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NEWS&VIEWS by Jacqueline Bennett

Posts from the “American history” Category

125th Anniversary Parade for 8th Utilities District Volunteer Fire Department

Posted on October 14, 2013

Write-Up & Photos by Jacqueline Bennett On a beautiful autumn day accented by colorful foliage, the 8th Utilities District Fire Department, a volunteer department, celebrated its 125th Anniversary October 13 with a 1:00 p.m. parade. It made its way from Manchester High School along East Middle Turnpike onto North Main Street. Local dignitaries joined the color guard in leading the parade. The Manchester Regional Police & Fire Pipe Band turned out for the event that featured vintage and modern fire apparatus from the 8th Utilities District and volunteer fire departments from surrounding towns including, Bolton, Andover, Coventry, South Windsor, Ellington, Vernon, Glastonbury,Broad Brook, Blue Hills/Bloomfield, Newington, East Granby, East Hartland, Marlbourough and Unionville. A firetruck from the Manchester Fire Museum , a fife &…

Categories: American history, NEWS

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CT’s First Town WHS Swimmers – First School to Join CT Trees of Honor Team for ING Run

Posted on October 1, 2013

By Jacqueline Bennett newsandviewsjb It’s another proud first for Windsor,Connecticut! Carrying forth the torch for being first, swimmers for Windsor High School in Connecticut’s First Town, have earned WHS the distinction of being the first school to join the “Run to Honor Their Sacrifice” team in the ING Hartford MARATHON and Half Marathon – slated for Saturday,October 12. Connecticut Trees of Honor has been named a recipient of funds from the ING run. “Our committee is so excited that you are the first school to join our team and we are honored,” Connecticut Trees of Honor Committee Chairperson Sue Martucci wrote in a recent message to the students. In joining the “Run To Honor Their Sacrifice” team, WHS swimmers are being led by Social…

Categories: American history, Connecticut Parks, Heroes, NEWS, singers/song writers, Veterans, war memorials

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Large Turnout at Old Sturbridge Village for $5 Friday

Posted on August 24, 2013

Write-Up & Photos by Jacqueline Bennett newsandviewsjb Well before doors opened at 9:30 a.m. yesterday morning, long lines of visitors waited outside to take advantage of $5 Friday at Old Sturbridge Village living history museum in Sturbridge, Massachusetts. Sunny skies and comfortable temperatures cooperated to drawn in the large crowd. Once inside, visitors were able to immerse themselves in what life was like in a New England village circa the 1830s, from farming sheep and cattle to horse-drawn rides, oxen at work, an old schoolhouse, Meeting Houses, a “Hartford to Worcester” stagecoach ride, a shoemaker at work, water-powered carding and grist mills and much more. Meeting Houses were a focal point of New England villages. In addition to the Center Meeting House with an…

Categories: American history, NEWS, Tourism, town greens, Travel, Vacation

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Old Sturbridge Village Offers $5 Friday on August 23

Posted on August 13, 2013

Interested in stepping back in time? Old Sturbridge Village (OSV) is offering visitors a chance to do so on August 23, at a reduced ticket rate called “$5 Friday.” This will be the third and last $5 Friday for the 2013 summer. The opportunity is being made possible by the Southbridge Credit Union, according to the OSV website. Admission is usually $24 for adults, $22 for seniors, $8 for ages 3-17 and free for age 2 and under – although this season OSV is also offering free admission for ages 17 and under throughout the month of August. A living history museum, at OSV visitors can experience what life was like in America centuries ago by visiting the blacksmith, potter, and farm animals such…

Categories: American history, education, NEWS, Tourism, Travel, Vacation

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Veterans of Korean War Remind Americans “Freedom Is Not Free” – 60th Anniversary

Posted on July 28, 2013

Commentary & Photos by Jacqueline Bennett newsandviewsjb For several years now America’s Korean War veterans have been making their presence known, marching in parades across the country with a message – “Freedom Is Not Free”. It is hard to fathom that the Korean War which resulted in 33,686 American deaths,103,234 wounded American service members. 4,759 Americans Missing in Action and 7,140 American Prisoners of War could ever be considered the “Forgotten War”. Nonetheless, that has been the case. Yesterday, on the 60th Anniversary of the Signing of the Korean War Armistice, the president laid a wreath at the Korean War Veterans Memorial saying – “Here in America, no war should ever be forgotten, and no veteran should ever be overlooked.” The day also included…

Categories: American history, Heroes, Korean War, NEWS, Veterans

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Save the USS Olympia Campaign Underway, Brought Unknown Soldier Home to America

Posted on July 28, 2013

Write-Up & Photos by Jacqueline Bennett newsandviewsjb A campaign is underway to save the USS Olympia, the oldest steel hull warship afloat, the only remaining ship from the Spanish-American War, the flagship of Admiral George Dewey at the Battle of Manila Bay and – the ship that in 1921, brought home the World War I unknown soldier from France to be buried in the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery. “No one is still alive from the Spanish-American War. What is still here is this ship, the USS Olympia,” said Timothy Jarvis, one of two young men manning a fundraisng table in Vernon, Connecticut on July 27. According to Jarvis, the overall preservation and transport effort for the historic ship is…

Categories: American history, Arlington National Cemetery, national campaign, NEWS, US NAVY, warships, World War I

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National Hot Dog Day is Tuesday! July 23, 2013

Posted on July 22, 2013

Write-Up & Photos by Jacqueline Bennett newsandviewsjb Long, short, plump, skinny, all-beef or not, hot dogs are an American favorite. So much so that the iconic food has its own day – National Hot Dog Day will be celebrated on Tuesday, July 23. Virtually every American community has a special spot where a unique version of the hot dog is served. In Connecticut, one of the best can be found at Bart’s Drive In Restaurant at 55 Palisado Avenue in Windsor, located on the banks of the Farmington River and just a few miles from the capital city of Hartford. Bart’s Famous Hot Dogs are prepared on the Magic Grill that has been pleasing palates in Central Connecticut and beyond for more than sixty-five…

Categories: American history, American icons, Food, Holidays, icons, NEWS, Restaurants, Tourism, Travel, Vacation

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Mystic Seaport to Launch “America’s Last Surviving Wooden Whaleship” – Charles W. Morgan

Posted on July 15, 2013

Write-Up & Photos by Jacqueline Bennett newsandviewsjb Visitors continue to climb aboard the Charles W. Morgan for an up-close look at its restoration in the final days before a July 21 launch of “America’s last surviving wooden whaleship” by Mystic Seaport Museum in Mystic, Connecticut. Yesterday, a steady stream of visitors of all ages ascended the wooden stairs leading to the Morgan to get a  firsthand look at the historic vessel that is slated to embark on its 38th voyage in the spring of 2014 and make its way to historic ports throughout New England. According to the story of the Morgan provided by Mystic Seaport, a maritime museum, the 19th Century whaling ship was designated a National Historic Landmark by the United States secretary of the interior in…

Categories: American history, education, educational program, historic preservation, Living Museum, Maritime history, National landmarks, NEWS, Ships, Tourism, Travel, Vacation, Wooden ships

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Field of Flags at Old Sturbridge Village Honors America’s Military

Posted on July 3, 2013

Write-Up & Photos by Jacqueline Bennett newsandviewsjb  Old Sturbridge Village in Sturbridge, Massachusetts is honoring America’s military with a Field of Flags located near the entrance to the village. A gift of $25 will sponsor a flag to be added to the field and help provide free admission to OSV for an active military member and his or her immediate family. A flag can also be sponsored in memory of a loved one or a military veteran. Further information about sponsoring a flag is available at the OSV Vistor’s Center.  On the Fourth of July, OSV will once again hold what is described as a very popular fireworks event in the evening. Earlier in the day, a 1 p.m. program will feature a naturalization…

Categories: American history, Fourth of July, Living Museum, NEWS, Tourism, Vacation

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