Remember and honor

In so many ways, they were so much the same. And yet … in so many ways, so different.

What they had in common — both were born to pioneering families. Both chose to fight to protect what they believed in. Both were 23 years old when they died, both in the service of American freedom.

How they were different — Richard Baker was born in Virginia, one of six sons of middle-class land-owning parents. Philip Cottrell was born in South Dakota, the only son of a cattle rancher and a woman of the Lakota Sioux.

And add in the facts that Richard Baker died in 1776, Philip Cottrell in 1943.

They are the bookends of The Legal Genealogist‘s family that we honor this Memorial Day here in the United States. The first and the last we have lost in the service of the nation.

Richard — my fourth great granduncle, younger brother of my fourth great grandfather David Baker who served with him in the Third Virginia Regiment — died in the Battle of Trenton, Christmas Day 1776, as Washington’s desperate plan to cross the Delaware and surprise the Hessian garrison at the New Jersey capital worked far better than anyone could have hoped.¹

Philip — my first cousin once removed, son of my maternal grandfather’s brother — died in a Marine Corps training accident in the Mojave Desert in August 1943 when his aircraft caught fire and he was forced to jump. A local newspaper reported that it was believed that he hit his head on the fuselage when he jumped; he never pulled the ripcord of his parachute.²

Neither ever married.

Neither left children.

Not a single one of those who loved them best is alive today to remember them.

And yet they are not forgotten.

And will not be forgotten.

Not as long as this family historian draws breath.

Our thanks to them, and to all who gave their all, that we might live free.

Cite/link to this post: Judy G. Russell, “Memorial Day 2023,” The Legal Genealogist (https://www.legalgenealogist.com/blog : posted 29 May 2023).

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