Watch this space for news of upcoming events currently in the works!
There’s a new historical display at the Windham Post Office. Why not take a look?
ANNUAL HENSONVILLE TREE LIGHTING RETURNS FRIDAY DECEMBER 6, 2024 5:30 p.m.
In case you missed last years’s event on Dec. 8 2023
Community gathered at Day June Luncheonette following the illumination!
In case you missed our recent exhibit at the Windham Post Office:
COMMEMORATING 160TH ANNIVERSARY OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN’S “GETTYSBURG ADDRESS” was displayed in November 2023.
Here’s what you’ll find
WHEN STANDING ERECT LINCOLN WAS SIX FEET FOUR INCHES TALL. HE WAS BORN IN KENTUCKY, RAISED IN INDIANA, AND LIVED IN ILLINOIS. AND THIS IS WHAT ABE LINCOLN SAID AT THE GETTYSBURG NATIONAL CEMETERY DEDICATION ON NOVEMBER 19,1863:
“THAT THIS NATION UNDER GOD, SHALL HAVE A NEW BIRTH OF FREEDOM; AND THAT GOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLE, BY THE PEOPLE, AND FOR PEOPLE, SHALL NOT PERISH FROM THE EARTH.”
LINCOLN WAS A QUIET MAN. ABE LINCOLN WAS A QUIET AND MELANCHOLY MAN. ON NOVEMBER 19, 1863 OUR 16TH PRESIDENT GAVE WHAT BECAME HIS MOST FAMOUS SPEECH ON THE BATTLEGROUND AT GETTYSBURG. THIS IS WHAT HE SAID:
“WE CANNOT CONSECRATE, WE CANNOT DEDICATE, WE CANNOT HALLOW THIS GROUND. THE BRAVE MEN LIVING AND DEAD, WHO STRUGGLED HERE, HAVE DEDICATED IT FAR ABOVE OUR POWER TO ADD OR DETRACT – WE CAN NEVER FORGET WHAT THEY DID HERE – THAT FROM THESE HONORED DEAD WE TAKE INCREASED DEVOTION TO THAT CAUSE FOR WHICH THEY GAVE THE LAST FULL MEASURE OF DEVOTION – THAT THESE DEAD SHALL NOT HAVE DIED IN VAIN.”
CIVIL WAR SMOOTHSIDE CANTEEN WITH COMPANY, REGIMENT AND NEW YORK STATE IDENTIFICATION. OVER 413,000 UNION VOLUNTEERS ANSWERED LINCOLN’S CALL DURING THE CIVIL WAR – NEW YORK STATE CONTRIBUTED THE LARGEST NUMBER FROM ANY STATE. OVER 23,000 NYS VOLUNTEERS FOLLOWED THEIR NATIONAL & REGIMENTAL COLORS AT GETTYSBURG AND ALMOST 6,700 WERE KILLED OR WOUNDED IN THE BATTLE AT GETTYSBURG – MORE THAN OTHER STATES EITHER SIDE.
“THE GETTYSBURG ADDRESS”
THE WORDS THAT REMADE AMERICA
PRESIDENT LINCOLN SPOKE FOR ONLY ABOUT TWO-THREE MINUTES. HIS SPEECH HAS NEVER BEEN FORGOTTEN. HISTORIANS SAY THE 272 WORDS THAT WERE EXPRESSED BY THE 16TH PRESIDENT DEFINED AMERICANS AS A PEOPLE WHO BELIEVED IN FREEDOM, DEMOCRACY AND EQUALITY.
ABRAHAM LINCOLN, MAN OF THE PEOPLE, MAN FOR THE AGES. HIS SPIRIT IS STILL WITH US. WE PAY TRIBUTE TO THE MAN AND THE PROPHETIC WORDS HE SPOKE ONE-HUNDRED AND SIXTY YEARS AGO. THE GETTYSBURG ADDRESS IS JUST AS VALID FOR OUR TIME AS THEY WERE FOR HIS.
1861 CARTRIDGE BOX WITH NYS PLATE BY H.A.DINGEE, NY. IN THE SUMMER OF 1863 THE UNION ARMY MET ROBERT E. LEE’S ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA IN PENNSYLVANIA FROM JULY 1 TO JULY 3. THE BATTLE AT GETTYSBURG WAS THE BLOODIEST OF THE WAR WITH MORE THAN 50,000 DEAD AND WOUNDED.
CIVIL WAR CLAIRON BUGLE IN C OR B FLAT
THE DISTINCTIVE BUGLE MELODY “TAPS” IS PLAYED AT U.S. MILITARY FUNERALS AND MEMORIALS. THE 24 NOTE TUNE DATES BACK TO THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR.
REPORTERS DESCRIBE LINCOLN’S 1863 “GETTYSBURG ADDRESS”
ON NOVEMBER 19, 1863 VARIOUS NEWSPAPERS, MAGAZINES AND EVEN THE ASSOCIATED PRESS WIRE SERVICE REPORTED ON PRESIDENT LINCOLN’S REMARKS AT THE NATIONAL CEMETERY AT GETTYSBURG. NEWSPAPERS CRITICAL OF THE PRESIDENT SAID THE SPEECH WAS TOO SHORT AND INAPPROPRIATE FOR THE OCCASION. LINCOLN SUPPORTERS, ON THE OTHER HAND, PUBLISHED GLOWING REVIEWS AND NOTED THE HEARTFELT EMOTION OF THE ADDRESS.
These are merely samples…
CHICAGO TRIBUNE: “THE DEDICATORY REMARKS BY PRESIDENT LINCOLN WILL LIVE AMONG THE ANNALS OF MAN.”
THE PATRIOT-NEWS: “WE PASS OVER THE SILLY REMARKS OF THE PRESIDENT. FOR THE CREDIT OF THE NATION, WE ARE WILLING THAT THE VEIL OF OBLIVION SHALL BE DROPPED OVER THEM.”
(THE PATRIOT-NEWS LATER REGRETTED THE ERROR OF ITS INITIAL REPORTING BEING ON THE WRONG SIDE OF HISTORY)
THE PHILADELPHIA EVENING BULLETIN: “READING OF THE PRESIDENT’S WORDS WILL MOISTEN THE EYE AND SWELL THE HEART.”
SOLDIER’S WAIST BELT WITH OVAL U.S. BRASS PLATE & CAP BOX WITH U.S. STAMP
THE COMMUNITY OF WINDHAM FOUNDATION (COWF) IS PROUD TO OFFER THIS DISPLAY IN TRIBUTE TO THE NATION’S VETERANS OF ALL WARS – WE THANK THEM FOR THEIR SERVICE.
A look back at our WWII Exhibit
WORLD WAR II – WARTIME BLACKOUT
AFTER THE ATTACK ON PEARL HARBOR THE UNITED STATES PREPARED TO PREVENT EXPOSURE TO AIR ATTACKS FROM JAPAN OR GERMAN SUBMARINE RAIDS ON ALLIED SHIPPING IN COASTAL WATERS. BLACKOUTS COLLECTIVELY MINIMIZED INDOOR AND OUTDOOR REFLECTIVE LIGHT.
WWII RATION BOOKS
WAR RATION BOOKS WERE PRODUCED BY THE UNITED STATES OFFICE OF PRICE ADMINISTRATION (OPA) IN 1942. SHORTAGES OF ESSENTIAL WAR MATERIALS SUCH AS RUBBER, GASOLINE WERE INITIALLY ANTICIPATED BUT SOON THE RATIONING GREW TO INCLUDE FOOD AS WELL AS FUEL AND SUGAR. HOME FRONT COUPONS WERE ISSUED FOR A VARIETY OF PRODUCTS INCLUDING COFFEE. SORRY – NO STARBUCKS.
WWII CORPORATE LEADERSHIP
PHILLIP K. WRIGLEY CEO IS MOST KNOWN FOR HIS UNUSUAL MOVE TO SUPPORT US TROOPS AND PROTECT THE REPUTATION OF THE WRIGLEY BRAND DURING WWII, IN WHICH HE DEDICATED THE ENTIRE OUTPUT OF WRIGLEY’S SPEARMINT, DOUBLEMINT AND JUICY FRUIT TO THE US ARMED FORCES.
ON JUNE 6, 1944 MORE THAN 160,000 TROOPS STORMED THE BEACHES OF NORMANDY DURING THE D-DAY INVASION. LESS KNOWN IS THAT AN UNLIKELY SNACK HELPED POWER THE ALLIES BEFORE, DURING AND AFTER THE HISTORIC MISSION – HERSHEY’S CHOCOLATE BARS. EACH BAR HAD TO WEIGH 4 OUNCES, BE HIGH IN ENERGY AND WITHSTAND HIGH TEMPERATURES. EACH BAR WAS PACKED IN A 4 OUNCE MOLD BY HAND.
WWII BATTLE OF THE BULGE ARDENNES
HOT WINTER FOOD RATIONS ARE SERVED TO AMERICAN INFANTRYMEN IN FREEZING CONDITIONS. 610,000 TROOPS TURNED BACK THE LAST MAJOR GERMAN OFFENSIVE CAMPAIGN ON THE WESTERN FRONT DURING THE WAR. THERE WERE 81,000 AMERICAN CASUALTIES INCLUDING AT LEAST 8,400 KILLED. THE “BULGE” WAS LARGEST AND BLOODIEST SINGLE BATTLE FOUGHT BY THE UNITED STATES IN WORLD WARII.
WWII MESS KIT & CANTEEN
THE MESS KIT WAS USED TO RE-HEAT PRE-MEASURED SERVINGS OF CANNED PRE-COOKED MEAT RATIONS OR DRIED FOOD ITEMS. THE MEAT CAN BODY, WITH ITS FOLDING HANDLE EXTENDED SERVED AS A CRUDE SKILLET. TO COMPLIMENT THE MESS KIT SOLDIERS USED A STAMPED CUP ESPECIALLY MOLDED TO FIT OVER THE BOTTOM OF US ARMY’S STANDARD ONE-QUART CANTEEN. THE CUP COULD BE USED TO BOIL WATER FOR COFFEE, OR FOR HEATING RECONSTITUTED SOUP OR OTHER FOODS.
WWII “SPAMVILLE”
SOME SOLDIERS NAMED THEIR UNITS “SPAMVILLE” IN TRIBUTE TO THE UNREFRIGERATED MEAT PRODUCT. THE U.S. MILITARY PURCHASED A VARIETY OF CANNED MEATS TO FEED THE TROOPS OVERSEAS. HORMEL PRODUCED OVER 100 MILLION POUNDS OF SPAM FOR THE AMERICAN AND ALLIED TROOPS.
We will be sponsoring a special exhibit at the Post Office in November 2023 on the occasion of the 160th anniversary of Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address. “Government Of The People, By The People, For The People, Shall Not Perish From The Earth” will commemorate one of the most powerful statements and expressions about freedom and liberty.
On Saturday Sept. 11, 2021 The Community of Windham Foundation along with members of the Windham Rotary, VFW Post 1545 and others, commemorated the 20 anniversary of “9/11” with a ceremony in front of Windham Ashland Jewett CSD and wreath laid on the monument dedicated to all those who served.
where the ceremony was held. Left to right, John Quinn, chairman Community of Windham Foundation; Windham Rotary member Carol Spear and Community of Windham Foundation,/Windham Rotary member Diana Lawrence; Pastor Clifford Cool, Hope Restoration Church; Jim Varelas; Thomas Bristol; Don Speenbergh; VFW Dist. 3 NY Commander Marc Firmilette at the microphone; Joe Gallagher, Post Commander Jim McLaren and Ken Smith. Photo: Jonathan Ment Photography
On Saturday, August 28th, the community came out to paint 24 mugs with colorful designs that will be delivered to cancer patients in Greene County through the Greene County Cancer Patient Women’s League. The event sponsored by the Community of Windham Foundation was held in conjunction with the Believe Big organization devoted to encouraging cancer patients. www.Believebig.org
A special thanks to all who participated. Thank you to Karen Malen of Karen’s Kountry Kitchen food truck for the donated baked goods, BeeJay LaPierre our local crafter and Hope Restoration Church who provided the space to host the event due to the flooding at CD Lane Park.
Extra thanks to Rita Mary Vining, Sugar Maples, who will be glazing and firing the mugs prior to delivery.
Windham Emergency Shelter Information: Coming Soon
Free CPR-AED Training Class Pending
The Community of Windham Foundation’s next free CPR-AED training classes have not yet been scheduled.
An Automated External Defibrillator, or AED, can potentially stop an irregular heartbeat and allow a normal rhythm to resume following sudden cardiac arrest.
These trainings are free to attend, but only open to fifteen participants. Advance registration is required. To express interest this or a future class, email…denisemeehan14@gmail.com or jrwest4335@gmail.
Since launching the program, over 75 persons in our area have attended and been trained in CPR and AED. You too, can save a life with free certified CPR and AED training.
Listen to our Public Service Announcement about past trainings here (though dates have changed), as heard on WRIP!
You can also read and see photos from a past class, here.
On August 10, 2019 the Community of Windham Foundation marked WRIP’s 20th Anniversary with a day long celebration on the grounds of W.A.J. CSD.
Here are some additional highlights also captured by Fran throughout the day – including a peek at the concurrent quilt show.
Community of Windham Foundation 