Spanish-American War veterans founded what became the VFW
Members of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8904 and Auxiliary gathered Wednesday, Feb. 15 to honor the memory of veterans who served in the Spanish American War and those who died in the explosion of the USS Maine 125 years ago, February 15, 1898.
Post Chaplain Kenneth Ramsey offered the opening prayer. “Father, we gather here today to remember those who lost their lives so many years ago and are now in your heavenly kingdom. Watch over those who have come after them and today continue to guard the gates of freedom just as the crew of the USS Maine did. Amen” Post Quartermaster Larry Hume led the Pledge of Allegiance before beginning the presentation. “The USS Maine exploded in the harbor of Havana Cuba killing 266 American crewmen and Marines,” Hume said. “Spain was blamed for the explosion and the Spanish American War began as a result. Less than four months later on August 12, 1898, the United States won a decisive victory. This was the first war the United States had ever fought beyond its shores.”
Hume continued, “3,000 American military were lost, but mostly from yellow and typhoid fever from fighting in the jungles and the Philippine-American War that followed.
“Teddy Roosevelt of Roughrider fame told his troops as they mustered out, ‘Enjoy the next 15 days because after that, you will be forgotten.’ And they were. And because of the United States government’s refusal of proper medical care, these veterans banded together in organizations that would eventually become the Veterans Of Foreign Wars of the United States.
“Today,” Hume said, “we are here to remember the lives lost so long ago in the explosion of the USS Maine and the Spanish- American War that ensued. We thank them for their service just as we thank the veterans of all wars.”
Comrade Mary Roberts of VFW Post 8904 placed the VFW Memorial Wreath on the Veteran’s Memorial monument.
“Shelby County Texas has participated in all wars,” Hume continued, “and I have found six veterans that can be connected to the Spanish American War.
“Elijah Webb was born in 1866 here in Shelby County, Texas and voluntarily enlisted at the beginning of the Spanish-American War, was sent to Cuba, and then ordered to Manila in the Philippines. He served with Company H, 44th US Volunteer Infantry. While the Spanish-American War ended in August 1898 the first Philippine Republic objected to the terms under which the United States took possession of the Philippines from Spain, and the fighting continued there until July 2, 1902.
“During the fighting in the Philippines, Elijah Webb was killed on June 16, 1900, and his body returned to Shelby County for burial in August 1901. In a short Houston Post newspaper article, dated August 18, 1901, it said in part ‘… on the large box which held the metallic coffin was his name, the number of his company and the cause of his death,’ which as stated on the box ‘was a knife wound in the head.’ It went on to say that ‘Lige’ had many friends here and a good crowd witnessed the casket in which rested his remains. He was buried in the Center Cemetery as it was called then and now known as the Methodist Cemetery that is located behind the First United Methodist Church on Porter Street here in Center.”
Hume noted the names of others from Shelby County who served in the Spanish-American War including Edwin A. Booth, passed 1941, buried in the Woodlawn Cemetery in Timpson; Brunson Cline, passed 1969, buried in the Carroll Cemetery; Charles Hudson, passed 1949, buried in the Corinth Cemetery in Timpson; Charlie E. Matlock, passed 1935, buried in the Mt. Pleasant Cemetery; and James Mosby, Jr., passed 1933, buried in Fairview Cemetery “Today we can honor these local veterans and all the other forefathers of our great organization by continuing to fight for veterans rights and benefits, just as they did,” Hume said.
The program concluded with Taps sounded by Post Commander Richard Lundie in honor of the USS Maine and all those who fought in the Spanish- American War and the Philippine Insurrection that followed.
“Thank you for being here today,” said Hume, “to ensure that these veterans were not forgotten.”
The next VFW Post 8904 gathering to honor the memory of veterans will be Tuesday, Feb. 28 at 10:00 a.m. to remember veterans who served during Operation Desert Storm.