans fought a war on two fronts, one which stalled in the trenches outside of Paris and the other in the East with the Russians. In the middle of the war, Russia collapsed because of a revolution. 

Technological advances, economic contributions from a number of allies, the inclusion of almost all European countries and the US led people to think that war could not get any worse. 

100 years later, we know that war is terrible and we remember those who fought. Many fought with outdated tactics against new technologies while others were unclear as to why they were at war. Whatever reason the men of 1914 went to war, 37 million lost their lives between 1914 and 1918. 

At the Tower of London, an art installation is slowly being installed called Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red. It will consist of 888,246 poppies flowing out of the Tower and into the dry moat to remember the men who died while serving Great Britian. 

All persons born or naturalized...

On this day in 1868, the 14th Anendment was officially adopted by the United States. 

With the end of the Civil War, the country began the process of reuniting, earning the time period between 1865 and 1877 the name Reconstruction. The 14th Amendment was one of many pieces Reconstruction legislation. 

Prior to the Civil War, African Americans were considered property and not citizens. Even if they were born free or earned their freedom, they were not considered US citizens. 

The 14th Amendment rectified this issue by stating “all persons born or naturalized in the United States ... are citizens of the United States and of the state in which they reside.” This reversed the ruling of the Dred-Scott case of 1857. 

Along with gaining citizenship, African Americans were freed from slavery by the 13th Amendment and African American men gained the right to vote with the 15th Anendment. However, Jim Crow laws in the South managed to disqualify African Americans from voting and took away many of their rights as citizens. 

Proving Grounds

We are approaching the 100th anniversary of World War I, expected to be "the war to end all wars." It was the first completely global war, and even small towns in America were affected. 

Aberdeen, Maryland was settled in the 1800s by immigrants who named their new settlement after their home town in Scotland. In the fall of 1917, just before the US entered WWI, Aberdeen became the site of the US Army's proving ground. 

A proving ground is a place where the military tests tactics and weapons. Aberdeen is the oldest proving ground in the US Army and it is still active today. It was moved from Sandy Hook, New Jersey to the larger site in Aberdeen so that it could be close to industrial and shipping centers like Baltimore and Philadelphia. 

In addition to being a location to test weapons, Aberdeen Proving Ground has been a site for chemical research. Agent Orange, which was widely used during the Vietnam War, was tested at Aberdeen Proving Ground as a defoliant. Three million Vietnamese have been affected medically by the toxins in Agent Orange. 

One small step

45 years ago today, Neil Armstrong said, "That's one small step for [a] man, one giant leap for mankind." It is one of the best-known quotes in the world. 

July 20, 1969, the Apollo 11 astronauts landed on the Moon, becoming the first people to do so. But it wasn't until the 21st that Neil Armstrong actually set foot on the Moon. 

Apollo 11 was the fifth manned spacecraft mission by NASA and there were only three men on the mission: Armstrong, Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin and Michael Collins. While on the Moon, Armstrong and Aldrin collected lunar material for scientific research. 

The Moon landing was a televised event and it effectively ended the space race with the Soviet Union. As President Kennedy had promised, men landed on the Moon within the decade and returned safely to Earth. 

The Haven of Grace

At the Northern tip of the Chesapeake Bay lies the town of Havre de Grace. Originally, it was known as Harmer's Town but General Marquis de La Fayette visited the town during the American Revolution and commented that it reminded him of the French town Le Havre. The citizens renamed it because of the General. 

In the second year of the War of 1812, Havre de Grace was attacked by Rear Admiral George Cockburn. The Admiral vowed to attack any town that showed resistance. Havre de Grace was flying the American flag, resulting in an attack. 

Second Lieutenant John O'Neill attempted to prevent the British from attacking the town by manning a cannon, but he was captured.  Much of the town was destroyed but there was only one civilian killed. 

While O'Neill was captured, he was released. Upon his return to Havre de Grace, the town honored him by making him the Concord Lighthouse keeper. His family continued to be the caretakers until the 1900s. The lighthouse is the northernmost lighthouse on the bay and is no longer a functioning lighthouse. 

"I will get things done!"

Peace Corps is rather well-known across the nation and around the world. But say the word "AmeriCorps" and people give you a blank look. What is AmeriCorps?

Like the Peace Corps, AmeriCorps is a volunteer program funded by the government. Unlike the Peace Corps, AmeriCorps operates within the United States. 

In 1993, President Bill Clinton signed the National and Community Service Trust Act to create the current form of AmeriCorps, which is made up of VISTA, NCCC and State and National. 

I have accepted a position with AmeriCorps NCCC and begin my 10 month service starting today. However, my program is still new: AmeriCorps NCCC FEMA corps. 

FEMA corps is a program within NCCC but will partner with FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) and the team members will be dedicated to disaster relief and response in their region. 

My life is dedicated to public service. I have worked as a Park Ranger, a tour guide for my college, a Resident Assistant and now I will become an AmeriCorps NCCC FEMA member where I will help people who have suffered from disasters and help to prepare others for future disasters. I will get things done!

AmeriCorps Pledge:

"I will get things done for America -

to make our people safer,

smarter, and healthier.

I will bring Americans together 

to strengthen our communities.

Faced with apathy, 

I will take action.

Faced with conflict, 

I will seek common ground.

Faced with adversity, 

I will persevere.

I will carry this commitment 

with me this year and beyond.

I am an AmeriCorps member, 

and I will get things done."

"...one of the most stupendous scenes in Nature."

October 25, 1783, Thomas Jefferson stood above Harpers Ferry and described the scene before him: "The passage of the Patowmac through the Blue Ridge is perhaps one of the most stupendous scenes in Nature." 

(Jefferson Rock- where Jefferson stood)

In 1794, George Washington received approval from Congress to establish a second federal armory and arsenal at the location of Robert Harper's ferry at the junction of the Shenandoah and Potomac rivers. 

(Armory)

October 16, 1859, John Brown and 20 men invaded the town in order to capture the armory. Brown was an abolitionist who wanted to arm slaves with the guns from Harpers Ferry, but he was captured by US Marines and executed in December.

April 18, 1861, the armory was destroyed when Virginia seceded from the Union. This was the beginning of Harpers Ferry's role in the war. In the fall of 1862, the town saw the largest Union surrender during the war. After the battle of Antietam, President Lincoln visited to see the troops stationed at Harpers Ferry. 

March 18, 1936, the town experienced the highest recorded flood of 36.5 feet. Harpers Ferry had been established as a town by Robert Harper in 1763 and continued as a town until the '36 flood. Afterwards, the town became a National Historical Park in 1963. 

This is the history that I have been relating to visitors for the past five summers. Visitors arrive knowing little about the town and leave with much to think about. I started like these visitors; I came in to the Park Service knowing only a little bit about Harpers Ferry and very little about the actual Park Service. 

The history of the town helped me to realize that I had made the right decision in picking history as my major. The coworkers and interns I met helped me to realize that I want to continue working in the field of public history in the National Park Service. Harpers Ferry has been a great place to grow and to learn but I must bid my farewell now. My time has ended with the people I consider to be a part of my family and now I must move on into the great wide world of adulthood. While I bid adieu this weekend, I know that Harpers Ferry and the people will always be with me. 

"The greatest thing since sliced bread"

You've heard this phrase before and probably have used it, but why? What's so great about sliced bread?

Otto Frederick Rohwedder invented the first bread slicing machine. the Chillicothe Baking Company used Rohwedder's machine commercially on July 7, 1928. They advertised their sliced bread as "the greatest step in the baking industry since bread was wrapped." 

The next step was to wrap the sliced bread. Gustav Papendick figured out that placing the sliced bread in a cardboard tray, the wrapping machines would be able to package the bread. 

Commercially sliced bread was thinner than when people sliced the bread themselves so they began to consume more bread. In 1943, sliced bread was banned because of the war. The loss of sliced bread distressed people. As one woman who wrote to the New York Times said: "I should like to let you know how important sliced bread is to the morale and saneness of a household..."

Invasion Stalled

150 years ago today, July 4, 1864, Confederates invaded the town of Harpers Ferry for the last time during the war. 

Union General Ulysses S. Grant had identified the Shenandoah Valley as a strategic target to attack because it was used for supply lines and communication lines for the Confederates. 

(Ulysses S Grant)

Confederate General Jubal Early was making his way through the Valley to Harpers Ferry, where he hoped to pass easily through the gap in the mountains so that he could attack Washington, DC while Union troops were distracted further in the Valley. 

(Jubal Early)

General Max Weber held the Union force in the Valley at Harpers Ferry and his was only a reserve division. Weber decided to evacuate the town of Harpers Ferry and retreat to Maryland Heights. 

(Max Weber)

Weber's retreat to the heights delayed Jubal Early for four days before he moved on with his invasion of Washington, DC. Early was halted again though, by a battle at Monocacy, which is known as the battle that saved Washington, DC.