D-day Ohio 2016

My son, my dad and I took a day trip to Conneaut Ohio for the WWII D-day re-enactment.  This is an annual event which attracts visitors from all over.  The event was packed with spectators who got a chance to experience life from a by-gone era.  

A couple thousand re-enactors thrilled the crowd with a skirmish in a town in German occupied France and the final battle of the day which depicts the Allied beach landing at Omaha Beach, Normany France.  As you can see by the photos, the crowd was very close to the action at times.  

Definitely worth the trip (we're already planning a return trip next year), the event runs for two days as there's far to much to see in one day.  Landing craft rides, flame thrower and weapons demonstrations, tanks, motorcycles and other vehicles from that time are some of the attractions.  Allied and German camps are open to the public as well. 

AND the event is completely FREE!!  Donations are accepted to help cover the costs of putting on such a grand display.

See the gallery "D-day Ohio 2016" to see all of the images from the event. 

Allied mortar demonstration

Flame thrower demonstration 

Kiss Me Deadly

Got to hear Lita Ford at The Erie County Fair on Wednesday night.  

Man!! 

She can still ROCK!  Here's some pics from the event.

Happy Independence Day!!

Thank you to the town of Orchard Park for including us in their Fourth of July Parade and thank you to the OP Firefighters for their hospitality and a cold beverage after the parade!

Forest Lawn Memorial Day 2016

An excerpt from General John A. Logan's Memorial Day Order...

General Order No. 11

Washington, D.C., May 5,1868

The 30th day of May 1868, is designated for the purpose of strewing with flowers or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion, and whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village, and hamlet churchyard in the land.  In this observance no form or ceremony is prescribed, but posts and comrades will in their own way arrange such fitting services and testimonials of respect as circumstances may permit...

...If other eyes grow dull and other hands slack, and other hearts cold in the column trust, ours shall keep it well as long as the light and warmth of life remain in us...

...Let us, then, at the time appointed, gather around their sacred remains and garland the passionless mounds above them with choicest flowers of springtime; let us raise above them the dear old flag they saved from dishonor; let us in this solemn presence renew our pledges to aid and assist those whom they have left among us as sacred charges upon the Nation's gratitude, -the soldier's and sailors widow and orphan.

It was an honor to be part of the Forest Lawn Cemetery Memorial Day Ceremony organized by the Sons and Daughters of the Union Volunteers of the Civil War along with the 155th New York Volunteer Infantry and the Union Volunteers Fife and Drum Corps.  

The ceremony takes place each year at the Grand Army of the Republic Monument in Section 14.  Although this section is dedicated to those who died in the American Civil War, Memorial Day is to honor all of those who paid the ultimate price for this country.  Ray Ball Jr. played taps dressed as a doughboy from WWI to also pay tribute to those soldiers as well.

Please see the gallery "Forest Lawn Memorial Day 2016" to see all of the images from this event...

Fife and Drum

Singing "When Johnny Comes Marching Home"

Rest on arms

Arcade Railroad Memorial Day Event 2016

Thank you to our friend Robert Yott for inviting the Company A Engineers back to the Attica/Arcade Railroad Memorial Day Event this year.  We enjoy being a part of this! 

Passengers rode the train with Civil War re-enactors from Arcade to the Courier Station where a Memorial Day Ceremony was performed.  The event included words given by President Abraham Lincoln, Union General Ulysses S. Grant and Confederate General Robert E. Lee about what Memorial Day means to each of them.  A ceremonial wreath was placed by a cross burial marker between the Union and Rebel flags.  An artillery salute was fired followed by the playing of Taps on the bugle by our very own First Sergeant Raymond Ball Jr.  Refreshments were available afterwards. 

Memorial Day is a chance to recognize the soldiers who gave their lives for their country.  This is a very important and solemn occasion to salute and remember those who gave their all and made the ultimate sacrifice.  God Bless each and every one of them and may they Rest In Peace.

Here's some images from the event.  All of the images can be found in the gallery "Arcade RR Mem Day 2016".  

Holy Cross Cemetery

We had the distinct honor of participating in a gravestone re-dedication ceremony for Alfred McQuinn Corrigan who was a Major in the New York 9th Calvary, who died on May 28, 1864 from complications of an amputated right leg.  The severe wound was suffered at the battle of Meadow Bridge, Virginia on May 12, 1864.  He was enlisted as a private in Fredonia, New York in 1861.  He was 24 years old.  

The ceremony took place in Holy Cross Cemetery in Buffalo, New York.

Here are the images from the event.

Fire on the Genesee 2016!

Last weekend we attended an event titled "Fire on the Genesee" which is an encampment of Civil War re-enactors.  This is the second year we've attended this event and we continue to enjoy going to it, and my son enjoys participating in it with the Engineers.  Both Union and Confederate camps we open to the public and a battle was held on both Saturday and Sunday.  Good times with good folks.  

Here's some images from the event.  More images can be found in the "Fire on the Genesee 2016" gallery.

Corporal Eames

Testing the board strength the old fashioned way.

Private Parker drilling legs for a bench.

Rebels on the move.

Confederate Artillery fire.

Union dismounted Calvary.

Private Noah sharpening the spikes for the Chevaux-De-Frise.

Corporal Eames sawing the leg for a bench.

Building the Chevaux-De-Frise which is a battlefield obstacle used against calvary.

The Fenians have Invaded!

We were proud to be part of the 23rd annual Old First Ward St. Patrick's Day Parade on Saturday.  To commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Fenian Invasion of Canada, we marched as members of the Fenian Brotherhood this weekend.  We were joined by other re-enactors from as far as New Jersey and Detroit.  

Between 1866 and 1871, the Fenian raids of the Fenian Brotherhood, an Irish Republican organization who were based in the United States, on British army forts, customs posts and other targets in Canada, were fought to bring pressure on Britain to withdraw from Ireland.  (from Wikipedia)

Here's some images from the event.  Additional images can be found in the "Company A Fenian Invasion" gallery.

Lincoln's Birthday Celebration 2016

On Sunday, we were honored to be part of the Buffalo History Museum's longest running observance of saluting Abraham Lincoln, our 16th president.  The event has run for 121 years and is organized by the Buffalo Civil War Round Table.

President Lincoln recited passages from his first and second inaugural addresses and the complete Gettysburg Address.  General Ulysses S. Grant was also in attendance as well as soldiers form both Union and Confederate armies.  After the president's speeches the re-enactors fired off a rifle salute on the museum portico.  

What birthday event would be complete without cake?  Cake was served to all attendees as the spectators were able to mingle with the re-enactors and musicians.  What a wonderful opportunity to talk Civil War era history with those who portray it passionately and accurately!  Photo ops galore as well!

Here are some images from the event.  

Also see the gallery "Lincoln's Birthday Celebration 2016" for more images from the event...

President Lincoln and Union General Ulysses S. Grant

Musical entertainment

General Grant addresses the attendees.

President Lincoln speaks to the crowd.

Loading for the salute

Company A Winter Training Day 2016

It's that time of year again...

...time to polish up your brass, waterproof your Brogans, and dust off your rifle!

The Engineers of Company A got together for an afternoon of drilling and refining their presentation.

Welcome to the new recruits Dave and Noah!

Come and visit us at a re-enactment event this season...

Rifle inspection

Training the new recruit Noah

Rest on Arms

Ramming

Loading the rifle with powder

FIRE!!

Captain Ball instructs the men.

Butterfly

This image was made at Conesus Lake...

In the Woods...

Here's a few more old images.  These were taken in the woods near The Eternal Flame in Orchard Park, New York.

Hope you enjoy them...

Cuyahoga Valley National Park

I've been doing some cleaning up of my hard drive and getting rid of images that I don't need.  Some images I'm re-visiting and tweaking them as my processing style has definitely changed over the years.

These images are from a stop that my friend Keith and I made on our way back from a photo seminar in Columbus, Ohio in August 2011.  We stumbled across a sign for Cuyahoga Valley National Park and decided to stop and make some images of the Park and Brandywine Falls.

Hope you enjoy these...

Gettysburg...the last ones.

OK, I can't help it...last bunch from Gettysburg.  See the gallery "Gettysburg - Autumn" to see all the images.

Thank you for taking the time to view my images.

Company A Engineers Christmas Party 2015

Thank you Cheryl and Tim for graciously hosting the Company A Engineer's Christmas Party (again)!  The food and company were excellent.  Looking forward to events with you all this season!  (Apparently I did get part of the couch in the photo...)

Gettysburg...Again!

Here's some more images from my trip to Gettysburg, PA this fall.  Hope you Enjoy!

More from Gettysburg...

I'm keeping them coming.  I hope you enjoy them!

Autumn in Gettysburg, PA...continued

Here's a few more images from the trip.

Monument on Big Round Top

Canon from Devil's Den

Canon at Devil's Den with Little Round Top in the distance

Canon on Little Round Top 

View of the Pennsylvania Monument in the distance from Little Round Top

Devil's Den from Little Round Top

Autumn in Gettysburg, PA

Had the opportunity to visit Gettysburg, PA in mid October on my way back from training for my job in Newark, DE.  As a photographer, it's a dream to visit a place like this during near-peak color.  Some parts of the Battlefield Park were near or past peak color while other parts were just beginning to change.  It was very busy with tourists as I would expect this time of year.  I was able to catch a sunset and one sunrise as I only stayed overnight.  It was a thrill to be standing on Little Round Top at 5:50am before sunrise and be able to watch the sunlight sweep across Devil's Den and the surrounding fields!

As much a s I enjoyed this opportunity, still something was lacking.  It just wasn't the same being there without my son, Noah, and The Engineers of Company A.  This place is very special to us and is the favorite place for Noah and I to visit together.  

It's also an honor to visit as a member of an event involving the Civil War Re-enactors.  They are a dedicated group who are committed to honoring this hallowed ground and those who fought on both sides to defend their positions here. 

Here's some images from the trip.  

...More to come...    

View from the top of the Statler...

Took a ghost tour of the Statler Hotel last night with our good friends Don and Linda.  The tour was interesting with a unique chance to see many areas of the hotel not normally visited.  Here are a couple of images which show the view of City Hall from the 17th floor.  These are both hand-held as I did not have a tripod with me.