Tag Archives: Civil War

Memorial Day Poem: “Vigil Strange I Kept on the Field One Night”

Death of a son and comrade

Memorial Day has its roots in the American Civil War. Both the North and South wanted to set aside days to honor their dead. After World War I, the country set aside a day to honor all Americans killed in … Continue reading

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“I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

The near loss of a son inspires a song of hope

Grieving a loss is always painful, but grieving during the holiday season when most other people seem so cheerful is especially hard. This was the position of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow in December, 1863. Two years earlier, his beloved wife, Fanny, … Continue reading

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