Yoda
Member
Anyone interested in joining me in advocating for Florida to adopt the US Model 1892 Krag as its official state rifle?
I think a strong case can be made that Florida has had a special historical relationship with this handsome-looking rifle. More importantly, designating the Krag as the state rifle can support several important educational goals that are unique to Florida.
Although the Krag only served with the US Army for a few years, it welded together the histories of Florida, Cuba, and Puerto Rico. For example, during the Spanish-American War, when Teddy Roosevelt’s Rough Riders camped in Tampa and then embarked to liberate Cuba, they carried Krags. They carried those Krags during their famous Charge on San Juan Hill and then throughout follow-on actions across the island.
Some historians maintain that the Spanish-American War helped heal the lingering north-south divide that followed the US Civil War, and here, too, the Krag played a role. The soldiers who sojourned in Florida then fought together in Cuba were drawn from all parts of the US, with Northerners and Southerners serving side-by-side as brothers in arms, and most carrying Krags.
In addition, the Krag-armed post-war occupation forces in Cuba included the Black Ninth Infantry Regiment, a testament to the long and honorable military service performed by Blacks while seeking full recognition of their civil rights.
The Krag’s part in the Spanish American War should be sufficient reason to designate it the state firearm, as that war was the first one in which the State of Florida played a major role.
However, the Krag can also be used to support a number of other important teaching points when in Florida and US history classes.
For example, as Krag-carrying soldiers advanced across Cuba, fast boats carried dispatches from Cuba to Key West so they could be quickly telegraphed to Washington DC. This can be used to illustrate the rapid evolution of transportation and communications technology in the US at the turn of the century. It can also help demonstrate the value of Florida’s infrastructure to its participation in international affairs.
Krags were also used by US troops farther overseas, most notably in the Philippines. While the US role in the Far East at the turn of the century remains controversial, the Krag can be used as a starting point to explore the debates of that time regarding the wisdom of an expanded US role in global affairs and the morality of colonial possessions. Despite the cry to “Civilize ‘em with a Krag,” our nation should take pride in the fact that we promised independence to Cuba and the Philippines, and we ultimately honored those promises.
And finally, it must be admitted that the rifle was not a perfect military arm. The smokeless-powder Mausers and Spitzer bullets used by the Spanish were far superior, and those Spanish guns forced US troops to quickly improvise more flexible tactics and demand better weapons (ultimately resulting in the famous Model 1903 Springfield). Thus, any students who might study this aspect of the Krag’s history could also learn something about the value of technological superiority and sound military tactics. (I admit few teachers would want to pursue this subject, but any students who looked into it would be better prepared for future discussions on national security.)
So, how about it? Will you support an effort to designate the Krag as the State Firearm of Florida? It will cost nothing, it can teach something, and it could be fun! And the Krag's older, classical looks won’t draw “evil assault gun” criticisms.
I think a strong case can be made that Florida has had a special historical relationship with this handsome-looking rifle. More importantly, designating the Krag as the state rifle can support several important educational goals that are unique to Florida.
Although the Krag only served with the US Army for a few years, it welded together the histories of Florida, Cuba, and Puerto Rico. For example, during the Spanish-American War, when Teddy Roosevelt’s Rough Riders camped in Tampa and then embarked to liberate Cuba, they carried Krags. They carried those Krags during their famous Charge on San Juan Hill and then throughout follow-on actions across the island.
Some historians maintain that the Spanish-American War helped heal the lingering north-south divide that followed the US Civil War, and here, too, the Krag played a role. The soldiers who sojourned in Florida then fought together in Cuba were drawn from all parts of the US, with Northerners and Southerners serving side-by-side as brothers in arms, and most carrying Krags.
In addition, the Krag-armed post-war occupation forces in Cuba included the Black Ninth Infantry Regiment, a testament to the long and honorable military service performed by Blacks while seeking full recognition of their civil rights.
The Krag’s part in the Spanish American War should be sufficient reason to designate it the state firearm, as that war was the first one in which the State of Florida played a major role.
However, the Krag can also be used to support a number of other important teaching points when in Florida and US history classes.
For example, as Krag-carrying soldiers advanced across Cuba, fast boats carried dispatches from Cuba to Key West so they could be quickly telegraphed to Washington DC. This can be used to illustrate the rapid evolution of transportation and communications technology in the US at the turn of the century. It can also help demonstrate the value of Florida’s infrastructure to its participation in international affairs.
Krags were also used by US troops farther overseas, most notably in the Philippines. While the US role in the Far East at the turn of the century remains controversial, the Krag can be used as a starting point to explore the debates of that time regarding the wisdom of an expanded US role in global affairs and the morality of colonial possessions. Despite the cry to “Civilize ‘em with a Krag,” our nation should take pride in the fact that we promised independence to Cuba and the Philippines, and we ultimately honored those promises.
And finally, it must be admitted that the rifle was not a perfect military arm. The smokeless-powder Mausers and Spitzer bullets used by the Spanish were far superior, and those Spanish guns forced US troops to quickly improvise more flexible tactics and demand better weapons (ultimately resulting in the famous Model 1903 Springfield). Thus, any students who might study this aspect of the Krag’s history could also learn something about the value of technological superiority and sound military tactics. (I admit few teachers would want to pursue this subject, but any students who looked into it would be better prepared for future discussions on national security.)
So, how about it? Will you support an effort to designate the Krag as the State Firearm of Florida? It will cost nothing, it can teach something, and it could be fun! And the Krag's older, classical looks won’t draw “evil assault gun” criticisms.
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