Transcripts For CSPAN3 American Artifacts Quentin Roosevelt Memorial 20240711

Ssent to learn about the with totorian Mitchell Yockelson learn about the death of the young aviator. Beyond the fountain into the onded area a short distance july 14, 1918, Quentin Roosevelts plane was shot down during a dogfight with german pilots. Quentin was the youngest child of theodore roosevelt. Quentin and his brothers all served during world war i. Quentin chose the air service like a lot of young men. Times 20 years old at the of his death. Of flying in the air service was an honor for young men who were daring. Not long before quentins plane was shot down and he was killed, he was placed in the 95th aeros squadron. They were charged with following and tracking down german planes in the area. Hadbattle of the second mar been raging since may. It was a heroic effort by the americans to try and stop the germans from crossing the marne. Quentin had gone airborne and shot down his first and only known german kyl. In four days the germans would get retribution against him. After he was shot down, through some controversy there is some controversy whether the germans buried him with full military honors. We know what temporary grave was placed around the site where he fell, which is beyond the ridge here. Family waslt devastated, especially theodore. Losing his youngest son in the war, war that he supported and had pushed americans to enter well before the before america got into the war in 1917. At the roosevelt family had an important decision to make. About 53,000 casualties were killed in combat like quentin. The u. S. Gay families the option the u. S. Gave families the option to bring their dead back or bear either dead here on the western front bury their dead here on the western front in perpetuity. The roosevelts had the money to bring quentin back, but they made a decision that what impacts the families of those who couldnt. They elected to have quentins remains stay here in france, not at one of the American Battle Monument Commission ceremonies but here where he fell near the village of chamery. To this they place beautiful fountain. It is inscribed to him, saying he fell in the battle of chamery, which was part of the battle of second marne in 1918. Theodore roosevelt famously said, only those who are fit to. Ive are not afraid to die his remains stayed here until 1955 when his older Brother Theodore junior was interred at the American Battle monuments in normandy. Metery theodore junior had died during the Normandy Campaign after the dday landings not from combat, but from complications of heart disease. It was then that the roosevelt family felt that quentin would be more honored by lying next to his older brother. The American Battle Monuments Commission allowed the family to take quentins remains and place them in a world war ii ceremony. World war ii cemetery because there is such interest in seeing went in roosevelts fountain at the site nearby where his plane was shot down, thisocals plays to Historical Marker showing the type of plane he flew. Underneath it here is Young Quentin with his dog and here is an early photograph of the fountain after it was first constructed. Avenuentain is on Quentin Roosevelt in shimmery, france. Ry American History tv is on social media. Follow us at cspan history. The Gettysburg College Civil War Institute hosts an online discussion with scott harwig, former historian and author of a book on antietam. He discusses changes in the Gettysburg Park interpretation as well as how he got started researching the battle of antietam. Gettysburg College Civil War Institute divided the video. Talk abouty we will scotts book. Unfortunately not published by unc, but published by johns hopkins. This is not in the series, which i wish it was. We have a discount code, that unc was able to provide, which is why i mentioned it. I have a hardback copy signed no less. It is a paperback. Book, a bookhtful that leads up right before the day of fighting at antietam creek. Harpers ferry as well. We will get into that. Let me welcome, scott. Many of our viewers know scott from his very long and very successful tenure at Gettysburg National park. He has been retired now for a little more than 10 years . A little less then 10 years, excuse me