August, 2003

"Golden Booger Awards"

Ladies and gentlemen, girls, and boys! Will you please gather around for a few moments?

We have a very special program, which we would like to share with you...Please gather around...

As many of you may know, the American Civil War lasted for four years...1861 to 1865. It was a very difficult and troubling time for American Citizens, full of doubt and uncertainties.

Huge questions were at stake...would the integrity of our nation survive? Would democracy and freedom survive? Would foreign nations intervene on one side or the other, leading to control and domination? Would the Constitution itself which our founding fathers pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor to establish...would it survive?

These and many other difficult questions have, over the years, been addressed by volumes of books and histories written by noted authors, historians, and novelists, each of whom would build their works around the big men of the time...Presidents, such as Abraham Lincoln and Jefferson Davis or big generals such as Ulysses S. Grant and William Tecumseh, Sherman or Robert E. Lee, and Stonewall Jackson, or perhaps, big battles such as Fort Sumter, Bull Run, Gettysburg, Chancellors Ville, Chattanooga, and finally the surrender of the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia at Appomattox Court House in Virginia.

What we are going to discuss here today, however, is not about big names, big battles or big events, but about a little guy...a little guy from our area...who was a private of average height, 5'8" tall, average weight of 143 pounds with brown hair, blue eyes, and sound teeth. Just an average Joe.

This guy was the eldest son of Charles Edward and Nettie Brown and was born and raised on a small subsistence farm just north of Keystone Road near the village of Vinton. He had never gone to school, since there were no nearby schools at the time, but his mother had taught him to write a bit, to read the bible and cipher to the rule of four. He was Christened Charles Edward Brown, after his father and was later baptized by the local Baptist Minister Reverend Harlan Thomas in nearby Raccoon Creek.

With his father's approval and permission, Charles Edward Brown answered the call to the army and enlisted in company D under Captain Edward McGhee, after the summer harvest of 1861. With the rest of his company, he was transported by rail car to the outskirts of Columbus for a brief training period; after which his unit was assigned to the 86th Volunteer Infantry Division of Major General Phil Sheridan's 3rd Army Corp.

He saw repeated action in the extensive Shenandoah Valley campaign and at Chattanooga where he received the mini-ball wound in his upper left leg, the damage, scar and pain of which he would carry to his grave.

Charles Edward Brown was an excellent, uncomplaining, obedient soldier who carried his 60 pound backpack, with powder in his horn, bullets in his pockets, haversack containing his rations of beans, salt pork, hard tack and coffee strapped across his back; knife, tin cup and fry pan hooked to his belt and carried a 16 pound muzzle-loader with ram-rod upon his right shoulder. A typical day's march was 18 to 24 miles.

But, Charlie Brown did have a problem...a problem which today's doctors would diagnose as severe allergic reaction. He was allergic to pollens, molds, mildew, ragweed, and wool blankets and uniforms. These things would frequently trigger a reaction causing sneezing, watery eyes and a runny nose.

Marching along in the old "root step," loaded down with gear and gun, Brown could only wipe his runny nose with his left sleeve...from wrist to elbow. So, ...his fellow soldiers' started calling him Booger..."Booger Brown!"

Even after the Civil War had ended and Charles Edward Brown had returned to his family in Vinton, the nickname "Booger" stuck and both family and friends continued to refer to him as "Booger Brown"...a name which this humble old Civil War veteran accepted and responded to. In fact, even after he married and had sons and later grandsons of his own, the oldest boy was always called "Booger Brown!"

In fact, only a few years ago, a great grandson of the original "Booger Brown" lived at 72 West Main St. in Vinton across the street from the old Vinton Methodist Church...a home presently occupied by Kevin and Beth Kelly. This fellow too was referred to as "Booger Brown" and was a wee bit eccentric. Not only did he display the "runny nose syndrome," but was particularly noted for his daily trips to the post office, making his way up and down the sidewalk on his riding lawn mower, while, whether rain, snow, or shine, holding a golf umbrella overhead and whistling Yankee Doodle Dandy! Whew!

But back to this splendid old Civil War veteran, the original "Booger Brown" never missed an opportunity to gather with his mates for a bit of reunion.

At first the guys would meet in private homes, but as their numbers grew it was no longer possible. So, they brought along their camping gear and pitched their pup tents along the banks of the Raccoon, close to Vinton. Here they would build their camp fire, cook the same fare which had sustained them while on active duty...navy beans, salt-pork, cornbread and black coffee. In the evening they would gather around the warmth of the fire and share their war-time experiences...sing a few songs such as: Battle Cry of Freedom, Just Before the Battle Mother, Lorena. And of course, Tramp, Tramp, The Boys Marching.

Tradition informs us that the first of these reunions began on the first Saturday of August in 1868 and there is documentary proof available that they were continuing as late as 1883, even to the present day...120 years later!

Of course, over the years the character of these reunions have changed from "Campfires" to "Bean Dinners" and the makeup has of course changed from GAR veterans to descendents, family members and friends. In earlier times, folks came by wagon, buggy or even by train to the old Vinton Depot from as far away as Chillicothe, Columbus, or even Cincinnati. Today most folks come by automobile or pickup truck from locations all over our broad land to visit family members, renew old acquaintances, and to reaffirm their roots and attachments to this community.

American Legion Post 161 is pleased to play a part in this annual event and so the legacy continues. And, we are equally pleased at this time and place to honor that old Civil War v eteran...that little guy...that private first class...Charles Edward Brown, affectionately named "Booger" by his mates and comrades-in-arms who served his country so quietly, so humbly, and so very patriotically.

In order to do this, we have instituted the most high honor of prestige, esteem, and recognition in loving memory of our hometown hero of yesteryear, private "Booger Brown"...by issuing the first ever: "Golden Booger Awards!"

Those who have been selected to receive the "Golden Booger Award" have been very carefully determined by our panel of outstanding judges as being worthy to receive such a high honor of distinction and recognition. In doing so, our judges have selected six categories to be awarded today:

1. Biggest Booger
2. Most Prominent Booger
3. Most Obvious Booger
4. Most Attractive Booger
5. Most Colorful Booger
6. Cutest Booger

And now, ladies and gentlemen, girls and boys, let's hear it for these truly outstanding "Golden Booger Award" winners!

Biggest Booger: State Rep. Clyde Evans
Most Prominent Booger: John Carey
Most Obvious Booger: Bill Medley
Most Attractive Booger: Mayor Donna DeWitt
Most Colorful Booger: Patti Wallen
Cutest Booger: Ethan Cline


-Bob Murphy


To see some pictures from the Bean Dinner, Click Here.