Boyle County KYGenWeb
Military Index
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Contributions to this page are welcome.
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Tributes to Our Veterans
(Thanks to all of you for your
contributions.)
[Origin of Memorial Day]
On May 5, 1868, General John A Logan, Commander-in-Chief of the Grand Army of the Republic, issued General Orders No 11 from his headquarters in Washington, D.C. It read as follows:
I. The 30th day of May, 1868, is designated for the purpose of strewing with flowers or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion, and whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village and hamlet church-yard in the land. In this observance no form of ceremony is prescribed, but Posts and Comrades will in their own way arrange such fitting services and testimonials of respect as circumstances may permit.
We are organized, Comrades, as our Regulations tell us, for the purpose, among other things, "of preserving and strengthening those kind and fraternal feelings which have bound together the soldiers, sailors and marines who united to suppress the late rebellion." What can aid more to assure this result than by cherishing tenderly the memory of our heroic dead, who made their breasts a barricade between our country and our foes. Their soldier lives were the reveille of freedom to a race in chains, and their deaths the tattoo of rebellious tyranny in arms. We should guard their graves with sacred vigilance. All that the consecrated wealth and taste of the nation can add to their adornment and security, is but a fitting tribute to the memory of her slain defenders. Let no wanton foot tread rudely on such hallowed grounds. Let pleasant paths invite the coming and going of reverent visitors and fond mourners. Let no vandalism of avarice or neglect, no ravages of time testify to the present or to the coming generations that we have forgotten as a people the cost of a free and undivided Republic. If other eyes grow dull, and other hands slack, and other hearts cold in the solemn trust, ours shall keep it well as long as the light and warmth of life remain to us. Let us, then, at the time appointed gather around their sacred remains and garland the passionless mounds above them with the choicest of flowers of spring; let us raise above them the dear old flag they saved from dishonor; let us in this solemn presence renew our pledges to aid and assist those whom they have left among us a sacred charge upon a nation's gratitude, the soldier's and sailor's widow and orphan.
II. It is the purpose of the Commander-in-Chief to
inaugurate this observance with the hope that it will be
kept up from year to year while a survivor of the war
remains to honor the memory of his departed Comrades. He
earnestly desires the public press to call attention to
this Order, and lend
its friendly aid in bringing to the notice of Comrades in
all parts of the country in time for simultaneous
compliance therewith.
III. Department Commanders will use every effort to make this Order effective.
Borrowed [preserved] from Cathy Labath with thanks.
Tom Otto 6326
Olbear@mbay.net
IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN...
It has always been the soldier
not the reporter
who has given us Freedom of the press
It has always been the soldier
not the poet
who has given us Freedom of speech
It is the soldier
not the campus organizer
who has given us the Freedom to demonstrate
It is the soldier
who salutes the flag
who serves under the flag
whose coffin is draped by the flag
who allows the protesters to burn the flag!
It is the soldier...
It has always been the soldier!
--Unknown
Reprinted in the Ohio Chapter of the National Daughters
of the American Revolution Resolutions--2002
John Searcy
Civil War - POW
From Boyle County, Kentucky
John Searcy (birth between October 28, 1836 and February 16, 1837) and Sarah Elizabeth Duncan (born in KY on August 21, 1844) were married in Boyle County, Kentucky on June 5, 1858. John and Sarah became parents on May 5, 1859. This child was Mary Goldie Searcy. They became parents again at the birth of their second daughter, Nancy Ann Searcy on March 17, 1861.
Searcy entered the service September 15, 1861 at Camp Dick Robinson in Boyle County, KY to serve three years in the Civil War. At the time he enlisted, John was a resident of Boyle County, KY. John was mustered into service of the United States by General Thomas on October 28, 1861. He was enlisted as a Union private in Company F with the First Regiment of Kentucky Cavalry Volunteers. At that time the commanding officer of Company F was Captain Robert C. Blain. John Searcy furnished his own horse valued at $125.00.
John served his country. He received a furlough around March of 1863 and then went back to active duty. In two different letters from Sam Prech, Assistant Adjutant General, to the Commissioner of Pensions in Washington D.C. (the first dated May 3, 1865 and the second dated December 28, 1865), it was learned that John Searcy was an absent prisoner of war; being captured at Philadelphia, Tennessee on October 20th 1863.
John Searcy was sent to Belle Isle Prison at Richmond, Virginia. This prison housed Union noncommissioned officers and enlisted men. Although Belle Isle Prison was intended to hold only 3,000 men in tents, at one time there were more than three times that many being held there. Many slept on the ground without a tent for shelter.
On December 9, 1863, John Alice Searcy was born to John and Sarah Searcy and named after her father. At that time, John was already in the hands of the rebels.
On February 15, 1864, John was admitted to the C. S. Military Prisoner Hospital in Richmond, VA. In a report of the Commanding General of Prisoners, it was stated that John Searcy died on February 16th, 1864. John died in a rebel prison at or near Belle Isle in Richmond, Virginia. His death was due to disease contracted while a prisoner of war in the hands of the rebels and while confined in a rebel prison.
John Searcy died never having seen his youngest child. Since all three of his children were girls, this line of the Searcy name was not carried on to future generations.
Submitted by Cathy Cheney.
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When I was a young boy, I remember watching the TV and seeing the stories of the heroics of the young American soldiers during WWII. I kept looking for my dad on those battle field images and was proud in knowing that even I didn't see him, I knew he had been there.
I used to say, "Dad, someday I'm going to be a soldier too." He'd simply sit quietly and say "Now, why would you want to do that. I went there so you wouldn't have to go."
Now my father's gone and I did serve in the military. But, I have learned what he knew then. We served in the hope and dream that someday this world would not be full of conflict, killing, and so much sadness. We come from a land where our freedom is our God given right that we will preserve at all costs. We are united under one flag that represents us all, no matter our differences in race or creed. Our love for our country and one another is born from the respect instilled in us by our forefathers who cherished this country and all that it stands for in this world.
May God bless us all as Americans. May we remember the men and women that gave of their time and their lives, that the values that we have come to know as the American Way, be preserved for the next generations.
Remember our Veterans.
Submitted by Redi
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Boyle County Coordinator 