A recent observance of the sinking of the USS Maine on February 15, 1898 (which led to the formation of the organization which is now known as the Veterans of Foreign War) was held at the VFW Post 3278 in Brownwood.

At the beginning of 1898 the United States and Spain were involved in a dispute over the liberation of the island of Cuba, which was a possession of Spain. The United States wanted Spain to grant independence to the island, especially because of the brutal treatment of the Cuban revolutionaries by the Spanish military.

In January 1898 there was a great deal of unrest and rioting in Havana. The United States feared for the lives of U.S. citizens who were in Cuba during this period. The U.S. decided to send the battleship USS Maine from Key West, Fla., to Havana to protect U.S. citizens from harm.

The Maine arrived on Jan. 25 in Havana Harbor, and the presence of the ship seemed to have a calming influence on the situation. However, on Feb. 15 the Maine was attacked in the harbor with a loss of 266 crewmen. The cause was thought to be a mine placed near the magazine of the ship. This incident was one of the chief causes of the Spanish-American War, which erupted on April 3, 1898, and ultimately resulted with the independence of Cuba. Special memorial programs are held by the VFW to honor those comrades who served in our Nations cause in the Spanish-American War and especially those veterans of the Spanish-American War who formed the Veterans of Foreign Wars 111 years ago.

Above is a popular news print of the times.

Pictured above:  Commander King and Chaplin Phelps listen as SR.V Commander reads the history behind the sinking of the Maine and the results from it.

The Post, Auxiliary Members, and the quests look on during the observance.