In 2005, Ron Young of Downhome Inc. published the 234-page book Downhome Memories. In the “Downhome Dateline” entries, he included two items that were significant events in the history of Argentia, Newfoundland, and the world, in that order. However, both entries were complete fabrications.

The third entry at the bottom of page 44 reads:

February 13, 1941: The Stars and Stripes” was raised at fort Pepperill [sic] in St. John's — the first American Flag [sic] ever to officially fly above Newfoundland soil.

The third entry near the bottom of page 201 reads:

August 14, 1941: The Atlantic Charter was signed [sic] at Ship Cove [sic], Newfoundland by British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and American President Franklin Roosevelt.

Repudiation of Ron Young's Information

The two events cited by Ron Young were both high-profile and well documented. It is rather amazing, as well as baffling, as to why some writers and editors such as Young continue to publish their own distorted versions of Newfoundland history. It is obvious from the publication of such misconceptions and fabrications that basic and adequate research was grossly lacking.

When a detachment of 120 U.S. Marines arrived in Argentia on Saturday, January 25, 1941, they established a beachhead at Sandy Cove and immediately assumed security and policing duties for the entire leased area. Twenty days after their arrival, those U.S. Marines sponsored a flag raising ceremony to officially establish their presence in Newfoundland. The ceremony was held at lunchtime to allow as many construction workers as possible to attend. The flagpole site was at Black Point, northeast of where the U.S. Marine Barracks were to be constructed.

Black Point was chosen because the elevation of the land and the height of the flagpole meant the American flag could be seen from all areas of Argentia. It was a matter of American pride to have the Stars and Stripes in a symbolic position of dominance, especially in a foreign country. The prominent placement of the Stars and Stripes was the unmistakable sign to all ships entering Argentia inner harbour that they were in American territory. The ceremony was also intended to be a morale booster for the American construction workers and military men who were disillusioned by the severe winter weather.

On Thursday, February 13, 1941, at 12:00 p.m. the ceremony for the first American flag-raising began. Speeches were kept at a minimum because of the cold weather conditions. Even though the U.S. Marines initiated and conducted the flag raising ceremony, it was not a U.S. Marine who actually raised the first flag. The marines gave that honor to the highest-ranking serviceman in Argentia at the time. At exactly 12:21 p.m., Vice Admiral Arthur Leroy Bristol, USN, first raised the Stars and Stripes over Newfoundland soil.

Although that first flag-raising ceremony lasted less than half an hour, it was one of “pomp and circumstance,” with the U.S. Marine Color Guard in full-dress uniform. The official party was comprised of:

•  Vice Admiral Arthur L. Bristol, USN.

•  Major H. E. Deunkelberger, USMC, Commanding Officer, U.S. Marine Detachment.

•  Lieutenant F. B. Stephens, USN, SOPA.

•  Lieutenant (jg) Jay Silliman, USN, ROICC.

•  Lieutenant (jg) Edward Poole, USN.

•  Lieutenant (jg) Edward Quinn, USN.

•  Lieutenant Coykendall, USN.

•  Captain H. C. Gors, USMC.

•  Captain J. B. Baker, USMC.

•  Lieutenant P. M. Crossland, (MC), USN.

•  Father Adrian Dee, P.P.

•  Father Paul O'Reilly, D.D.

•  Father John Hunt, C.C.

•  Constable Ronald (Ron) Barrett

•  Constable James Healey

•  37 American civilian construction workers

•  50 to 60 Newfoundland construction workers

•  26 Argentia residents

The correct spelling of the U.S. Army facility in St. John's was Fort Pepperrell, not “Pepperill.”

As stated in other sections of this website, there is no such document — signed and sealed with wax — as the Atlantic Charter, yet, many writers, journalists, and other high-profile personalities continue to make references to “the Atlantic Charter, which was "signed" by Prime Minister Churchill and President Roosevelt.” The only items signed in Placentia Bay were several cards with an extract from the poem O Ship of State by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, and two 8-by-10 photographs.

The Atlantic Meeting took place in Argentia outer harbour, which was the mouth of Ship Harbour. It was nowhere near Ship Cove, a community on the Cape Shore, as stated in Downhome Memories. A little proof reading certainly would not have gone astray in that particular book!

The Atlantic Charter was made known to the world by public relations officials at the White House in Washington on Thursday, August 14, 1941. Prime Minister Churchill and President Roosevelt were not even close to Argentia by that date, as they left the area on Tuesday, August 12. 1941. Refer to “History in the Making” in Misconceptions and Fabrications Propagated by Jim Wellman for more specific details pertaining to the Atlantic Meeting of August 1941. Refer to Misconceptions and Fabrications of Fox Harbour Residents to view a copy of the card that President Roosevelt and Prime Minister Churchill signed.