2018 Sept 5 West Point

In Newburgh, New York a couple of hours north of New York City.  This museum honors Purple Heart recipients, and has many audio and video recordings of men and women who have received the Purple Heart in WWII, Korea, Viet Nam and their experiences.

Below are pictures of West Point.  Black Knights of the Hudson is their nickname.  

On the front row of this church is inscribed the name of all of the head Commandants.

Hymnals and Bibles in perfect order.

Outside view of church.

Below is a faculty members house.  It's famously known as the "Beat Navy House."

Monument to honor all soldiers who lost their lives in the Confederate War.  West Point produced 445 Civil War Generals, 294 fought for the Union including Ulysses S. Grant,  and 151 for the Confederacy including Robert E. Lee.

Beautiful setting for West Point on the Hudson River.

This is just 13 links to the chain that was stretched across the Hudson to prevent the British from traveling down the river.  13 to symbolize the original colonies.

West Point's famous parade field.  

Between classes.  All cadets are required to pick a sport to participate in.  The founders of West Point felt that a team sport was important to learn to work with other team members to accomplish a goal.

Wonderful museum depicting the history of this fabulous military academy.

It's a wonder that Eisenhower even graduated from West point in 1915.  He was known as a prankster and was always getting demerits for his tricks.  His commander told him to put on his dress gray jacket for the evening event.  When Eisenhower showed up, that was all he had on.  He received several demerits for that one.

Graduation Day below.

West Point is a sprawling campus with several athletic fields and indoor sports facilities in addition to their many educational and dorm buildings.

Below is a couple with us on this Adventure Caravan trip.  Their grandson is attending West Point and will graduate this December.  It was very nice meeting this nice young man.

2018 Sept 4 Mystic

Mystic Seaport,  Connecticut.  Above the Charles W. Morgan, the last of an American whaling fleet that numbered more than 2700 vessels.  Built and launched in 1841.  Below is the luxurious Captain's quarters.

Barrel making is a real art.  This man loves working here at Mystic Seaport.  He was tediously refitting a small barrel.

Mystic was a very active ship building city in the 1800's.  A lot of items needed on ships had to be made in the area including rope.  First the twine had to be made then strung through this machine to twist into rope.

Nice collection of figureheads that came from the front of ships.

Dead horse celebration done after the first month of a trip when the sailors had paid off their debt.  They were paid a month's wages when they agreed to sign up for a voyage.  A stuffed figure of horse was hoisted up on the mast and flung out to sea.  Strange tradition if you ask me.

Most of the buildings in Mystic Seaport today have been moved here from other locations.  Below is a diorama of what the original town must have looked like.

The Mayflower II is being restored in Mystic Seaport under this large tent.  This replica of the original ship was built in 1957.  It is suppose to be launched next year and sailed back to Plymouth by 2020.  Looks like they have a ways to go.

2018 Sept 3 Plymouth

National Monument to the Forefathers in Plymouth, Massachusetts.  World's largest solid granite monument. Dedicated in 1889 to honor the Mayflower Pilgrims.

Below is the Pilgrim Hall Museum.  It's the oldest public museum in US still occupying the same building since 1824.  It houses a lot of articles that the early pilgrims had.

I love this painting depicting the first Thanksgiving.

Six sided box is all each pilgrim family could bring from Europe.

Plymouth rock.  

Below is the US Nautilus. The world's first operational nuclear-powered submarine and the first submarine to complete a submerged transit of the North Pole on 3 August 1958.

Regular naval chief petty officer.  Assigned to this duty on the Nautilus for 2 years.  This man left on one of his assignments 2 weeks after his first baby was born, and didn't get back to see the baby until it was 6 months old.

The Nautilus being honored coming into New York harbor after completing the trip under the North Pole.