By Michael D. Martin, E.C.P.D.
Retired
About the author...Michael Martin (pictured front row, far right in the 1981 photo) is a retired veteran of 25 years on the Eden City Police Department, and has penned a number of anecdotal writings recalling his experiences.
V. The Dehart BloodI am blood kin to every Dehart in America. I am A direct descendant of Aaron, who came with his brothers Elias, Ellijer and Gabriel to serve under the Marquis De Layfayette. These were soldiers in the army of Napoleon Bonaparte who came to America to fight with the rebels against the British Redcoats. They served with General George Washington and served under General Nathaniel Greene and down thru the ages,Dehart men have carried the middle name Greene. The first in our family to fall in the Civil War was young Greene Dehart, Killed in battle at Raleigh Courthouse in 1861. Young Jesse Greene Dehart fell along the Emmetsburg Road at Gettysburg in July of 1863 and recently, Billy Greene Dehart took part in the invasion of Okinawa and lived on Clarkway Drive. These men were all direct descendants of Aaron, as am I.
When the Americans went into battle against the British Redcoats, their regimental bands played "Yankee Doodle" When Poppa Aaron fixed his bayonet and stood in line of battle his bands were french, and played the beautiful " La Marseillaise" I wanted to hear it. I wanted to hear what Poppa heard when he charged the British Redcoats, so I went to my search engine and typed in the words...French anthem...I went to the second web page, it was French national anthem etc....I scrolled to the bottom of the page and there was a music icon, turn your speakers up as high as you can and hit the play button, the music is stirring to the soul.My little dog, Timothy was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana so I must believe he is a Cajun-Frenchman himself. He came running into the room and listened, I guess the music stirred the little bit of French blood in both of us.
Michael D. Martin