Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste natus error sit voluptatem accusantium doloremque laudantium, totam rem aperiam, eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo. Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Neque porro quisquam est, qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci velit, sed quia non numquam eius modi tempora incidunt ut labore et dolore magnam aliquam quaerat voluptatem. Ut enim ad minima veniam, quis nostrum exercitationem ullam corporis suscipit laboriosam, nisi ut aliquid ex ea commodi consequatur?

World War I

The Mrs., was discharged with honor. Her work was finished and the department closed down. She was more tired than she knew…

Joe writing to Jimmy Simpson, February 1st, 1919 (IMG_2471)

“During World War I Mrs. McAleenan was in charge of surgical dressing in New York for the American Red Cross. In World War II she was administrative assistant for the Red Cross Chapter here” (Margaret Obituary)

1918 Flu Pandemic

Austin was in New Haven at the Artillery Corp camp of which we were a member – and was swept by influenza. They rushed to see him but were not allowed “military law opposed our seeing the boy” (IMG_2476) ).

The Mrs. volunteered to serve and together with other good women of New Haven they cared for the sick made the beds and did the thousand and one thing that an epidemic call for. This good mother passed down again through the Valley of Death with her boy and fourteen other boys and brought them through the Canyon of Dreadful Night out into the bright sunshine of health and life. From eight in the morning until ten at night this splendid woman did work that never before came to her. No complaint mind you, no fatigue and no grumbling. When the the [sic] crisis was over and the work accomplished she passed again to her labors with the Red Cross. These splendid women never counted the danger to themselves entering the sick wards where the deadly epidemic held sway. Some of them made the supreme sacrifice to duty and we can only pray for them and regret that they did not live to the glorious hour of world peace. They served with a smile and died with a smile their splendid courage knew no surrender and they deserve from the people of the entire embattled world the same praise, the same reward that is given to the fighting man. (IMG_2476)