SHAKO: Remember the Alamo

Well, almost …

O.K. the 175th anniversary of the fall of the Alamo was Sunday March 6. So we didn’t exactly remember it on time. We’re like that with relatives’ birthdays, too.

But we do want to remind readers that this year marks the Sesquicentennial (150th anniversary) of the firing on Fort Sumter (April 12) and the start of at least four years’ commemorations of the Civil War (1861-1865). We imagine we’ll be hearing a lot over the next four years about Grant, Lee, Lincoln, Jeff Davis, Gettysburg, Shiloh, the Emancipation Proclamation, Appomattox Court House and Juneteenth.

We also expect to hear about the technological breakthroughs that came during that conflict: telegraph communication, troop transport by rail, one of the first submarines, observation balloons, land mines and the machine gun.

By April or May 2015, most Americans may have grown tired of the War Between the States. We’ll be getting a lot of it here in the Greater Washington area — the scene of much Civil War drama on and off the battlefield.

But let’s hope the anniversaries of two other conflicts don’t get lost in the blue and gray mania. Starting next year will be the bicentennial of the War of 1812 (through January of 2015, don’t forget the Battle of New Orleans). Maryland, the home of the Star Spangled Banner, isn’t about to let you forget it (see photo below):

Photo: http://www.visitmaryland.org

And July 2014 will mark the 100th anniversary of the start of the War to End All Wars (Yeah, right) — World War I (1914-1918).  Britain, France and Germany will probably have a lot to say about that.

The second decade of the 19th and 20th were very interesting times, as they say.

Let us know about any significant commemorations we’ve left out or any truly unique celebrations of these historic events in your part of the world.

Just drop us a line at:

4gwar@gmail.com

and let us know if we can post it here at the Shako.