Sometimes I forget just how much I have read.  I love reading and cruise along at about 1800 words per minute which means I can cover a lot of ground.

Here are some of the books that have stuck with me over the years in no particular order:

The Silmarillion
The Lord of the Rings
Dune  especially Chapterhouse Dune
Foundation and earth and lots more by Asimov
Enders Game
the Belgariad
The Great Divorce
Mere Christianity
We Drink Deeply from Our Own Wells
Ivanho
the Darkover books
the Peshita
Yajna and Eucharist
Holy Blood Holy Grail

more books on history than I can list
more books on music than I can list

http://s177.photobucket.com/albums/w212/misteslaus/Saint%20Patricks%20Day%20Parade%20Photso%2069th%20NYSV/?albumview=slideshow

Current Location: NYC

http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w212/misteslaus/Saint%20Patricks%20Day%20Parade%20Photso%2069th%20NYSV/file-41.jpg

The Irish who came to America during the great hunger (the famine and lack of work available) were not cheerfully received by most Americans. Outside of Maryland that Lord Baltimore had charted as a refuge for English Catholics, there were few places that Catholics were treated with anything short of distrust. The wedge between the Protestants and Catholics was deep and the prejudices strong.

The Irish came off the boat to be greeted with signs that said things like “no Irish need apply.” Racial epithets were commonplace and the Irish were often reduced to a crushing poverty. The term “Paddy Wagon” is an example of an old racial stereotype for Paddy is short for Padraig or Patrick. Hard working and brave, they took on some of the most dangerous jobs available – firefighting, soldiering, demolitions, construction. The effect of Irish labor and Irish determination built many of the canals and railroads that made America what it is today.

The Civil War began a great turning point – the rest f the country began to understand that the Irish in America were truly interested in being Americans. The 69th NYSV intentionally gave up their Irish Green and chose uniforms in the dark blue and sky blue of the regular Union Army. They marched off to battle with a set of colors in Irish green with the harp in gold made by Tiffany and Co. but their uniforms were Union Blue. The unit continues in existence today serving in Afghanistan.

I had the great pleasure to march in the Saint Patrick’s Day Parade in NYC with both the parishioners of the Old Cathedral of Saint Patrick (which was the 69th’s home parish) and the 69th NYSV Historical Society. To see the thousands who came out to line the streets was thrilling. Today nearly 12% of Americans can claim Irish ancestry – the largest single group (the next being of German heritage). There are about ten times as many Americans born of Irish ancestry than there are Irish in Ireland today. How times have changed as we celebrate the history of the Irish here.

The old Cathedral was begun in 1809 and was the first Catholic Cathedral in New York. It was transferred back to a parish in 1879 in favor of building the New Saint Patrick’s on 5th Avenue in a much more fashionable part of town. It stands to this day in the midst of a mix – China town, little Italy, SOHO, the Bowery and the Flatiron district. It is the place of legend and of continued work among the immigrant communities. You will find mass in Spanish and Chinese. Like the Irish many other waves of immigrants have entered the US through this parish.

The first resident bishop was Most Rev. John Connolly in 1815. The 4th Bishop and first Archbishop of New York John Hughes built the new cathedral on 5th Avenue. St. John Neuman was ordained there. Blessed Pierre Toussaint was a parishioner who was interred there. The Sisters of Charity (first female religious community established in the USA) founded by Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton worked out of the parish offering the first Catholic Social Services. It is a parish with a long and proud tradition. Though it is off the beaten path, it is well worth a visit. If you listen closely enough you just might catch the strains of the Garryowen, in glory.

Everyone is a wee bit Irish on St. Patrick’s Day

On St. Patrick’s Day, everyone finds a reason to be at least a wee bit Irish.

Here on Galveston Island stands Saint Patrick’s Church, which was built by and served Irish-Americans to the present day.

Downtown, you will find several Irish-themed establishments, and there will be plenty of green on display for the festivities.

“Erin go Braugh” (May I go back to Ireland forever) will be heard as well as the toast “Slainte” (health).

For a little while, you would think the whole world was Irish. But this was not always so. The Irish were not treated well as immigrants to this country before the Civil War.

Many came as indentured servants, and others did jobs so dangerous that no one else would do them. They were often considered less than people — by everyone else.

Next weekend I will travel to New York City and march with my Civil War re-enactment group the 69th New York State Volunteers Historical Society as a part of the famous Irish Brigade from the Civil War. This unit traditionally leads the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in New York and this year will be in two of the parades — one for the old Cathedral and the other, larger parade in the afternoon.

The men of the Irish Brigade and their chaplain, Father Corby, helped change the perception of Americans about the Irish.

During the Civil War, many Irish immigrants and Irish Americans enlisted and served with distinction on both sides. There were more Irish serving in Union blue, but there were significant numbers with the harp of Erin under the gray.

Many had joined as members of the Fenian Society. They were determined to gain experience in modern warfare so they could return to Ireland and free it from the yoke of England.

Their fathers and grandfathers had served in the last Irish rebellion and many had fallen on Vinegar Hill.

In the end, the fact that England tacitly supported the South by continuing to buy cotton and sell supplies fueled the fervor of the Irish love for the Union and the freedom it represented for Ireland.

It was how well the Irish performed their duties as soldiers that got the attention of the (non-Irish) American officers.

The Irish as a unit were fearless in battle. They did what they were told even in the face of insurmountable odds, such as at Fredericksburg.

The soldiers closest to the Confederate lines at the end of that dreadful battle wore the green sprig of boxwood in their kepis — reminders of the green of Ireland that Gen. Meagher had asked them to wear as they marched off to the strains of the Garryowen.

At Gettysburg, Father Corby, later president of the University of Notre Dame, climbed on a rock and asked the unit to kneel to receive general absolution before the battle.

The men dropped to their knees, their hats off in prayer. He exhorted them to do their duty and to make a full confession later if they were able and then pronounced the Latin words absolving them of their sins.

The non-Catholic officers nearby were impressed. Certainly this was not the first time general absolution had been given on an American battlefield, but something about the men of the Irish Brigade, en masse, going to their knees in prayer affected the Union officers greatly.

It began a notice that these Irish Catholics were somehow more human, more God-fearing, more American and more like themselves than they had been told all their lives.

Though there were terrible losses, the unit continued through the entire war.

After the Civil War, many of the young soldiers followed Father Corby back to Notre Dame where they became students and loaned their moniker “the Fighting Irish” to that French-founded University de Notre Dame du Lac (founded by the Holy Cross Fathers from France).

To this day, Notre Dame is a symbol of Ireland and Catholicism here in the United States — more than a great football team, more than a fantastic school — a place where the Irish in America found their home.

I think it is a good thing indeed that on every St. Patrick’s Day everyone is at least a wee bit Irish. Erin Go Braugh.

The Very Rev. Dr. Stephen Duncan studied for a time at Notre Dame as a Holy Cross candidate for the Roman Catholic priesthood. He has a soft spot in his heart for the Holy Cross fathers, Notre Dame and the Fighting Irish of the 69th for whom he serves as chaplain today — even though he is an Orthodox priest. Father Stephen’s mother’s grandfather Cornelius Deasy from County Cork is buried in the Catholic Cemetery on Galveston Island along with his wife and many relatives. The Irish branch of the Deasy family still owns and administers the family castle in County Cork.

4th REGIMENT MO STATE MILITIA CAVALRY (MSM).

Organized at St. Joseph, Mo., January 28 to May 14, 1862.
Ordered to Kansas City, Mo., May, 1882, and duty there fitting out till August.
Skirmish on Littie Blue June 2.
Ordered to Southwest Missouri August, 1862, and reported to General Eghert B. Brown. Attached to District of Southwest Missouri, Dept. of Missouri, to December, 1862.
District of Central Missouri, Dept. of Missouri, to July, 1863.
District of the Border, Dept. of Missouri, to January, 1864.
District of Central Missouri, Dept. of Missouri, to July, 1865.

SERVICE.--Pursuit of Coffee August 8-September 1, 1862.

• Between Stockton and Humansville and near Stockton August 12.

• Duty at Mt. Vernon till September 30.

• Joined Totten's Division, Army of the Frontier. Oxford Bend, near Fayetteville, Ark., October 27-28.

• Expedition from Greenfield into Jasper and Barton Counties November 24-26.

• Operations against Marmaduke in Missouri December 31, 1862-January 25, 1863.

• Defense of Springfield, Mo., January 8, 1863.

• Duty in Central Missouri and guarding Missouri Pacific Railroad, with Headquarters at LaMine Bridge, Jefferson City, Tipton, Sedalia and Warrensburg, Mo.. till October, 1864.

• Operations about Princeton May 4, 1863.

• Waverly June 1 (Cos. "B" and "C").

• Sibley June 23 (4 Cos.).

• Marshall July 28.

• Saline County July 30.

• Operations against Quantrell August 20-28.

• Operations against Shelby September 22-October 26.

• Tipton and Syracuse October 10 (Cos. "A," "B," "E" and "F"),

• Booneville October 11-12.

• Merrill's Landing and Dug Ford, near Jonesborough, October 12.

• Marshall, Arrow Rock, Blackwater, October 13.

• Operations about Warrensburg February 22-24, 1864.

• Scout from Sedalia to Bla,'.l(water June 3-5 (Co. "E").

• Near Sedalia and Marshall Road June 26 (Co. "E").

• Huntsville July 16.

• Scout from Independence to Lafayette County August 7-8 (Detachment).

• Operations in Lafayette and Saline Counties August 13-22 (Detachment).

• Near Roeheport August 28 (Detachment).

• Howard County August 28 (Co. "E").

• Moved to Defence of Jefferson City October 1.

• Campaign against Price October -- Moreau Bottoms October 7.

• California October 9.

• Booneville October 9-12.

• Little Blue October 21.

• Independence, Big Blue and State Line October 22.

• Westport October 23. Engagement at the Marmiton or battle of CharIot October 25.

• Mine Creek. Little Osage River, Marias de. Cygnes, October 25.

• At Sedalia, Mo., November, 1864, to April, 1865.

• Scout In Calloway County November 6-7,1864 (Detachment).

• Moved to St. Louis April, 1865, and most of Regiment mustered out April 18, 1865,

• Balance mustered out July 8, 1865.
  
  Regiment lost during service 2 Officers and 34 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 2 Officers and 86 Enlisted men by disease. Total 124.

Source of Data: "A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion, V.III" by Frederick H. Dyer, c1908, p.1305-1306

I was in San Antonio last week for the Texas Music Educators Association Convention. The Texas All-State Choirs, Bands and Orchestras performed at an incredible level. One of the conductors last year remarked that conducting them was like driving a Ferrari. The level of musicianship was extraordinary – all homegrown Texas talent. Congratulations to all those involved.

Friday morning I was privileged to have breakfast with Scott Shuler, PhD, president of the NAfME (National Association for Music Education formerly known as MENC). He was getting ready to give a talk at the General Session and wanted to get some information from those of us who were Texans about what we saw as the problems facing Music and the Arts in this era of budget woes.

We talked about how Music and the other Arts manage to do things the rest of the curriculum finds difficult – we experiment directly, work together in groups for a common goal, examine and reflect upon what is and is not working, think creatively both as individuals and as groups, and many of those other 21^st Century skill sets. Fine Arts teachers tend to reach students and encourage learning in ways that are far more engaging than times tables and square roots. It is part of the power, the magic of the Arts to engage young people in learning. The Dana Foundation's publication of research in Arts Education illustrates how powerful that is. For example, a student playing cello from music notation has demonstrably more going on in their brain than in almost any other activity.

Dr. Shuler and I talked a lot about what is currently going on in education. He was very interested in the remarks made by Texas Commissioner for Education Robert Scott who recently pointed out that the testing cycle (Staar calls for 45 days of testing) has become something quite different than what was intended by the legislature. High stakes testing has become as it were the “heart of the vampire” where time and money are taken from classroom teaching and spent on high stakes testing. NAfME and TMEA are both very concerned with the time students get to spend in class learning. It is difficult to teach children all the things we would like to especially when they are pulled from a music class for remediation in preparation for testing.

TMEA and other Arts organizations have gotten together to create http://www.GoArts.org . NAfME will roll out its own national support program called Groundswell later this month. Galveston is a city filled with Arts and Music. Galvestonians understand the joy that the arts bring to people at all ages and places. You can see that at the Artwalks, the Concerts and Plays, the Grand Opera House, the public art on the island, and many other places. Just wander around the Strand on a Saturday and you will see art and hear music from many places.

Let your legislators at the state and national level (and your school board) know that you continue to support the Fine Arts in all that they do to make our lives happier and our children better students. Support your local school arts programs and consider supporting the state and national ones as well.

Stephen F. Duncan, DMA

Director of Fine Arts

Galveston ISD

author, musician, composer

http://www.menc.org (NAfME web site)

http://www.goarts.org

http://www.tmea.org

http://www.gisd.org/finearts

Current Location: Galveston
Current Music: Irish Tune from County Derry

Siting here in the lobby at TMEA I realize that many things have come full circle.  Somewhere along the line I have gotten older Nd presumably wiser, but I can see the connections down the years.

Charlie Millender got me thinking about music in ways that kept me in it.  Without his insistence that I take up a double reed, I might not have majored in music and that is quite a story in itself.  Through Charlie I met Maurice McAdo and Mark Hindsley both of whom clinched my high school band.  I met James Jurrens and ended up going to SWSU playing there under Doc and Dr. Ed Williams.  All of these people who continued to challenge my thought processes.  This week I have been in clinics where Hindsley, Jurrens and others have been mentioned pretty much with awe.  I had the great good fortune to know them. What a wonderful thing.  Now it looks like I am siting at the other end.    I had breakfast with the president of NAfME used to be MENC.  I sit on the review committee for the state board of education on the materials for music in Texas.  I hope that I can hold up my end of the deal for all owe wonderful people who got me here ...

Reading is FUNdamental

One of the most difficult things for a teacher to do is to teach a child to read who has not interested in reading.

Up to the third grade we expect children to learn to read and after that we expect them to read to learn. It is a pretty complicated task and the fluency with which the children learn to read has a great deal to do with their success in other areas of school later on.

One of the best ways that parents and grandparents can help children on their educational path is quite simply to read to them when they are little and read with them as they grow older.

One of my fondest memories was sitting with my brother curled up on the sofa with my Aunt Lois (whose husband, my Uncle Marius, was BOI) as she read to us. She had the book in the middle and one of us on each side and she made the stories come alive. It was not long before both of us wanted to be able to read the stories for ourselves. It was the beginning of a life long love of reading.

Books took me to exotic far away places like London, Paris and Rome. I learned about cultures as far away as India. I learned about history and science and followed along with the reports of the Apollo Project which ended with us landing on the moon.

Now, many years later, I look back and realize that I have been to many of those place I read about. I have travelled to London, Paris, Rome and many other places in Europe. I have seen more than 40 US states. I lived in India while I did my dissertation research. Well, I have not made it to the moon, but there is still time.

Reading can unlock the imagination and free a young person to dream.

Read to your children. Read with your children. Read what your children write. You might be surprised how far it takes them.

Dr. Stephen Duncan is the Director of Fine Arts for G.I.S.D. And the author of two academic books on the shelves of Harvard and Yale.   

Current Location: United States, Texas, Galveston
Current Mood: cheerful

Battle of Galveston

Battle of Galveston
Part of American Civil War
C.S. Bayou City captures the USS Harriet Lane during the Battle of Galveston
Date January 1, 1863 Location Galveston, Texas Result Confederate victory
Belligerents
United States (Union)	CSA (Confederacy)
Commanders and leaders
Isacc S. Burrell William B. Renshaw	John B. Magruder
Units involved
West Gulf Blockading Squadron 42nd Massachusetts Infantry	Department of Texas, New Mexico and Arizona Texas Marine Department
Strength
6 gunboats unknown infantry	2 gunboats unknown infantry
Casualties and losses
ca. 400 captured 1 gunboat captured 1 gunboat destroyed	26 killed, 117 wounded

Artist's depiction of the capture of the USS Harriet Lane

Replicas of the "Twin Sisters," which were used in the 1836 Battle of San Jacinto and the 1863 Battle of Galveston.

The Battle of Galveston or the Second Battle of Galveston was a naval and land battle that occurred on January 1, 1863, during the American Civil War when Confederate forces under Maj. Gen. John B. Magruder attacked and expelled occupying Union troops from the city of Galveston, Texas.

The First Battle of Galveston was a naval engagement fought on October 4, 1862, during early Union attempts to blockade Galveston Harbor.

[edit] Battle

Two Confederate Cottonclads, The Bayou City and the Neptune, sailed from Houston to Galveston in an effort to engage the Union Fleet in Galveston Harbor. Outnumbered six to two by the Northern ships, the Neptune was severely damaged by the Union Fleet and eventually sank. While the Neptune was quickly disabled, the Bayou City succeeded in capturing the USS Harriet Lane.^[1]

During this time, the USS Westfield was grounded on a sandbar. A three-hour truce was called for by Magruder, but Union Fleet Commander William B. Renshaw, ignoring the negotiation offer, attempted to destroy the grounded Westfield with explosives rather than let it fall into enemy hands.

Renshaw and several Union troops were subsequently killed when the explosives were set off too early. Union troops on shore were convinced that their own ships were surrendering and, therefore, laid down their arms. The remaining U.S. ships did not surrender and succeeded in retreating to Union-controlled New Orleans.^{[2] [3]}

[edit] Aftermath

The Union blockade around the city of Galveston was lifted temporarily for four days, and Galveston remained in Confederate hands for the remainder of the war.

The Confederate Congress stated this on the successful recapture of Galveston:

"The bold, intrepid, and gallant conduct of Maj. Gen. J. Bankhead Magruder, Col. Thomas Green, Maj. Leon Smith and other officers, and of the Texan Rangers and soldiers engaged in the attack on, and victory achieved over, the land and naval forces of the enemy at Galveston, on the 1st of January, 1863, eminently entitle them to the thanks of Congress and the country... This brilliant achievement, resulting, under the providence of God, in the capture of the war steamer Harriet Lane and the defeat and ignominious flight of the hostile fleet from the harbor, the recapture of the city and the raising of the blockade of the port of Galveston, signally evinces that superior force may be overcome by skillful conception and daring courage."

From Wikipedia