My Thoughts on This Memorial Day

On May 28, 2018May 28, 2018 By dancingpalmtreesIn Edward G. Palmer, Edward Gordon Palmer, Edward Palmer, Great, Great Grandfather William Henry Halstead, Memorial Day, Memorial Day 2018, The Daily Post, The Daily Prompt, Uncategorized, William Henry Halstead8 Comments

Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13

https://dailypost.wordpress.com/prompts/ceremony/

My Thoughts on this Memorial Day

Today we Americans Honor and Remember Those Who died in Battle.

Though my ancestors did not die in battle I still Honor their sacrifice.

First My Great, Great Grandfather who being a Free man remembered his sisters and brothers in slavery chains and joined the battle for Freedom.

William Henry Halstead

In December of 1863 my Great Great Grandfather, William Henry Halstead, who lived in Tarrytown, New York, traveled to New Haven, Connecticut to join the 29th Connecticut Colored Infantry. On his Volunteer Enlistment papers it notes his occupation as a farmer. He enlisted for three years and was discharged on the 24th day of October 1865. He married and had five children. William Henry Halstead passed away in 1888 and was buried in Sleepy Hollow Cemetery in Tarrytown, New York. His wife moved to New York City with her five children. Her children grew up in Harlem and belonged to various organizations such as Odd Fellows, Ladies of the Grand Army of the Republic and the Daughters of New York.

Edward Gordon Palmer

My Father Edward Gordon Palmer who served in Air Force during the Korean War. Daddy dropped out of City College in New York to enlist in the Air Force. Fortunately My Dad was stationed state side and did not have to go to Korea but I’m still glad he Loved this country enough to volunteer.

Of course I’m also glad that after he ETS’d he went to work at Wright Patterson Air-force Base in Dayton, Ohio, was introduced to and married my Mom Mable Palmer which resulted in myself and Stephen. Obviously I mention my Dad because I Love him and still impressed that despite the fact Black Americans did not have Civil Rights as in every war since the American Revolution Black Americans have always stood up and defended our country always hoping and praying for the Double V. Victory Overseas and Victory at Home.

As most of you already know I too served in the U.S. Army because despite the fact that America does not believe in Black people I still believe in her and what she could and should be for All Americans.

One day the hopes, dreams and prayers of my ancestors will be fulfilled and we will have that Victory at Home.

William Henry Halstead Headstone ~ Sleepy Hollow

William H. Halstead name as inscribed on the Colored Soldiers Monument in Washington, DC

America My Country! Sweet Land of Liberty! Let Freedom Ring!

Veterans Legacy Program: “Pride of the Buffalo Soldiers” – VAntage Point

On February 9, 2018February 9, 2018 By dancingpalmtreesIn Bob Marley - Buffalo soldier, Buffalo Soldiers, Edward G. Palmer, Edward Gordon Palmer, Edward Palmer, Great, Great Grandfather William Henry Halstead, Uncategorized, William Henry Halstead6 Comments

https://www.blogs.va.gov/VAntage/45148/veterans-legacy-program-pride-of-the-buffalo-soldiers/

To All My Readers of African Descent Listen to the part of the Video that says the Buffalo Soldiers did not look for or seek recognition or validation from white society to succeed. Obviously in American Blacks and all people of Color are under attack. We are not wanted. Many are hoping to see our erasure from the landscape however Take Pride in your Race. Our Culture! Our Traditions! It’s Up to Us and We as Black People cannot rely on other races to assist or to support our causes! Do For Self!

Despite negativity from evangelicals and fundamentalists We Will Not be wiped out or exterminated. The success, riches and wealth of America was pretty much built on the backs of Africans. We are here and we are not going anywhere!!

Say It Loud!! I’m Black and I’m Proud!

Black History is American History!

Whose Flag?

On September 27, 2017October 7, 2017 By dancingpalmtreesIn Edward G. Palmer, Edward Gordon Palmer, Edward Palmer, Fannie Lou Hamer - "Until I am Free You are Not Free Either", Fannie Lou Hamer - "We're On Our Way", Fannie Lou Hamer : At the 1964 Democratic National Committee, Fannie Lou Hamer ~~ One of the Queen Mothers of The Civil Rights Movement, Great, Great Grandfather William Henry Halstead, Uncategorized, Whose Flag?, William Henry Halstead10 Comments

Whose Flag?

Whose Flag? The flag that ignited the Trail of Tears and condemned my Native American Ancestors far from their Promised Land?

The Flag that ignited Manifest Destiny and stole, robbed, cheated and raped millions of Indigenous peoples to broken treaties, destruction and death.

The Flag that ignited the slave ships of the Middle Passage where my African Ancestors were kidnapped from the Motherland. Denied their heritage. Their religion. Their customs and traditions. And what of those thrown overboard as so much excess baggage. Or the others who jumped rather than condemn generations to slavery and Jim Crow.

The Flag that ignited the Dred Scott decision telling us we are only 3/5ths of a man? Where are we in the signing of the Declaration of Independence? Do you see any Native or African Americans in those paintings? Not even any women! So do we salute a flag, a symbol of colonialism, slavery, Jim Crow and racism? Since we were not included by the Founding Fathers most of whom were slave owners?

http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/dred-scott-decision

Do we honor a flag that forced my parents, grandparents and great-grandparents to get off the sidewalk when white people approached? Get to the back of the bus. Settle for sub-standard schools and housing. Forced sterilization which was done throughout the Southern Bible Belt states.

The flag of Dixie-crat racist Strom Thurmond whose death revealed the Black Daughter he had kept hidden for nearly 70 years?

Read the story of Fanny Lou Hamer one of the Mothers of the Civil Rights Movement.

What of our white Sisters and brothers like Murders of Chaney, Goodman, and Schwerner up to and including Heather Heyer? White Americans who fought evil and lost their lives. Does the flag represent them?

Does this flag represent the two Indian engineers who were murdered or the Chinese doctor who was dragged from his airplane seat?

Did that flag represent the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882.

https://www.ourdocuments.gov/doc.php?flash=true&doc=47

http://www.history.com/topics/chinese-exclusion-act

What of the Japanese Americans who were stripped of all their worldly goods and sent to camps just because they resembled the enemy? And By the Way who is our enemy?

What of the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama–a church with a predominantly black congregation that served as a meeting place for civil rights leaders where Four young girls were brutally killed.

What of the the nine who were murdered last year in South Carolina during a Bible study by one whom they welcomed as a fellow Christian but who turned out to be a demon.

Tell me again why I should put my hand over my heart or in my case salute since I am a U.S. Army Veteran for this flag. This flag who denied my Korean War Veteran Dad who was in uniform and hungry. Who tried to get a hot dog and the white man said we don’t serve Niggers?

Tell me why this flag and this country whom my Great, Great Grandfather William Henry Halstead who fought in the Civil War still denies it’s promise to me and all his descendants?

Did and was this flag the covering for the slave master who barged into my Great, Great, great, great Grandmother’s slave cabin late at night and forced himself on her?

Did and was this flag the covering and excuse for the Married Redneck Drill Sgt coming to my barracks and calling my name after hours?

Tell me again why we honor this flag and why does this cloth not live up to it’s promise to ALL Americans?

One Word Photo Challenge: Family

On March 23, 2017March 23, 2017 By dancingpalmtreesIn Edward G. Palmer, Edward Gordon Palmer, Edward Palmer, Great, Great Grandfather William Henry Halstead, Hattie Banks, Hattie Finney Banks, Helen Garcia, Helen James, Helen Palmer Garcia, Mable Elizabeth Palmer, Mable Palmer, One Word Photo Challenge: Family, Stephen, Stephen Vincent Palmer, Thelma Palmer Varner, Uncategorized, William Henry Halstead, William Palmer13 Comments

https://jennifernicholewells.com/2017/03/21/one-word-photo-challenge-family/#like-15516

MARCH 21, 2017 BY JENNIFER NICHOLE WELLS

One Word Photo Challenge: Family

Part III: People, Places & Things

If you want to share a literal image of the actual word, do that. But if you’d rather play with word association, post something that reminds you of the specific word, or something you use the word for, do so. It only has to make sense to you. Have fun and keep on photographing!

owpc 2017

This week’s word is Family!

My Family Past and Present from the 19th Century to the 21st Century!

Grandfather William Palmer with 4 of his children 1923

My Grandmother Eva Sophronia Gordon Palmer

My Dad Edward Gordon Palmer

My Aunt Thelma Palmer Varner

Montreal 1970

Me and Dad

2002 MMC Graduate

Family Photo Collage

Mom & Dad

My Dad Edward G. Palmer

Grandmother Hattie Banks 12251974_Dayton Ohio

Eva Sophronia Gordon Palmer -- Grandmother

Aunt Carrie ~~ George Gordon’s Sister

Fredrick H. Halstead_Sept. 6, 1898_Little’s Brother

Stephen’s Special Olympics Days

Stephen’s Special Olympics Days

Stephen as Robin Hood October 30, 2015

Stephen as Scarecrow

The New Colossus by Emma Lazarus

On January 25, 2017 By dancingpalmtreesIn Edward G. Palmer, Edward Gordon Palmer, Edward Palmer, Great, Great Grandfather William Henry Halstead, The New Colossus BY EMMA LAZARUS, Uncategorized, William Henry Halstead7 Comments

That idiot moron psycho illegally occupying the Oval Office needs to remember this poem which is part of the Statue of Liberty. Many times when I have taken Circle Line and other local New York cruises around Manhattan I have passed by this Grand Lady holding her torch high to welcome people from ALL Races and Religions. Yes my ancestors were forcibly brought here but this is my home as it became the home of my ancestors who came to these shores dating back to the early 1800s. Though my family came here as slaves we distinguished ourselves and a good many of my family members including myself served in the Military to defend our homeland.

As much as white Christian Americans Love telling me to “Go Back to Africa” a place I’ve never been though I do intend to visit my ancestral homeland one day, America is my home. Here I will stay unless the homicidal maniac either deports me and Stephen or lines us up against his wall to be shot and killed.

“The New Colossus” is a sonnet that American poet Emma Lazarus (1849–1887) wrote in 1883 to raise money for the construction of the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty.^[2] In 1903, the poem was engraved on a bronze plaque and mounted inside the pedestal’s lower level.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_New_Colossus