Posts Tagged ‘history’
In the past two years, a group of Irish Americans led by Connecticut businessman Carl Shanahan have been working to create a national museum in Washington, D.C., to honor Ireland’s legacy in America. “The history of the United States is the history of Irish America,” says Shanahan. “That history deserves its rightful place in our nation’s capital.” The 71-year-old Shanahan is no stranger to the preservation of history: he co-founded The Wild Geese, a Connecticut organization that promotes Irish culture and Ireland’s contributions to Western civilization. The goal of the Irish American Museum of Washington, D.C., is to become a major cultural institution that will bring Irish-American history to life for visitors of all ages, from all ethnic, racial, and cultural backgrounds. The museum will initially be housed in temporary gallery space; ultimately, the plan is for a prestigious establishment that will provide future generations of Irish-Americans a sense of their history. “We believe that the museum belongs in Washington to reflect the national character of our story, the Irish legacy is evident all across North America.” This will be a “museum of identity,” whose goal, says Shanahan, “is to explore the experience of a people’s immigration and the evolution of its community, as well as to acknowledge their struggles and triumphs.” The group intends that the Irish American Museum of Washington, D.C., joins the roster of similar museums of identity honoring African Americans, Native Americans, Jewish Americans and Chinese Americans among others. “Education is at the heart of the Irish American Museum’s mission,” says board member Jim Dougherty, whose ancestors came to America during Ireland’s Great Famine.
Support the Irish American Museum of Washington DC.

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Remembering David Alan James Rathkey Ten Years Later
by Colleen Doran on September 10th, 2011
David Alan James Rathkey, a United States resident since 1981, was born in 1954 in Eton, England and raised in Maidenhead, Berkeshire.
A thirteen-year resident of Mountain Lakes, New Jersey, he was the father of twin sons Matthew and Ian, and a beautiful daughter Emma. He was also a soccer player on a team for people over the age of 40, and soccer coach for his daughter’s team the Mountain Lakes Electrics. An IQ Financial Systems sales executive, previous employers include Digital Equipment Corp, and Arbat Systems, the company where he met his lovely, intelligent wife Julia.
“David has had an impact on our lives, he was truly a remarkable person. He often spoke of his children, even told me of the day trips this summer with the children. David was always a pleasure to speak with as I write this I can smile because I know I’ve known a truly remarkable person, ” colleague Debbie Razak wrote in this fond remembrance of David, with whom she worked for five years.
Described by fellow residents of Mountain Lakes as “an English gentleman,” David Rathkey was beloved by his community, which sponsored a “duck race” in his memory, and in the memory of fellow Mountain Lakes resident Alayne Gentul. The community of only 4,000 people raised $100,000 at the event.
David Alan James Rathkey was on the 80th floor of the World Trade Center, on September 11, 2001. His last words were to his wife Julia, with whom he was speaking on the phone when the South Tower collapsed.
Emma Rathley’s struggle to deal with the loss of her father was the subject of this article in New York Mag.
Julia Wilcox Rathkey wrote a best selling book called What Children Need When They Grieve. The Four Essentials: Routine, Love, Honesty, and Security. You may learn more about Julia Rathkey and her book at her website.
On June 28, 2006, Julia Wilcox Rathkey married Gregg Richardson “…founder of Pittsylvania County Youth Sports, a recreation center for poor children in Virginia.” Their wedding announcement is here.
Celebrate the lives of those who are now immortal in memory, and the lives of those forever changed by the power of that memory.
With respect and love to the family of David Alan James Rathkey on this historic day.
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Memorial Day: With Gratitude to America’s First Military Women Pilots
by Colleen Doran on May 29th, 2011Last year, Congress finally recognized the contributions of America’s first women military pilots, the Women Air Force Service Pilots.
A shortage of male pilots during World War II created an opportunity for women to serve as flight trainers, test pilots, and to carry transport and troops. Women pilots flew material to make the atomic bomb, and also dared to test the most dangerous of aircraft, including the fabled Widowmaker.
Yet the Women Airforce Service Pilots were never officially recognized as members of the military. The WASP program was canceled a few weeks after the last class graduated in nineteen forty-four. For one thing, the war was nearing an end.
The women had paid their own way to get to the training base in Sweetwater, Texas. Now dismissed, they had to pay their own way to get home.
Thirty-eight women lost their lives in the WASP program. There were no military honors for these women. Their own families had to pay for their burials.
You can read more about the pioneering women WASPS here.
Also, for more information about women in aviation, check out The Ninety-Nines International webpage.
The Ninety-Nines, Inc., is an international organization of licensed women pilots from 35 countries – we currently have thousands of members throughout the world. We are a non-profit, charitable membership corporation holding 501(c)(3) U.S. tax status. Our International Headquarters is located in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Although there are other female pilot organizations in various states and nations, virtually all women of achievement in aviation have been or are members of The Ninety-Nines.
The organization came into being November 2, 1929, at Curtiss Field, Valley Stream, Long Island, New York. All 117 American female pilots had been invited to assemble for mutual support and the advancement of aviation. Louise Thaden was elected secretary and worked tirelessly to keep the group together as we struggled to organize and grow until 1931, when Amelia Earhart was elected as first president and the group was named for the 99 charter members.
Further details on the history of women pilots with special emphasis on military service can be found here.
With most sincere thanks to all the members of our military for your service and your sacrifice. Thank you.
Once again, with special remembrances to:
Private Alfred Edwin Lawrence Jr.
US Marine Corps
Korea
Private Thomas Lowen
US Marine Corps
Okinawa
For more posts dedicated to the memory of our fallen heroes, click here.
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David Alan James Rathkey, a United States resident since 1981, was born in 1954 in Eton, England and raised in Maidenhead, Berkeshire.
A thirteen-year resident of Mountain Lakes, New Jersey, he was the father of twin sons Matthew and Ian, and a beautiful daughter Emma. He was also a soccer player on a team for people over the age of 40, and soccer coach for his daughter’s team the Mountain Lakes Electrics. An IQ Financial Systems sales executive, previous employers include Digital Equipment Corp, and Arbat Systems, the company where he met his lovely, intelligent wife Julia.
“David has had an impact on our lives, he was truly a remarkable person. He often spoke of his children, even told me of the day trips this summer with the children. David was always a pleasure to speak with as I write this I can smile because I know I’ve known a truly remarkable person, ” colleague Debbie Razak wrote in this fond remembrance of David, with whom she worked for five years.
Described by fellow residents of Mountain Lakes as “an English gentleman,” David Rathkey was beloved by his community, which sponsored a “duck race” in his memory, and in the memory of fellow Mountain Lakes resident Alayne Gentul. The community of only 4,000 people raised $100,000 at the event.
David Alan James Rathkey was on the 80th floor of the World Trade Center, on September 11, 2001. His last words were to his wife Julia, with whom he was speaking on the phone when the South Tower collapsed.
Emma Rathley’s struggle to deal with the loss of her father was the subject of this article in New York Mag.
Julia Wilcox Rathkey wrote a best selling book called What Children Need When They Grieve. The Four Essentials: Routine, Love, Honesty, and Security. You may learn more about Julia Rathkey and her book at her website.
On June 28, 2006, Julia Wilcox Rathkey married Gregg Richardson “…founder of Pittsylvania County Youth Sports, a recreation center for poor children in Virginia.” Their wedding announcement is here.
Celebrate the lives of those who are now immortal in memory, and the lives of those who are forever changed by the power of that memory.
With respect and love to the family of David Alan James Rathkey on this historic day.
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