Quentin was full of life and fun, in part because he was the
indulged and much-loved baby of the family (everyone's favorite, a
relative said year's later), but also because he came from a family
that enjoyed themselves. President Roosevelt was often described as
a big kid who was known to have to redress for state dinners
because he paused to have a pillow fight with Quentin.
Quentin also was fascinated by machines and while in college, he
rebuilt a motorcycle (this back in the days when cars and
motorcycles were still relatively new). When World War I came about
and his brothers enlisted in the army, Quentin decided that he too
needed to do his part. Only his military choice was the new air
force. His eyesight was very bad -- bad enough that he never should
have been made a pilot -- so he memorized the eye chart before his
physical.
On July 18th 1918 Quent met his death at the age of 20 during an
unusually severe dogfight in the air. That night a wireless message
came from the Germans saying that Quentin had been shot down by Sgt
K. Thom of the Richthofen Circus. German military propagandists
tastelessly peddled pictures of Quentin's disfigured body around
the world, pictures which eventually reached his family in Sagamore
Hill.
Theodore Roosevelt was sitting on his front porch when some
members of the press arrived. "We have bad news, Colonel," they
said. "It's Quentin," they told him, explaining that Quentin had
been shot down on July 18th and there was little hope that he was
alive. Roosevelt then stood up and said in a soft voice, "Boys,
excuse me while I break the news to Mrs. Roosevelt." Theodore
Roosevelt never recovered emotionally from the horrible blow he
suffered from his youngest's death despite the more than 2000
letters and telegrams sent to him to convey the love and respect he
and Quentin had commanded throughout their lives.
This was a man who loved life and lived it to its fullest. He
could have easily used his family's wealth and fame to avoid the
dangers of military service on the front lines. Instead, he
volunteered to defend freedom and paid with his life.
With Memorial Day upcoming it seems a fitting time to launch a
cache dedicated to this great man. Take a few minutes sometime to
read about this hero of WWI.
Americans have a very poor understanding of our history. Score
this cache by finding this memorial and emailing me a photo of it
or writing me with WHO erected this monument and WHEN. Please don't
post anything that would give it away, please no internet "finds" -
use your GPS and go there!
Sincerely, PULASKI
The following fascinating information was provided to me by JSHOE.
I didnt know that Quentin was flying in support of Pennsylvania's
28th Infantry Division. Thanks!!
We live very near the Quentin monument, and my family wrote a
history of the Quentin Vol Fire Company and Quentin, PA in
1999.
Quentin is not an incorporated municipality, therefore the
Quentin, PA name refers only to the local post office. In the early
1900's the post office was named Bismarck. Even a century ago,
political correctness prevailed and the locals decided to change
the name of their municipality. (The residents of Bismarck, ND
apparently didn't feel the same obligation to political
correctness).
The leader of the name change was William J Noll, personal
secretary to Mrs Margaret Buckingham (owner of the Cornwall Iron
Mines). William Noll was also a Lebanon County Commissioner, the
first president of the Quentin Volunteer Fire Company, and the
President of the Washington Camp #70 of the POS of A.
The name change to Quentin, PA occurred in 1918, President
Roosevelt sent a letter thanking William Noll which was
subsequently published in the Lebanon Daily News and reads in part:
"I am deeply touched by what the people of Quentin have done. The
name by the way, is pronounced in English fashion, exactly as it is
spelt. I wish through you I could thank all of the patrons of the
post office and especially those who you inform me were the
originators of the movement . . . Congressman A.S. Kreider who
rendered you the assistance necessary at Wahington."
In addition to the letter, he sent a large Silver Memorial Cup,
which subsequently became the property of the Quentin Vol Fire
Co.
As with most projects, things became mislaid, and plans for the
memorial were sent to the foundry but casting was delayed following
the death of Teddy Roosevelt in 1919. Members debated what the
appropriate action should be; from no casting to an expanded
memorial to include both Quentin and his father.
Congressman Kreider and William Noll decided to push ahead on
there own, and instructed the foundry to cast the memorial. These
delays, and those associated with the foundry, delayed the actual
casting until 1921. Since the original plans were approved, the
foundry cast the memorial with the 1920 date.
The memorial as well as the Silver Cup were placed on display at
the Quentin School (previously located across the street in the
parking lot for United Stitchworks). They remained there for the
next 65 years.
In the early 1970's, the Quentin school was deemed to be too
outdated and small to meet the educational needs of local children.
The building was subsequently demolished.
For some, time diminished the signifance of both the brass
memorial and the Silver cup. The brass plaque as well as the
Quentin School bell was salvaged by the Quentin Lions Club, with no
specific plans in mind. The whereabouts of the Silver Cup were
unknown.
In the mid 1980's the Quentin Lions Club determined a community
memorial was appropriate. The monument as it is now was the product
of there effort, the bell to the left of the memorial was the
Quentin School Bell. The monument was subsequently electrified and
illuminated in 2001.
Likewise, the location of the Sterling Silver Cup remained
elusive. In the 1980's, Quentin Vol Fire Co members were cleaning
some storage spaces, and had piled a number of cardboard boxes to
be discarded. One member, looking to save boxes, emptied one to
find the Sterling Silver Cup given to the Community by Teddy
Roosevelt.
Members immediately recognized the historical significance of
the item, and the Cup was loaned to the Lebanon County Historical
Society where it remains on display today.
When he was shot down, Quentin Roosevelt was flying combat air
patrols. One of the units he was supporting was the 28th Division
of the Pennsylvania National Guard Headquarted in Harrisburg,
PA.
To honor his brother, Theodore Roosevelt Jr named his son
Quentin Roosevelt II, both were military officers. On D-Day, June 6
1944, they became the only father-son pair to have landed on the
Normandy Beaches.
Gen Theodore Roosevelt Jr subsequently died in 1944 and was laid
to rest in the American Cemetary in Normandy. The body of his
brother, Quentin Roosevelt, was subsequently exhumed and now lies
in rest next to his brother in Normandy.
Sincerely, PULASKI
Wikipedia has some excellent information:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quentin_Roosevelt
