The Hoover's Hills, a Flash Back in Time, Words of my Heart by A Texas Artist Laurie Pace

Hoover's Hills

Terry and I were watching the morning news with all the latest coverage of the Wall Street protestors and he said it reminded him of Hoover's Hills.

Okay, so I didn't know who or what Hoover's Hills were.

Back in 1932 as the great Depression pressed the American people, the veterans that had served in the war had been promised extra pay but the contract was for bonus money in 1945.  Here were these veterans starving and unemployed, basically destitute.

These men were promised $1.25 for each day  they served over seas and $1 a day for each day they served here in the states.   They were dubbed the BONUS ARMY as they set up camp across the river from the Capital at Anacostia Flats. They built their shelters out of whatever they had or could find.  Discipline in the camp was good but residents feared the growing numbers.  They only wanted their due pay to feed their families and to make it through the depression.  Read more here.  Their encampment was referred to as Hoover's Hills.

The Congress took up the bill to pay the veterans immediately and the house passed it easily. BUT then came the Senate. They defeated the bill by a vote of 62 to 8. The Bonus Army was stunned. The people of the United States were stunned.  Hoover did not want violence, but the order went out to evacuate the veterans.  Chief of staff General Douglas MacArthur dispatched six tanks and calvary troops led by Major George Patton. The cavalry arrived and the surprised veterans thought this was something being done in their honor.  They were not prepared for bayonets, tear gas and direct attacks by the cavalry. The 10,000 vets were removed forcibly from their 'hills'.

There were countless injuries, deaths that included children and infants and Hoover was mortified that MacArthur had carried this through so violently.  The residents were angered crying out in shame against the sudden attack.

Gene Policinski wrote a great blog article comparing this to the "Occupy Wall Street" movement.  Click here to read his October 17th post.

I am a non violent person so I have issues with so much that happens in the world around us. Civilizations seem to rise and fall. It is part of the history we read in the Bible and the history we know from the world in recent centuries.  I know not what His plan is for us here in America but I am truly tired of our current Congress and disappointed in the lack of true concern for the American people. 

Words of my heart,
Laurie

"I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety."
(Psalm 4:8)