Each year the Smithfield Community Association in Peterboro, NY brings history to life as they recreate an American Civil War camp in their historic hamlet located in Madison County, N.Y. During the Civil War folks in towns would organize 'Soldier Relief' fairs. They collected blankets, socks, money and food and wrote letters to the front lines, much like today's Soldiers' Angels volunteers!
In America's early wars,
care of wounded soldiers was provided by family members and limited
numbers of military medical personnel. Local communities, religious
groups, and women's groups sometimes organized relief efforts to
get supplies and medical care to their loved ones.
This June Soldiers' Angels volunteer and Smithfield Community Association planning committee member Jody Luce had the 5th grade students of Smithfield Schools focus on the war relief efforts of the past and asked them to write to our troops now serving our country overseas. We will send stacks of wonderful cards and letters from these students to a military chaplain and deployed medic support unit.
"We asked our fifth graders to write to the soldiers of today. Hopefully these letters from the young voices of Madison County will help lift the spirits of those who are missing home right now, if only for a moment."
Sources: Encyclopedia of the New American Nation: Humanitarian Intervention and Relief
Smithfield Community Association, Peterboro N.Y.
VISIT THE WEBSITE at www.sca-peterboro.org
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