This past Memorial Day an event took place in my home town where Dr. Otto was honored. To let other descendants know about it, I wrote the following for publication in the July 2011 quarterly newsletter of the Dr. Bodo Association.
As descendants of Dr. Bodo Otto, Sr. a part of each of us turns 300 years old on July 20. That is the day our ancestor was born in Hanover, Germany. His DNA is part of each of us all these years later and will be 300 years from now when our descendants mark his 600th birthday.
Three hundred years is a very long time – yet it is but a grain of sand in the hourglass of time.
To put his life in perspective, he was born 103 years after the settlement in Jamestown, Virginia was established and 91 years after the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth, Massachusetts. Coming to the Colonies in 1755, he found a world vastly different than the one we know today. Five years after his arrival, Philadelphia, with a population of 23,800 people, was the largest city in the country. My suburban Chicago community is larger than that today.
The Berks County Historical Society commemorated his birth with the publication of an article written by Nikki Elizabeth Jones. Nikki is the daughter of Bodo Association Recording Secretary Rita Otto Jones. It is a wonderful article. Nikki included a quote that relevant to us. That quote appeared on page 940 in The History of Berks County Pennsylvania published by Everts, Peck, and Richards in 1886. The author, Morton L Montgomery, wrote of Dr. Otto:
"Next to Washington, Gates, Mifflin, Wayne and other leading Generals, Dr. Bodo Otto, of Reading, Pa, occupies a prominence and rendered useful service equal to any other man who was engaged in the great cause of the Revolution, not on the field of battle, leading his fellowmen into danger and death, amongst the Hospitals, as a Senior Surgeon, carrying for, and administering to the sick, wounded and dying soldiers. And yet his name is not mentioned in history."
The flag proudly flew for five days in front of a mighty tree and alongside the main pathway where everyone could see the dedication.
One morning a fierce storm blew though the park. It snapped those 1,901 flag to attention and began bending the poles toward the ground. As I and several others stood together under the tent, wet to our knees from the blowing rain, I thought of Dr. Otto and all those who have served our country and suffered through the elements, including that cold winter at Valley Forge. His flag along with the rest withstood the storm and falling branches unscathed. Somewhat reminiscent of the country our ancestor fought to establish.
During a sunset ceremony one evening, the pastor of one of our local churches spoke about keeping memories alive. He told the story of how he felt when someone once said to him, "your daughter must have been very close to your father because she speaks of him with such reverence." The pastor went on to say that keeping memories alive is the job of each one of us and that he was glad to know that he did his job well – especially since his father had died 13 years before his daughter was born.
Last year, Mike and I brought our six-year-old grandson to the Bodo Otto Reunion. He had a wonderful time with his young cousins and it made a lasting impression on him. When he and his sister visited the Field of Honor they honored Dr. Bodo Otto and their great-grandfather, who also had a dedicated flag flying, by placing a small flag at the base of the flagpoles. When I asked him after the event which flag he wanted he unhesitatingly said, "I want Bodo Otto's flag."
I tell you these stories because they illustrate the power we each have to keep hiSTORY alive. Thank you Nikki for unleashing your power – with your story you will reach thousands.
You've seen what my family did to celebrate the birth of Dr. Bodo Otto, Sr. Now, what are YOU going to do to celebrate his 300th birthday?
As his 6th great granddaughter I am proud to say, Happy Birthday Grossvater Bodo!
As descendants of Dr. Bodo Otto, Sr. a part of each of us turns 300 years old on July 20. That is the day our ancestor was born in Hanover, Germany. His DNA is part of each of us all these years later and will be 300 years from now when our descendants mark his 600th birthday.
Portrait of Dr. Bodo Otto hanging in Trinity Church, Reading, Pennsylvania
Three hundred years is a very long time – yet it is but a grain of sand in the hourglass of time.
To put his life in perspective, he was born 103 years after the settlement in Jamestown, Virginia was established and 91 years after the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth, Massachusetts. Coming to the Colonies in 1755, he found a world vastly different than the one we know today. Five years after his arrival, Philadelphia, with a population of 23,800 people, was the largest city in the country. My suburban Chicago community is larger than that today.
The Berks County Historical Society commemorated his birth with the publication of an article written by Nikki Elizabeth Jones. Nikki is the daughter of Bodo Association Recording Secretary Rita Otto Jones. It is a wonderful article. Nikki included a quote that relevant to us. That quote appeared on page 940 in The History of Berks County Pennsylvania published by Everts, Peck, and Richards in 1886. The author, Morton L Montgomery, wrote of Dr. Otto:
"Next to Washington, Gates, Mifflin, Wayne and other leading Generals, Dr. Bodo Otto, of Reading, Pa, occupies a prominence and rendered useful service equal to any other man who was engaged in the great cause of the Revolution, not on the field of battle, leading his fellowmen into danger and death, amongst the Hospitals, as a Senior Surgeon, carrying for, and administering to the sick, wounded and dying soldiers. And yet his name is not mentioned in history."
Dr. Bodo Otto's compass on display in a Pentagon Museum exhibit. Photo used with permission.
Old Barracks Hospital in Trenton, New Jersey
Ruins of Yellow Springs Hospital
in Chester Springs, Pennsylvania
As his descendants it is up to us to continually remind history" about hiSTORY so that his contribution to the founding of this country is not forgotten. To that end, I sponsored a flag in our community's Memorial Day Field of Honor.
The flag proudly flew for five days in front of a mighty tree and alongside the main pathway where everyone could see the dedication.
One morning a fierce storm blew though the park. It snapped those 1,901 flag to attention and began bending the poles toward the ground. As I and several others stood together under the tent, wet to our knees from the blowing rain, I thought of Dr. Otto and all those who have served our country and suffered through the elements, including that cold winter at Valley Forge. His flag along with the rest withstood the storm and falling branches unscathed. Somewhat reminiscent of the country our ancestor fought to establish.
As chairman of the event, I was asked on several occasions if I knew anything about the Revolutionary War era dedication to Dr. Bodo Otto. Of course, I was happy to explain hiSTORY to all who asked.
During a sunset ceremony one evening, the pastor of one of our local churches spoke about keeping memories alive. He told the story of how he felt when someone once said to him, "your daughter must have been very close to your father because she speaks of him with such reverence." The pastor went on to say that keeping memories alive is the job of each one of us and that he was glad to know that he did his job well – especially since his father had died 13 years before his daughter was born.
Last year, Mike and I brought our six-year-old grandson to the Bodo Otto Reunion. He had a wonderful time with his young cousins and it made a lasting impression on him. When he and his sister visited the Field of Honor they honored Dr. Bodo Otto and their great-grandfather, who also had a dedicated flag flying, by placing a small flag at the base of the flagpoles. When I asked him after the event which flag he wanted he unhesitatingly said, "I want Bodo Otto's flag."
I tell you these stories because they illustrate the power we each have to keep hiSTORY alive. Thank you Nikki for unleashing your power – with your story you will reach thousands.You've seen what my family did to celebrate the birth of Dr. Bodo Otto, Sr. Now, what are YOU going to do to celebrate his 300th birthday?
As his 6th great granddaughter I am proud to say, Happy Birthday Grossvater Bodo!
