To:              Dear Friends

From:          Bob Maher

Date:            December 11, 2007

Re:              2007 Year-End Review

 

Season’s Greetings. From our perch here at the World Headquarters in Winchester, Virginia, as we look down upon giddy Christmas shoppers on the old Valley Pike, along which Stonewall Jackson’s army once marched triumphantly, we happily reflect upon another adventure-filled year. Thanks to the robust participation and support of so many of you, we were able to present 34 programs, which took us to 19 states – Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Wyoming – plus the District of Columbia, Ontario, Canada and France. We couldn’t have presented anything close to this without you, the world’s greatest clientele, or without the excellent historians who guided and inspired us in 2007:

 

Joe Alexander	Dean Armstrong	Rick Atkinson	Bob Baker
Hal Baumgarten	Ed Bearss	Brandon Beck	Rich Bellamy
Sue Boardman	Art Candenquist	Tom Cartwright	Curt Cheeseman
Paul Cooksey	Donna Crone	Andie Custer	Rob Dalessandro
Jack Davis	Michel de Trez	Gary Ecelbarger	Lynn Flook
Zack Fry	Ken Hechler	David Hinze	Craig Howell
Bill Hyland	Jay Jorgensen	R. E. L. Krick	Robert K. Krick
Gary Kross	Joanne Lewis	Sam Lombardo	Richard McMurry
Mario Mendino	Darren Moran	Bob Mrazek	Betty Myers
Jonathan Noyalas	Scott Patchan	Dale Phillips	Mike Priest
Steve Ritchie	Bud Robertson	Charles Roland	Ernie Schnitger
Jean-Louis Seel	J. P. Speder	Mark Stoler	Mike Vallone
Bruce Venter	Bill Welsch	John Winkelman

And we couldn’t have operated without those who iced the coolers, carted the supplies, arranged the meals & breaks, and ensured that everything ran smoothly in the field – our dependable tour managers:

Mike Conaboy, Dave Engel, Dave Hinze, Mary Hinze,
Chad Jacobs, David Kerns, Donnie Mercier, Ken Ramsey,
Josh Scott, Catherine Sell, Frank Stouter, Lynne Venter and Eileen Wells

In the office, Gary Nelson kept up the website, prepared mailings and held down the fort when all were away in the field. A couple of years ago, Gary received a subscription to the Jams & Jellies of the Month Club for his hard work at the CWEA. This year, he’ll enjoy a “Brunch for One” at Grandma’s Country Kitchen in Paw Paw, West Virginia.  Congratulations, Gary!

 

Bus Business

Tommy Long, our long-time Director of Transportation, provided most of the busing and continued his reign as the CWEA’s most popular operative, beguiling the clientele with a hodge-podge of little treats and home-spun yarns. And one of Tommy’s crew, Jesse Philpott, a Civil War buff, endeared himself to those of the clientele who were aboard when he drove.

 

Meanwhile, Frans Peiten, who drives for our tours in Europe, has become, in just two years, a folk-hero in his own right, and is now our European Director of Transportation (EUDOT). Tommy, in turn, has been promoted to Supreme Allied Director of Transportation (SADOT). Because of seniority (and nepotism), Tommy ranks Frans – at least for the moment. How about that?

 

Now, from various eyewitnesses, here are some of 2007’s most memorable moments:

 

Memorable Moments

·        Inching through Glorieta Pass, in vans, in a blinding snowstorm on our way to Fort Union on March 24 during the New Mexico Campaign of 1862 tour – and then returning there later that day in sunny 75 degree weather. 

·        Shivering in an unrelenting two-day rain in April during An Insider’s Tour of Fredericksburg while Bob Krick, beneath a gaudy, tropical-hued umbrella, missed nary a beat.

·        Gazing down upon the Schuykill River from Barren Hill, admiring LaFayette’s maneuvers - with Rich Bellamy and Bill Welsch during The River War to Valley Forge tour in June

·        Fending off a gnawing apprehension occasioned when the bus wouldn’t start in a desolate region of Wyoming – at the very spot where starving trappers once contemplated cannibalism - during the South Pass: Gateway to the West tour in August

·        Observing Jerry Poslusny with clinical detachment as he slowly consumed a cup of Calvados, pausing from time to time to describe what he was experiencing, like Edgar Rice Burroughs’ character, David Innes, narrating his descent into Pelucidar - on the Normandy tour

·        Scrambling to keep pace with Ed Bearss as he marched briskly and resolutely across the parade grounds of Fort Monroe – during The Best of Bearss tour in October

·        Being bedazzled by the surprise appearance of “Gentleman Johnny” Burgoyne (Bruce Venter), resplendent in British military uniform, on the opening night of the Defending the Highlands tour in October.

·        Being mesmerized by the red and gold foliage on a sparkling day in October as our bus wound along the tree-lined banks of the lazy Shenandoah  – during the Jackson’s Valley Campaign tour

·        Bumping along on bales of hay on the way up Nicodemus Heights with Mike Priest and Lynn Flook aboard a tractor-drawn wagon during November’s Antietam tour.

·        Sinking into knee-deep mud while climbing aboard a pontoon boat in the bayou with Dale Phillips and Bill Hyland – during our year’s final adventure: An Insider’s Tour of New Orleans

 

The year’s MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT occurred in September – at Omaha Beach in Normandy - as we stood with Hal Baumgarten and heard first-hand of his landing there on June 6, 1944, of his horrific wounds, and of the deaths of his beloved comrades.  .

 

Now here are some of the Best, Worst and Most of 2007:

 

Best Meals

·        3^rd Place – dinner at the Fairfield Inn, near Gettysburg, where  J. E. B. Stuart and Robert E. Lee once took sustenance – during the All-Star Tour of Gettysburg

·        2^nd Place - a sumptuous multi-course lunch, including fish mousse and a sublime chicken dish, heavily punctuated with various wines - at the L’Auberge Normandie in Carenton – during the Normandy tour. (Commercial – we’ll dine there again during the 2008 Normandy tour)

·        1^st Place – a buffet dinner of roast beef, chicken breast and tilapia with tangy side dishes and  desserts, prepared by the Lighthouse Restaurant (owned by CWEA’s Chad Jacobs) at historic Jordan Springs near Stephenson, Virginia – during the Shenandoah Valley Civil War Conference & Tour (Commercial #2 – We’ll dine there again during May’s Shenandoah Valley Civil War Conference & Tour)

Worst Meal

·        Dinner at the Mercure Omaha Beach on September 12 during the Normandy tour. What a beating we continue to take on this one. OK, the beef was tough and of questionable character. One man said it was the worst meal ever foisted upon him. Now, to Michael Rothman: I know, I know, I owe you 15 euros for the salad you ate in lieu of Le Contre Filet Rôti au Jus. I’ll pay you in Sarasota (maybe in euros). And yes, Michael, I was responsible for the entrée, but which of these limited choices would you have selected:

 

Le Duo de Cabillaud à la Fondue de Poireau – Cod with leeks

Le Cuisse de Poulet Vallée d'Auge- Chicken leg – we had this earlier that week

Le Contre Filet Rôti au Jus - Roasted Beef

Le Jambon à l'Os Sauce Forestière - Grilled Ham in a mushroom sauce

L'Aile de Raie à la Graine de Moutarde à l'Ancienne – Wing of Ray in a mustard sauce

Le Filet de Julienne Rôti au fumé de crustacé à l'Anis – A filet of ling with smoked shellfish aniseed sauce

 

I can hear the clamor now: “Garcon, more cod with leeks!” Or perhaps, you’d have chosen the wing of ray – or the filet of ling?

 

Best Hotel - No single hotel stood out this year as the very best. Most were good, reliable properties which served us well. Of course, the Helmsley Sandcastle in Sarasota remains our favorite, and yes, we’ll be based there again in 2009, as well as this January.

 

Worst Hotel - Ramada Inn Selma – Selma, Alabama – during the Nathan Bedford Forrest tour – what can we say except, “We’re sorry.”

 

Most Stimulating Presentation in a Classroom Setting - Tie:

·        The General in the Jar: Joseph E. Johnston and the Defense of Atlanta – by Richard McMurry, during the Sarasota Civil War Symposium

·        A Shadow on the Mountain: The War in Sicily and Italy, 1943-1944 – by Rick Atkinson, during the Sarasota World War II Conference

·        Lee and Jackson: An Indomitable Team – by Charles Roland, during the Shenandoah Valley Civil War Conference & Tour

 

Best Snacks Provided During a Tour by an Organizational Operative - Tie:

·        Lynne Venter – home made cookies & brownies for the Defending the Highlands tour (Commercial #3 – Lynne & treats will be with us on the Kilpatrick/Dahlgren Raid tour)

·        Frans Peiten – for maintaining a well-stocked liquid larder during the Normandy tour – water, sodas and BEER (Commercial #4 – Frans will have beer aboard for the 2008 tours in Europe)

 

Most Serious Organizational Shortcomings of 2007:

3^rd Worst – we didn’t deliver on WHIGSIG – just couldn’t summon the energy. WHIGSIG (What Happens in Gettysburg, Stays in Gettysburg) is a mythic frolic (involving Gary Kross and a small but fierce cadre of adherents) which may come to fruition someday during our Christmas off-season, in and around the quaint pubs of Gettysburg.

 

2^nd Worst – Tie

·        not getting registration confirmation letters out fast enough

·        not getting post-program evaluation forms out for all of the programs

 

Worst – We still lag in getting Membership products and services developed and delivered – all of you who have signed up as Members will, early in the coming year, receive your newsletters and other benefits – PROMISE – and all of you are being extended forward to compensate, in part, for the delay.

 

25 of the Most Lustrous Attendees in 2007

Cyndy Alaimo, David Branch, Gary Charette, Denise Charette, Dave Collins, Mick Donato, Paul Dorothy, Karl Fredericks, Joe Garlock, D. W. George, Tom Greaney, Steve Harpold, David Holmes, Rich Kauffman, Joe Luciano, Lois Patterson, Jennifer Payne, Leslie Reynolds, Ron Rollins, Gary Staley, Charlie Townsley, Van Vanderwal, Joe Veto, John Walter, Gary Wilson

 

Several Who Can Be Selected as Among the Most Lustrous if They Will Become as Active Again as They Used To Be:

·       Joe Goddard, Christine Grant, Sue Holden, Jim Sikorski, Gene Yount

 

A Citation of Merit for Unit Integrity and Attendance is awarded to:

·        The Missouri Bushwackers – Ron Douglas, Tom Croft, Eric Hoemeyer and Tim Pickett. Men of Missouri: your record of attendance in 2007 has been excellent. Feel free to help yourselves to extra raisins and crackers on upcoming tours.

 

Reprimands with Threats of De-Certification are issued to:

·        The Louisiana Tigers – T. K. Ram, John Bonner, et al.

·        Fitzgerald’s Irish Brigade – Hank Fitzgerald, Dennis McGuire, et al.

We haven’t seen either of these groups of late. Laggards: enroll for 2008 tours NOW or Nick Picerno, noted Civil War authority (and 350 lb, 6’8’’ police chief of Bridgewater College) will visit you at your homes and facilitate your de-certification.

 

Programs of the Year – Seven Way Tie (listed in chronological order):

·        Sarasota World War II Conference – Joe Alexander, Rick Atkinson, Hal Baumgarten, Ed Bearss, Rob Dalessandro, Ken Hechler, Bob Krick, Sam Lombardo, Bob Mrazek, Charles Roland, Jean-Philippe Speder, Jean-Louis Seel and Mark Stoler – WOW

·        Confederate Artillery at Gettysburg - Jay Jorgensen and Gary Kross – strong!

·        Spotsylvania – another tour-de-force by the venerable master, Robert K. Krick

·        Riding with Nathan Bedford Forrest - Two words: “Ed Bearss”

·        South Pass – Dave Hinze and Gary Ecelbarger just said “No” to cannibalism

·        Normandy: The Great Invasion: Rob Dalessandro did a fabulous job in designing and running this, and of course, we had Hal Baumgarten!

·        Jackson’s Complete, Comprehensive, Chronological 1862 Valley Campaign – Herr Ecelbarger really delivered on this one!

 

Special Thanks to:

 

Marika Delgado - for travel set-up and assistance well beyond the call of duty

Zack Fry – you made us proud again as you led your 5th tour, at the ripe old age of 19

Bob Krick – for not piling on (unlike the mean-spirited Kathy Holland and Tom Tart) after the Florida Gators beat the Ohio State Buckeyes in football (and basketball)

Irvin and Nancy Hess – for your generous hospitality

Henry Trawick – for all you’ve done over many years

 

New Books

·        History Teaches Us to Hope: Reflections on the Civil War and Southern History, by Charles P. Roland, is now available.

·        General Lee’s Army: From Victory to Collapse, by Joseph T. Glatthaar, will be available at Sarasota in January – Joe will be there too. .

·        Three Days in the Shenandoah: Stonewall Jackson at Front Royal and Winchester, by Gary Ecelbarger, will be available in May

·        ‘I Can Be Elected’: How Abraham Lincoln Beat the Odds to Win the Republican Nomination, by Gary Ecelbarger, will be available in the fall of 2008.

 

Some Things We Can Hardly Wait For in 2008:

January:          Meeting Jim and Carole Megellas in Sarasota

February:        Hearing Carlo D’Este for the first time – at Sarasota

March:            A first visit to Fishdam Ford and Blackstock during the Cowpens tour

April               Watching Richard McMurry in action Along the Outer Banks

May                 Joining Ed Bearss at Petersburg and Appomattox

May                 Traipsing the Cool Spring battlefield with Jonathan Noyalas & Brandon Beck

May                 Steve Ritchie’s tour of the Wounding & Death of Richard Ashby

June:               The view atop Mount Etna – and Monte Casssino

June                Following Eric Wittenberg at Trevilian Station

July                 Hiking through the forest at Jumonville with Scott Patchan

August            Shadowing Jackson “up the Valley” as he steals the B & O Railroad blind

September      Inspecting the breakfast buffet with Charlie Roland at the Carat de Sporthotel in Monschau, Germany

September      Reflecting in La Chapelle de la Madeleine in St. Lo with Hal & Rita Baumgarten

September      Guessing what surprises Dave Hinze and Bruce Venter will have for us on Rogers’ Rangers

September      Inspecting the map package that Bob Baker will provide for his Three Days at Gettysburg tour

October          Returning to the Blue Grass State, this time with Chris Kolakowski

November      Seeing how Terry Winschel will utilize three full days at Vicksburg

December      Writing another interminable letter like this one - and WHIGSIG?

 

History Lovers Teach Us to Hope

To work full-time in the field of presenting American History is a rewarding experience. The topics of study are intriguing; traveling to places such as Glorieta Pass, Gettysburg and Normandy is exhilarating. But the best part is engaging, year-round, with the greatest collection of men and women that could possibly be.

 

It is frustrating though, to not be able to satisfactorily explain to friends from my “other life” what our association is about. They tend to picture our outings as junkets during which we play war games and shoot paint guns at one another. In response to such stated impressions I sometimes reply snootily about the Pulitzer Prize winning authors and other luminaries who address our gatherings. Then, I try to soften that image by describing some of the humorous incidents that occur routinely during the tours, and then summarize us as a group of men and women who study history in a serious yet congenial way. What I can’t seem to effectively convey is our reverence for history.

 

Maybe that’s because such reverence is built upon more than intellectual appreciation. There is something of the warrior in history lovers – perhaps because we sense that battle must regularly be waged to protect and defend the lessons of the past from forces that would re-write history and nudge us toward complacency and narcissism. In such battles, I know that I want always to fight in your company, because, dear compatriots, you are the most steely and intrepid folk I have ever known. It is an honor and privilege to serve you.

 

From all of us at the CWEA:

Thank You for the wonderful times and steadfast support, and

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!