Decades of flag-draped coffins

by James Breig

Sometimes, history repeats itself in perfect intervals. For example, 2014 continues the 150th anniversary of the Civil War, marks the centenary of the First World War and begins the observance of the 75th anniversary of World War II, which broke out in 1939. Over that span, American flags were draped over the coffins of tens of thousands of servicemen.

CIVIL WAR

Captain Andre Cailloux “fell at the head of his company while gallantly leading it on to the charge of the celebrated assault…at Port Hudson” in Louisiana, The New York Times noted in August 1863.

“His funeral,” the story continued, “was the most remarkable affair…that ever took place in New Orleans….The coffin was draped in the American flag,…while a band of one of our white volunteer regiments performed the dirges.”

Cailloux was of mixed race, the Times noted, but “it was not because he was a negro, but because he was a brave man…that these honors were conferred” on him.

WORLD WAR I

The Augusta (Georgia) Chronicle opined in 1917 that “there is something peculiarly sad in a soldier’s funeral….As we…see the flag-draped coffin,…it is difficult to keep back the tear that springs unbidden even to the eyes of those who never knew…the brave lad who now sleeps in untimely death.”

A year later, that was so when Major Raoul Lufbery, a Franco-American, was interred in France after being shot down by a German plane.

“Hundreds of wreaths” surrounded his coffin, reported a newspaper, and three French and three U.S. aviators “carried the flag-draped coffin…to the grave.”

WORLD WAR II

Seventy-five years ago, just days after the outbreak of World War II in Europe, a ship named Athenia was torpedoed near Ireland by a German submarine. Military and civilian crafts, including a yacht, raced to the scene to save the hundreds of people tossed into the water.

Among the rescuers was an American freighter captained by Joseph Gainard. He skillfully maneuvered to collect more than 200 survivors. Of the approximately 1,500 people aboard Athenia, all but 120 were pulled from the sea.

Gainard’s heroism was borne of personal experience: During WWI, he served on a ship that was sunk by a German sub.

On the last day of 1943, flags were lowered to half-staff in Melrose, Massachusetts, to honor Gainard, a holder of the Navy Cross. The Boston Herald recorded that “volleys were fired when the flag-draped coffin was lowered into the grave.”