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Thomas Crawford Thoburn


Image by jajacks62
Co. F, E, 50th OH. Infantry & Major, 196th OH. Infantry
Thomas Crawford Thosburn was born of Scoth-Irish parents in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on April 27, 1827, and one of nine brothers and sisters of unusual character and personality, entered the United States voluntary military service from Ohio as an enlisted man in 1862 and was mustered out of the service with the rank of Major at the end of the war between the states, in 1865. Major Thoburn’s brother, Colonel Joseph Thoburn, was killed in action at the Battle of Cedar Creek, Virginia, in 1864, while in command of the First Division of the Eighth Army Corps in the United States Army. Another brother, Bishop James Mills Thoburn, was the renowed Methodist missionary leader, and a sister, Miss Isabella Thoburn, was a missionary teacher and founder of the Methodist College for Women at Lucknow, India.
The parents of this distinguished family in the annals of
Methodism were Ulster folk, Matthew and Jane Crawford Thoburn of County Antrim, Ireland, who emigrated to America in August, 1825. The family surname "Thorburn", which in turn was derived from the name of a remote Norse ancestor "Thorbjorn" who gave up a seafaring life to settle in Scotland. Jane Crawford Thoburn had joined the Wesleyan Church in Ireland in 1815, as a girl of sixteen years, and for the remainder of her life, a period of fifty-five years, was a zealous, efficient, and self-sacrificing Christian in the work of the Church. Settling in a rural district in the Pittsburg, Conference,
Pennsylvania, the Thobnrns’ home was known far and wide for its warm, cordial welcome always extended Christian workers and for its genial atmosphere and its influence for good in establishing the Methodist Church on a sure foundation in that region.

The National Christmas Tree 2011


Image by Princess Stand in the Rain
The 2011 National Christmas Tree is a 26-foot Colorado blue spruce which was planted in March on the Ellipse, a park that lies between the White House and the National Mall. Strong winds in February toppled the previous tree, which stood in the park since 1978, so this is the first Christmas for this tree. It is surrounded by a "train garden" that goes entirely around the tree and with separate train gardens within the space.

This first National Christmas Tree led to the tradition we celebrate today and along the way the tree’s location and the lighting ceremony have changed.

From 1924 to 1933 the tree, renamed the National Community Christmas Tree, was located in Sherman Park, which is south of the Main Treasury Building and southeast of the White House grounds. During these years, simple lighting ceremonies and community singing were accompanied by the U.S. Marine Band. The National Park Service’s responsibilities for the park lands and the tree ceremony began in 1933.

From 1934 to 1938 the National Christmas Tree was located in Lafayette Park on the north side of the White House. In 1939 and 1940, the tree was relocated to a spot just south of the center of the Ellipse. Caroling, choirs and military bands continued to characterize the lighting program entertainment. The years 1941 to 1953 found the National Christmas Tree on the South Lawn of the White House. In 1941, on December 24, only weeks after the attack on Pearl Harbor, President Roosevelt and Prime Minister Winston Churchill led the lighting ceremony and addressed the crowd.

In 1954 the tree moved back to the Ellipse where it has been located ever since. Also in 1954, the tree lighting became known as the Christmas Pageant of Peace, a celebration conceived by the Washington Board of Trade and the Washington Citizen’s Committee. The tree lighting ceremony moved from its traditional Christmas Eve date to earlier in December and was then followed by three weeks of presentations by community organizations and groups on the stage at the Ellipse.

While the location of the tree in President’s Park and its lighting ceremony program have changed and evolved over the years, the purpose remains the same: our local and national communities coming together to celebrate the season and to share the message of peace.

Watch video of the lighting of the 2011 Tree at www.thenationaltree.org/tree-lighting/

Woodhull Memorial Flagstaff


Image by cliff1066™
The Woodhull flagpole rises 90 feet above the south lawn of the Memorial Amphitheater and is one of only two flagpoles located in Arlington National Cemetery. The other stands in front of Arlington House. Erected in 1924, the Woodhull flagpole is dedicated to the memory of Commander Maxwell Woodhull, who served in the United States Navy from 1813 to 1863.

The flags on the Woodhull flagpole and the Arlington House flagpole fly at half-staff, commencing one-half hour before the first burial service of the day. They remain at half-staff until one-half hour after the last service.

The inscription of the marble base reads (clockwise):

IN MEMORY OF MAXWELL WOODHULL
COMMANDER USN + 1813 – 1863 +
AND OF HIS SON
MAXWELL VANZANDT WOODHULL
BREVET BRIGADIER GENERAL USA
+ 1834 – 1921 +