The Royal Charter of 1662 (Connecticut State Library)

Predictions:

• (Question) Would they have strong animosity against English rule or would they feel the need to embrace the freedom bug?
  • (Prediction) I believe them to have a partial divide with some people wanting to still be under English rule and others wanted to break free of English rule
• (Question) What was the significance of the Charter Oak?
  • (Prediction) The Charter Oak was maybe a place where they posted the Charter?
• (Question) Why was the Charter so important to the Connecticut residents?
  • (Prediction) Maybe it was the way to signify the new revival of hope of freedom.

A Charter is a document that gives colonies the legal right to exist. In 1661, Governor John Winthrop, Jr, petitioned the King of England for a Charter. A year later in 1662, King Charles II granted the request thereby superseding the Connecticut’s previous “constitution” and giving Connecticut the right to self-govern itself.

The Charter increased the amount of magistrates (assistants) from six to twelve. Two representatives (deputies) acted for each town. All members of the General Assembly, including the Governor and Deputy Governor were elected by the freemen. This legal group administrated judicial, legislative, executive affairs regarding the entire colony. The Charter also established the boundaries of Connecticut with Massachusetts on the North, Narragansett Bay on the South, and the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean on the East and West Coast respectively.

The residents of Connecticut treasured the Royal Charter of 1662 because it personified their constitutional rights. They believed it to give embodiment to their liberties and was a symbol and a part of their identity. Even when the English attempted to remove the Charter from Connecticut, the colony refused. Legend states that the document was hidden in the tree now known as the Charter Oak. The document now is framed with a piece of the original Charter oak as the Crest.

Defining the rights and freedoms of the Connecticut people, The Royal Charter was not a mere legal document, but the beginning of independence from England. Even later in history in 1776, when Connecticut declared independence, the General Assembly of Connecticut did not adopt a new state constitution, but they actually revised the Charter document and removed all English references. The idea that the residents chose to keep the Charter regardless of the English relevance is an example of how strongly the document resonated with their Identity. The Charter also idealizes the beginning of the ending of the relationship between England and the colonies.

After visiting the historical document, some of my earlier questions become evident. However, there are still questions I have.

• Was there any parts of the Charter that the Connecticut people disagreed with?
• What is the significant of the vault-like location of the Charter?
• Was there any violence regarding the protection of the Charter?

 

Fallen Soldier Helicopter Monument

This summer I visited the Fallen Soldier Joyce Kilmer American Post 25 Memorial. with an AH-1 Cobra Attack Helicopter standing tall behind it. The helicopter is painted with eyes and a shark-like mouth, accompanied with the US flag, a helmet on a gun standing on a pair of boots, and a carving of a man in stone. There is a garden around the area with bushes. The helicopter has weapons on its sides and a eyes pointing ahead with the side of the helicopter printed with “United States Army” on it along with “MN-NG 0-17072” The memorial itself is a memorial for fallen troops of the Joyce Kilmer American Legion Post 25. Smaller american flags are around the memorial as well. Under the blades of the helicopter are 072. There are other stone structures around the corner that is the memorial. 

The AH-1 used to be the major driving force of the United States Army’s attack fleet. Though the helicopter was a major contributor to WWII, the Korean war was where it’s contributions were highlighted. Furthermore, the helicopter’s upgraded version was the iconic American helicopter for the Vietnam War.  The use of the helicopter evolved from an aerial transport unit to an air cavalry, to a combat infantry unit carrier. Because these helicopters slowly get closer to enemy territories, they were armed with weaponry and became a “gunship.”

The existence of the memorial itself has shown me that I didn’t know the people who used to live close to me who fought for the country. Although I have lived there for my whole life, I didn’t even approach it or contemplate its existence. This helicopter and the memorial as a whole represents the fallen town war veterans. Some questions I have include the reason why they chose to memorialize their veterans with a helicopter. Did any of the fallen soldiers use this specific helicopter. What did the Joyce Kilmer American Legion Post 25 do as a group? Are there any remaining members of this group.

This monuments the idea of remembering those who fought and died for their country. It serves as a memorial that allows those to learn from the past to strengthen the future. It also idealizes the concept of courage and fighting for freedom and liberty.

Cited from: https://www.militaryfactory.com/aircraft/detail.asp?aircraft_id=13