Episode 234 - Freedom's Cost. A Memorial Day Tribute
Discover the untold stories of two Ordinary men who became Extraordinary unsung heroes. This week on the Ordinary Extraordinary Cemetery podcast, Jennie and Dianne share the stories of George Wasinger and John Wysowatcky Jr., two young soldiers who embodied the Army's motto: "This We'll Defend" during WWI. They defended freedom by giving their lives in return. As Memorial Day approaches, we remember the sacrifice made by all the men and women who have died in combat and acknowledge the debt we owe to those who gave everything in hopes of creating a more peaceful and prosperous tomorrow for future generations.
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Resources used to research this episode include various documents, records, and newspaper articles found at www.ancestry.com and www.newspapers.com in addition to the following:
"Obituary Record by the Olinger Mortuary." The Rocky Mountain News [Denver], 62nd ed., 21 Oct. 1921, p. 9.
"Services Will Be Held for George Wassinger." The Rocky Mountain News [Denver], 62nd ed., 13 Jan. 1921, p. 7.
Sullivan , Evan P. "“Considerable Grief”: Dead Bodies, Mortuary Science, and Repatriation after the Great War ." https://nursingclio.org/ . 18 Apr. 2019. nursingclio.org/2019/04/18/considerable-grief-dead-bodies-mortuary-science-and-repatriation-after-the-great-war/. Accessed 18 May 2025.
Finn, Tara. "The war that did not end at 11am on 11 November ." https://history.blog.gov.uk/ . 9 Nov. 2018. history.blog.gov.uk/2018/11/09/the-war-that-did-not-end-at-11am-on-11-november/. Accessed 18 May 2025.
Persico, MHQ, Joseph E. "Nov. 11, 1918: Wasted Lives on Armistice Day ." https://www.armytimes.com/ . 9 Nov. 2017. www.armytimes.com/veterans/salute-veterans/2017/11/10/nov-11-1918-wasted-lives-on-armistice-day/. Accessed 18 May 2025.
Stewart , Richard W. "Blood, Mud, Concrete, and Barbed Wire: The Meuse-Argonne Offensive ." https://www.armyheritage.org/ . www.armyheritage.org/soldier-stories-information/blood-mud-concrete-and-barbed-wire-the-meuse-argonne-offensive/. Accessed 18 May 2025.
"The Soldier's Burden." http://www.kaiserscross.com/ . www.kaiserscross.com/40312/42469.html. Accessed 18 May 2025.
"Globeville Neighborhood History ." https://history.denverlibrary.org/ . history.denverlibrary.org/neighborhood-history-guide/globeville-neighborhood-history. Accessed 18 May 2025.
"History of Germans from Russia ." https://library.ndsu.edu/ . library.ndsu.edu/grhc/research-history/history-germans-russia. Accessed 18 May 2025.
Wiese, Owen. "The 89th Division, A Great Accomplishment ." https://www.garretsongazette.com/ . 29 Apr. 2020. www.garretsongazette.com/the-89th-division-a-great-accomplishment/. Accessed 18 May 2025.
English Jr, George H. History of the 89th Division, U.S.A. . 1st ed., 1920. Denver, The War Society of the 89th Division , 1920, pp. 1 - 544.
LEAD how this story ends is up to us
A TRUE STORY starring Merritt Wever, Alessandro Nivola & Cynthia Nixon.
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14:09 - [Ad] LEAD how this story ends is up to us
14:47 - (Cont.) Episode 234 - Freedom's Cost. A Memorial Day Tribute