Why boots are in reverse at military funeral

What was the history of placing boots in reverse on a horse during a funeral procession?

This was a question that was ask of me by a Legion member that attended the Cpl. John C.Bishop funeral. I had to confess to him, I did not know. I told him I would try to find out. I started looking with the Google search engine. There I found many answers, Some thoughts dating back as far as 1622, but the one I think makes the most sense is listed below. Within my search I learned a new word, "Caparisoned Horse".


The boots facing backwards in the stirrups was first used in Abraham Lincoln’s funeral. It is said that the backward boots symbolize the fallen soldier looking back over his troops, and that he will never ride again. The tradition of reverse order of the boots and saber originated with the Greeks. Everything in the process of the Greek/ Roman burial ceremony was reversed. The order of those following the coffin was reversed, firearms were reversed, boots in the stirrups were reversed.

Halloween

WAR OF THE WORLDS, OCTOBER 30, 1938, ORSON WELLES

The first two thirds of the 60-minute broadcast was presented as a series of simulated news bulletins, which suggested to many listeners that an actual Martian invasion was in progress. Compounding the issue was the fact that the Mercury Theatre on the Air was a 'sustaining show' (i.e., it ran without commercial breaks), thus adding to the dramatic effect. Although there were sensationalist accounts in the press about a supposed panic, careful research has shown that while thousands were frightened, there is no evidence that people fled their homes or otherwise took action. The news-bulletin format was decried as cruelly deceptive by some newspapers and public figures, leading to an outcry against the perpetrators of the broadcast, but the episode launched Welles to fame.
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Download the broadcast (big MP3 file)
Everything you ever wanted to know about the broadcast is at WikipediA:

This is a classic that I play every year, I love it!

back up back up then back up

Back up 2 gig of photos, files, or programs for free.
http://www.dropbox.com/

European radio stations streaming live on the internet

A web radio directory showcasing over 4000 radio stations from across Europe streaming live on the internet.
http://www.listenlive.eu/index.html

Volstead Act - October 28, 1919

The "Volstead Act", the popular name for the National Prohibition Act, passed through Congress over President Woodrow Wilson's veto on October 28, 1919 and established the legal definition of intoxicating liquor. Though the Volstead Act prohibited the sale of alcohol, it did little to enforce the law. By 1925, in New York City alone, there were anywhere from 30,000 to 100,000 speakeasy clubs.
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Do not rely on gossip

I was going through some of my papers looking for a letter I received from a friend a few months ago and ran across the certified letter that I received from a local Ham Radio Club. Some 20 years or so ago I was a founding member of a Ripley County Radio club. I donated much time and funds to this organization as did many others. Much fun was had along with a good bid of public service that was provided to the county. Then we gained a few new members that changed the overall internal workings of our little club. These people rooted their way in as officers and made drastic changes, such as dues cost, closed to the public meetings, closed repeater use, and many other things that were not in the best interest of amateur radio. As a result I spoke not favorable of these new changes. The offices campaigned for the membership to discredit me by telling them untrue statements, such as I was using cuss words on their repeater stations and this would be an FCC violation. John Reid (trustee) investigated this and other clames they made and found no violations. He also uncovered that many other statements they claimed were completely false, such as tape recordings made of myself cussing did not exist at all. At this outcome the officers discredited Mr. Reid and he was removed or resigned under presser. I could go into many other instances that occurred including much hate mail I received. If indeed and you do not believe me I can prove these and many others. The fact that I want to make is, check things out for yourself, do not rely on gossip from others. There is a new Ham Radio club now in Ripley County and it has arose to being one that all Hams can be proud to belong to. If you check both clubs out, I think you will have no trouble picking the one you want to belong to.
Click the letter to enlarge.
Links of interest:
http://rcarc.ripleycounty.net/
http://rcrepeater.tripod.com/
http://146805rcra.com/OpenRepeater.aspx
http://146805rcra.com/default.aspx

Jack Demaree WB9OTX

Wind Turbine up and running

The turbine is at its final position at about 34 foot. It is mounted on a Rohn tower with a custom tilt-over hinged base. The solar panels at the base are fed into a charge controller for the turbine and the panels. The controller charges two large 12 volt batteries. An inverter converts the 12 volts to 120 volts AC. The panels put out 4.5 amps in bright sunlight. This was a fun project but not practical. By the time it would pay out it would be worn out, But when people drive by I get some strange looks. I love it.

Click image to enlarge

New Versailles Album

I have added an album with a few of the photos I have of buildings and homes in Versailles. Some are dupes from other albums but a few new ones to. See them at:
http://picasaweb.google.com/jack.demaree/JustVersaillesIndiana#

Madison Incline

My friend Jack Wilker sent a photo of the Madison incline that was captured as he walked the path of the tracks. I looked up a few bits of the history, here is a few lines from only one. Read more here.

Perhaps the principal accomplishment now hidden from view is the Madison and Indianapolis Railroad incline that connects the hilltop area to the old city. Completed in 1841, the Madison incline of 7,012 feet was - and remains today - the steepest grade of any line-haul railroad in the country. The incline ascends 413 feet, or 311 feet per mile, giving the tracks a 5.89 percent grade. The railroad incline may be reached on foot by driving west on Main Street to Cragmont, north on Cragmont to Third Street, then west on Third to its end only feet away from the tracks pointing to the sky. From there, the visitor must walk along the rails as they cross Crooked Creek via a huge embankment, before reaching the summit after passing under a stone bridge on the eastern edge of Madison State Hospital property. Hundreds of Irish laborers were imported into Madison to build the incline.

Not one part from China

1954 – The first commercial transistor radio, the Regency TR-1 (pictured), was introduced in Indianapolis, Indiana, And yes, I seen one in early 1955. In 58 I had one, AM only, no speaker just an earphone, but wow I was with the in-crowd ! !
Jack

Regency began manufacturing the TR-1 in October, 1954. The manufacture was a collective effort of manufacturers around the country: The transistors and transformers came from Texas Instruments in Dallas. The capacitors came from International Electronics, Inc. of Nashville,[6] Erie Electronics of Erie, Pennsylvania, and Centralab of Milwaukee, WI. The speakers came from Jensen of Chicago, Illinois. The IF Transformers came from Vokar of Dexter, MI. The volume control came from the Chicago Telephone Supply of Elkhart, Indiana. The tuning capacitor came from Radio Condenser Co. of Camden, New Jersey. The Richardson Company of Melrose Park, Illinois and Indianapolis supplied the circuit board material to Croname of Chicago, IL who manufactured the circuit boards. The actual plastic case for the TR-1 was produced by Argus Plastics of Indianapolis, Indiana.
Read more

New Live Streaming Video from Versailles Indiana

Today I have added live streaming video to the web. The camera is a dome cam and most times it will be pointed North West from my home. This will give you a view of State Route 129 and that will include South Main Street covering the bowling alley and the funeral home. at other times the camera will point in other directions such as State Rd. 129 and Benham Road. The camera will be on in daylight hours except when the controlling computer will be in use for other work. If you don't get a connection try later. To leave the page you will have to click the back arrow. This page is still in beta construction so expect some changes in the future. I hope you enjoy the view. Thanks for watching.
See real time video from my Dome Cam
or
http://68.46.217.1:86/broadcamjpg.html?src=1&speed=1

Oct. 14, 1947 - Chuck Yeager breaks the sound barrier.

Flying at an altitude of 45,000 ft in an experimental Bell X-1 rocket-powered aircraft, American test pilot Chuck Yeager became the first person to break the sound barrier.
Read the full story

Cpl. John C. Bishop Tribute on-line

I have finally perfected how to put the Cpl. John C. Bishop Tribute on-line with good quality. Please view the video and report any problem you have viewing it. You will need a fast cable or DSL connection. I'm sure dial-up will not work but if it dose please let me know. See the video at:
http://skfuneralhome.com/bishop
Or you can find the link from the skfuneralhome.com/links.htm page

Charlie Plumb - Hero

If your feeling low and down in the dumps of life just take a few minutes of your time and listen to Charlie Plumb's recollection of his experience as a POW. After listing I think you will see your troubles and problems will seem minor. He is a hero in deed. Hear/see it here:
http://www.eaavideo.org/video.aspx?v=626927756001

Thank you L.A. for this link.

Alvin York on Oct 8th 1918

1918 – World War I: After his platoon suffered heavy casualties during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive in France's Forest of Argonne, United States Sergeant Alvin C. York led the seven remaining men on an attack against a German machine gun nest, killing 28 German soldiers and capturing 132 others.

Alvin Cullum York (December 13, 1887 – September 2, 1964) was one of the most decorated American soldiers in World War I. He received the Medal of Honor for leading an attack on a German machine gun nest, taking 32 machine guns, killing 28 German soldiers and capturing 132 others. This action occurred during the U.S.-led portion of the Meuse-Argonne Offensive in France, which was part of a broader Allied offensive masterminded by Marshal Ferdinand Foch to breach the Hindenburg line and ultimately force the opposing German forces to capitulate.

Cpl. John Bishop tribute

The photos of the Cpl. John Bishop tribute have been opened for public viewing. Please feel free to download, print, or order prints. All photos are in public domain but should be used respectively. Please make a donation to the Cpl. Bishop children fun. Send your donation to the Stratton - Karster Funeral Home, P.O. Box 84, Versailles, In. 47042
See the album here:
http://picasaweb.google.com/jack.demaree/CPLJOHNCBISHOPUSMCReturnsHome#

Also I have created a slide show video with very nice music in the background.
See it here:
http://skfuneralhome.com/bishop
Thank you, Jack Demaree

Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress

Today I fly in a B-17
Film at 11:00

Click image to enlarge

Back on the ground safe and sound. Here are the photos of the flight.
http://picasaweb.google.com/jack.demaree/B1710110#
The video is here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VKItNw3aHLY

Thank you EAA