Memorial Day

Look back on our struggle for freedom,
Trace our present day's strength to its source;
And you'll find that man's pathway to glory
Is strewn with the bones of a horse.

~Anonymous

Blue Star Equiculture remembers the men, women and horses that have served our country and fought for our freedom.

(For a lighter Memorial Day remembrance, check out this article about USMC Staff Sergeant Reckless, a chestnut Korean race mare who valiantly carried ammunition for her unit in the Korean War.)

Home, home on the Grange

(Promotional poster for the Grangers, 1873)

Today, Pam and Lindsey were invited to attend the monthly meeting of the Palmer chapter of the National Grange of the Order of Patrons of Husbandry.

From the Massachusetts Grange:

The National Grange is the nation's oldest national agricultural organization, with grassroots units established in 3,600 local communities in 37 states. Its 300,000 members provide service to agriculture and rural areas on a wide variety of issues, including economic development, education, family endeavors, and legislation designed to assure a strong and viable Rural America. It was formed in the years following the American Civil War to unite private citizens in improving the economic and social position of the nation's farm population.

Over the past 137 years, it has evolved to include non-farm rural families and communities. The Grange is also a fraternal order known as the Order of Patrons of Husbandry, hence the "P of H" on the organization's logo. Founding members determined that a fraternal organization would be best able to combine loyalty and democratic ideals to provide service to others. The National Grange was one of the first formal groups to admit women to membership on the basis of equality with men. It remains so today.

The National Grange:

Since 1867, the National Grange, formally known as the National Grange of the Order of Patrons of Husbandry, has worked tirelessly for America’s family farmers and rural communities. Rural communities are the backbone of our nation and a key part of our national self-identity. Today, farming and rural communities face serious social and economic challenges. That’s why the National Grange is fighting to preserve family farms, rural communities and the rural lifestyles they represent, for generations to come!

When Rural Communities Decline, We All Lose:

• Family farmers and ranchers and the natural resources they faithfully nurture.
• The quality of life that comes from living in a community where your neighbors are also your friends and your primary support network.
• Responsive public officials who genuinely care about the concerns of local citizens because they live and work among them every day.
• The knowledge of traditional rural folk art, handicraft and homemaking skills.
• Local education with low student/teacher ratios and high parent involvement.
• Locally driven economic development opportunities for entrepreneurs.
• The “Can Do” tradition of rural community problem solving and volunteerism.

The Contributions of Vibrant Rural Communities are Irreplaceable!

You can make a difference. With your support, we can all help rural communities to be places where people want to live, work and raise their families in the 21 st Century.

The Grange sounds like an organization Blue Star Equiculture would be proud to join!

Happy Patriots' Day!

Today marks the observance of the Battles of Lexington and Concord, which opened the military hostilities of the American Revolution.

Yesterday (April 19th) was the actual anniversary, but in Massachusetts, Patriots' Day is observed on the third Monday of April.

April 19th also marks "The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere" (and William Dawes and others).

Now, as a bunch of Philadelphians who also have our ties to Massachusetts, we feel compelled to point out, however, that Paul Revere made a whole career out of riding around telling people things. Prior to the famous ride, Paul Revere had ridden all the way from Boston to Philadelphia to inform the First Continental Congress (whom Revere located at the City Tavern) that the British had closed Boston Harbor.

When it comes to the famous midnight ride, Paul Revere was just one of many alarm riders who were sent out to warn of British troop movements and threats of arrest towards the revolutionary leaders.

And implicit in all these riders and their "Midnight Ride" are of course the horses.

The National Lancers of the Massachusetts Militia reenacts The Ride every Patriots' Day.

(That's a nice looking gray Arab that "Paul Revere" rode last year, but nothing at all like a "Yankee" horse or Narragansett pacer that he probably rode.)