On this Veterans Day 2010, I want to honor the veterans in my family, starting with my father shown above in the listing included at the World War II Memorial in Washington, DC. My father was also recalled to duty during the Korean War serving in the same capacity working as an engineer on the engines of the US Navy ships stationed at the Philadelphia Navy Yard.
There are also veterans of other wars earlier in my family tree.
ROLLIN B. TRUESDELL (1839-1914), my father's great grandfather on his mother's side, served in a New York State Infantry Regiment in the Army of the Potomac under Union Generals George McClellan, Joe Hooker and Ambrose Burnside from 1861 to 1863 during the Civil War. He saw action during the Peninsula Campaign, Second Bull Run, Antietam, Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville.
JAMES F. HARRINGTON (1834-1917), my father's other great grandfather on his mother's side, served in the Missouri State Militia Cavalry throughout most of the Civil War engaging Confederate forces wherever his unit was needed to keep Missouri under the control of the Union Army.
DANIEL RAYMOND (1747-1830), my great great great great grandfather, served in the New York State Troops of the Colonial Army under General Schuyler in 1777 during the Revolutionary War. Daniel also had three brothers who served in the Colonial Army during the Revolutionary War in units from other states in the Northeast. The grave of his brother Joseph Raymond, who reached the rank of Captain in the Massachusetts Troops, is shown here with a Revolutionary War Veteran marker and flag. We found this grave and that of Daniel's brother, Paul Raymond, who also served in the Massachusetts Troops, in the Center Cemetery in Richmond, Massachusetts when we visited the Berkshire Mountains last month.
We honor all veterans today for keeping our country safe and secure from tyrants, dictators and terrorists for over 200 years.
