Articles by Steven Gilchrist

America was a divided nation during the Civil War. From 1861-1865, the North (Union) and the South (Confederacy) battled in the bloodiest conflict in U.S. history. The Massachusetts 54th Infantry Regiment participated in the Civil War. The 54th was a unique regiment because it was the first regiment composed of African American soldiers to fight for the Union. In total, over 186,000 African American soldiers fought in the Civil War.  The Massachusetts 54th Regiment distinguished itself during a battle on July 18, 1863. On this day the Regiment led an assault on Fort Wagner – a Confederate base in Charleston, South Carolina. As a result of the battle, the Regiment lost 63 soldiers. One of the soldiers who died was the Regiment’s white commanding officer -Colonel Robert Gould Shaw. Several members of the regiment fought valiantly in the battle of Fort Wagner. Despite being wounded three times, Sgt. William Carney, of New Bedford, Massachusetts, saved the American flag from...

The Boston Public Library was one of three locations in the city of Boston to display the art work of longtime Bostonian and artist Allan Rohan Crite. Beginning in the fall of 2007 until February 3, 2008, the BPL, the Boston Athenaeum, and the Museum of the National Center of Afro-American Artists exhibited collected works of art from Crite’s storied career in The Life and Art of Allan Rohan Crite: 1910-2007 . Funded in part by the Boston Public Library Foundation, the exhibit offered onlookers a view into Crite’s lengthy artistic career. When I visited the exhibit on January 19, 2008, over fifty collages, drawings, paintings, and sketches adorned the Wiggins Gallery in the McKim Building of The Boston Public Library. Crite was born on March 20, 1910, in Plainfield, New Jersey. In that same year, his family moved to Boston, Massachusetts. Crite would later make Boston his home as an adult. Over the course of his distinguished career he promoted visual art as a lecturer, p...

Every year since 1963, the U.S. Congress has advised the President to sign legislation authorizing February as American Heart Month. Matters of the heart are important and the numbers speak for themselves. In the United States heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women. The most common form of heart disease in America is coronary heart disease (CHD) – which often occurs as a heart attack. If the heart muscle does not receive enough blood, a heart attack can occur. Heart disease is a broad term that encompasses several conditions that affect the heart. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an estimated 785,000 Americans will have a heart attack in 2009. Other CDC facts about heart disease are: • In 2002, 696,947 people died of heart disease, 51% were women. This number accounted for 29% of all deaths in the U.S. • An estimated 47% of heart related deaths occur prior to emergency services...

O n a recent trip to Boston, I came across an interesting looking monument. This monument is The Hungarian Revolution Memorial located at Liberty Square. The Memorial commemorates the survivors and those who lost their lives during the Hungarian Revolution, which began on October 23, 1956 and lasted until November 10, 1956. At the bottom of the monument a small group of people with only their faces showing appears just above the monument’s stone base. Above the confusion at the bottom of the mass appears a man who has his back turned. The man is carrying a flag. Above the man carrying the flag is a woman who emerges holding a baby towards the sky. I think the monument stirs emotions of hope, resilience, and perseverance. The stone base of the Memorial has the following inscription: “To Commemorate those who never surrendered – Hungary October 1956.” The Hungarian Revolution began as a student demonstration in the capital city of Budapest against the Soviet led Hungarian government. The...

F ebruary 14 is a very special day for people who have a Valentine. Valentine’s Day is less than two weeks away, but February 14 is also a special day for another reason. As part of an international day of community action, Jane Doe, Inc. is sponsoring the 2nd Annual White Ribbon Day Campaign in Massachusetts. Jane Doe, Inc., The Massachusetts Coalition Against Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence is an organization that seeks to educate residents of the state of Massachusetts about domestic violence prevention. Last year, I had the opportunity to participate in the 1st Annual Campaign held in Massachusetts. On February 14, 2008, I attended an event held at the Massachusetts State House in Boston. The primary goal of White Ribbon Day is to encourage men of all ages to be advocates opposed to domestic violence against women, men, and children. At last year’s event held in the Great Hall of the State House, there were speeches given by Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick, Lt. Gov. Tim ...