Alyn W. Butler

Private Alyn W. Butler, Company M 110th Infantry, fell in battle in Fismes, France one hundred years ago today. He was the only Roseville resident killed in action in World War I.

His remains were returned in 1939 and interred in Roseville Cemetery. The American Legion's Alyn W. Butler Post No. 169 in Roseville is named in his honor.

The 110th Infantry in the World War by Francis Earle Lutz details the actions of the regiment. It can be found online in Google Books. Private Butler is named as killed on page 118.

On the coming September 15, the City of Fismes will dedicate a memorial to those who served defending their city. Meadville, Pennsylvania and Fismes are sister cities, as many residents of Meadville and Pennsylvania served in the defense of Fismes. Representatives from Meadville will attend the ceremony.

Post Script, September 7, 2018: I marked the anniversary on my calendar over a year ago. About two weeks prior to the anniversary, I notified the Roseville and Granite Bay Press Tribune of the upcoming anniversary, as it was only fitting that Roseville should remember. Reporter Brody Fernandez called me for details. The newspaper ran an article on August 31. However, it got Alyn's age wrong (20 years old) and his unit wrong (110th Infantry Division). It also referenced a great-grandson Harry Butler, but I have found no record of Alyn Butler being married or having any children. He was 19 when he died.

On September 5, I sent an email to the City of Fismes noting the anniversary, adding the photograph and newspaper clipping above. I ended: "God bless the City of Fismes. May the friendship between the United States and France last forever." Later that day, I received a nice response from Denis Queva, General Director of Services, City of Fismes. He mentioned the strong bond between Fismes and the United States, a bond forged from two World Wars, and that he would pass the message on to the neighboring town of Fismette and the Memorial committee. I also received an email from Andy Walker, City Manager of Meadville, Pennsylvania. He said he was part of a group that would travel to Fismes for the memorial dedication, to represent the City of Meadville, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and the United States of America.

My email to Fismes, including headstone photo and newspaper clipping, made it to the Fismes Memorial 18 Facebook page, with my message translated to French. From there, it went into an article in the September 6 edition of the L'Hebdo de Vendridi.

Immigration Protest in Sacramento

I read about the folks in the far left all the time, and today I drove to Sacramento to see them up close and in action. This event was one of the several Families Belong Together demonstrations being held throughout the country. For over two hours I heard their calls to abolish ICE, end deportations, and welcome immigrants and refugees. I hope these people get plenty of media coverage, and the Democrats fully adopt their message, to help the Republicans in the coming elections.

The demonstration was held in front of the US Citizenship and Immigration Building on Capitol Mall. I have no idea of the crowd size, but people lined both sides of Capitol Mall between 5th and 7th Streets. With demonstrations in Vacaville, Stockton, and Grass Valley, this event largely drew people from the greater Sacramento area. Things kicked off at ten o'clock.

I saw two American flags and one was being flown upside down. There were plenty of red flags. Guess what they represent? And while there were banners and signs for Industrial Workers of the World, Brown Berets, and Party for Socialism and Liberation, most banners I saw were for Democratic Socialists of America. I think Democratic Socialists of America is gaining some traction.

Here is a sampling of the signs people held: Defund ICE / No US Government Child Abuse / The GOP Supports Internment Camps for Kids / No Ban. No Wall. Not Now. Not Ever. / Workers Without Borders / Abolish ICE / Fuck Trump.

Chants from a sheet handed out by organizers:

Up, up with liberation!

Down, down with deportation!

Resistance is liberation

Break the chains

No Ban! No Wall!

Sanctuary for All!

Parents protesting the treatment of illegal immigrant children in detention centers had their very young children with them in the uncomfortable heat (high 90s) and intense sunlight.

While the speakers went on about this and that, a splinter group headed up 7th Street to protest in front of the Sacramento County Main Jail on I Street. This caused much work for the police, who had to divert traffic and otherwise keep things under control. This splinter group returned as things were winding down. 

By now it was 12:15. I had seen enough for one day. I headed home.

Self Portrait