Major General Winfield Scott Hancock Statue

Posted on March 25, 2017March 25, 2017 by Dusty Roads | 2 Comments

There I was…standing in the icy rain. A cold wind was blowing. I looked around for something to do for an hour plus while I waited for the tour. Nothing seemed to be open but as I turned to head back to the subway (where at least it was warm) I spotted a man riding a horse. Well actually a statue of a man riding a horse.

The monument stands next to the elevator to the Metro and across Pennsylvania Ave from the National Archives.

It’s also very close to the US Naval Memorial.

I looked at the engraving identifying the rider as General Winfield Scott Hancock. I’d never heard of him. General Winfield Scott (Old Fuss and Feathers) was a Civil War general but this fellow had a “Hancock” added onto his name. I looked both Generals up and both served in the Civil War for the Union. This general’s nick name was (“Hancock the Superb”).

There were a few similarities : both Generals ran for president and both were defeated. But more specific to General Hancock was his reputation for integrity which was rare in the corruption of the era. Hancock was only narrowly defeated by James Garfield in his run for president in 1880.

General Hancock lived a storied life with much of it committed to the service of the country. He served as a second lieutenant in the Mexican War, joined the Union Army and was rapidly promoted to brigadier general. He was a new corp commander at the Battle of Gettysburg.

Hancock’s corp was crucial in the battle at Cemetery Ridge (Pickett’s Charge). Hancock himself sustained wounds in that battle that continued to plague him for the rest of his life.

The Memorial that stands on Pennsylvania Ave was dedicated May 12, 1886 right after his death. President Grover Cleveland commissioned the memorial at a cost of $50,000.00 which was a lot at that time. The statue is a dedication to the Civil War as well as the General. Before his life ended on Feb 9, 1886, General Hancock had dedicated forty years of his life to the United States Army.

Seems to me he earned that statue!

On the Good Ship Lollipop

Posted on February 11, 2014February 11, 2014 by Dusty Roads

The Hollywood legend who stole hearts with her famed ringlets & dimples — & grew up to serve as a U.S. ambassador — died at age 85 on Monday in California.

Rest in Peace Shirley Temple Black

RIP Nelson Mandela

Posted on December 6, 2013December 6, 2013 by Dusty Roads

As the world morns the passing of Nelson Mandela there will be many comments, blogs, articles written commemorating a life dedicated to bringing freedom and equality to South Africa. Just the fact that he spent 27 years in prison for his beliefs is more than I can fathom. I don’t know if I would have the fortitude to do that. That sacrifice makes me wonder if I even have something that I believe that deeply in that I would give up 27 years of freedom.

In the words of former president Jimmy Carter, who worked closely with Mandela to promote human rights, “His passion for freedom and justice created new hope for generations of oppressed people worldwide, and because of him, South Africa is today one of the world’s leading democracies.”

Nelson Mandala left this world on Dec 5, 2013. Rest In Peace. Your battle is done.

It is time for a new generation to step up.

911

Posted on September 11, 2013September 11, 2013 by Dusty Roads

They That Go Down to The Sea In Ships

Posted on August 20, 2013August 20, 2013 by Dusty Roads

About a week ago I found myself with some time on my hands and a beautiful late summer day. Yes, I say late summer because the heat of July was gone and there was a freshness to the air.

As I thought about my options I got the urge to take a drive to Gloucester. I spent many happy hours scuba diving in Gloucester waters when I first moved to Massachusetts. As I moved farther and farther south my jaunts to the Cape Ann area became less and less. Just as I never went to Cape Cod when I lived north of Boston I now avoid the traffic that makes a northbound trip to Cape Ann so difficult.

But this day I felt adventurous so about 11 am I headed out to make the drive north. The fates must have agreed with my decision because there was no traffic and I made excellent time.

The closer I got to Gloucester the more nostalgic I became. I passed the exit to Folly Cove, one of my old dive spots and crossed the bridge over the Annisquam River, a tidal, salt-water estuary.

Eventually I found myself driving along the harbor following the long, narrow Stacy Esplanade. There ahead of me was the symbol of Gloucester, a memorial to all those thousands of Gloucester fisherman lost at sea in the first three centuries of Gloucester’s history.

The Gloucester Fisherman’s Memorial is an eight foot tall bronze statue of a fisherman dressed in oilskins braced at the wheel of his ship.

The deck is sloping, his face rugged. The statue rests on a granite base. A small plaque on the north or street facing side of the base reads “MEMORIAL TO THE GLOUCESTER FISHERMAN, August 23,1923”

On the front or harbor-facing side is the inscription from the 107th Psalm which reads:

I have seen this statue many times over the years and in between I’ve seen many photos, yet it never fails to move me. It speaks to the hugeness of the ocean and the smallness of man who dares to brave its vastness as well as memorialize those that set sail never to return.