Chesapeake Style Online

Spring 2013 37
Books in Style~Animal Heroes and Friends
By Jean C. Keating
Reviewed
A
by William C. Silberman
collection of
vignettes, articles,
short history and
travelogue including:
Monumental Courage,
North to Alaska and First Manassas,
An End To Innocence, author
Jean C. Keating, an amazing and
accomplished lady. She was a bona
de “rocket scientist,” education
specialist, writer, historian, dog
fancier and breeder, publisher, story
teller. It would take at two lifetimes to
investigate her widespread interests
and display and facilitate her talents.
Monumental Courage leads the
rst chapter of Animal Heroes and
Friends. e account describes
a somber 2009 event at Virginia-
Maryland Veterinary School at
Virginia Tech recognizing twelve
canine police ocers who died in
the line of duty between 1962 and
2008. A statue of a handsome, alert
German Shepherd complete with
a shield on his collar was unveiled.
Currently, there are 250 canine police
ocers serving multiple police
organizations throughout the state.
e breed that enthralled Jean
is the Papillon, a small, intelligent,
physically attractive, endearing
canine. She describes herself as a
lover, breeder and slave of and to
the breed. One Papillon, Pu, was
trained to be her hearing assistance
service dog. Pu hears smoke alarms,
telephone signals and other warnings
Jean could not hear
and scratches and
communicates the
need to pay attention or
wake up. Jean has many
stories to tell about
Papillons with unique
personal experiences,
their remarkable
performances at dog
shows, the humorous
and heart- warming
interactions of
Papillons and her
domestic cats that have adopted
Jean and her household.
A part of Animal Heroes and
Friends includes a series of
vignettes involving canine, feline,
equine and rodentia subjects. e
stories are reminiscent of James
Heriot’s All ings Bright and
Beautiful series only her subjects
are more anthropomorphic,
reasoning and communicating like
humans. Certainly her subjects are
remarkably bright and perceptive,
some approaching ingenious.
North To Alaska is a travelogue of
a visit to Alaska. Besides terrestrial
excursions, it describes a cruise of
the bays, glaciers and features of the
southern coast. It tells of encounters
and sightings of sea lions, seals,
moose, orcas, wood bison, otters
and birds. She describes magnicent
views from the water and on land.
First Manassas, An End
to Innocence, documents a
reenactment, honoring the First Battle
of Manassas, July 21, 1861—
the rst major military
engagement of the Civil War.
It reviews the economic,
political and moral issues
which preceded the war and
which led to the polarization
and uncompromising
attitudes of the North and
South. It sets the scene with
a concentration of 22,000
Confederate troops 28 miles
southwest of Washington
which Lincoln and others
considered to be a threat to the
capital that must be eliminated.
e Union, with 35,000 troops,
set out to dislodge the Confederates.
e article notes a number of rsts
in modern warfare: use of railroads,
use of signal ags, and of medical
support units close to battle lines.
Innocence was exemplied by both
sides anticipating a quick, decisive,
relatively bloodless engagement.
It was the rst of many bloody
engagements spanning four years
claiming the lives of 620,000
men and 1.2 million horses.
It goes on to describe the use
of artillery, the confusion due to
similarities of uniforms and battle
ags, the rst civilian casualty—
caused by misdirected artillery re;
VMI Professor Jackson’s stand with
his Virginia troops described as
standing like a “Stone Wall”, the battle
turning in the Confederates’ favor;
the panic of Washington spectators,
politicians and socialites stampeding
and clogging the roadways back
to the city; the rst use of the rebel
yell; the improvisations required
to provide medical support by
the Confederates, especially.
is rst battle demonstrated
the need for distinctive uniforms,
an easily recognized ag, better
training, longer enlistments,
realization that the war was not
going to be over quickly. Despite the
confusion, dysfunction, and lack of
discipline, both sides demonstrated
remarkable bravery, courage and
stubbornness. e battle earned
a distinct place in American
history, as well as well deserved
reverence for the participants.
Also described is the reenactment
staged by 8,200 participants
witnessed by 12,000 spectators
on a hot July day in 2011 when
temperatures reached 107 degrees. It
explains how faithful the participants
are to historical events, how their
dress and equipment replicate
1861 authenticity. e conditions
took a toll on those participating in
the reenactment but they held as
close to the script as possible as a
tribute to theirs and our ancestors.
Animal Heroes and Friends is
available for kindle at amazon.
com, at River Cottage Books,
1194 Lodge Road, Callao, online
at www.rivercottagebooks.net at
Muberry, Main Street, Warsaw,
Downing’s Consignments, Sharps.
To sell the book in your shop, email
nancyshelley10@gmail.com.
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