Sacred Heart Professor Speaks On Fairfield History For 375th Anniversary

FAIRFIELD, Conn. -- To commemorate Fairfield’s 375th anniversary this year, as well as Sacred Heart University’s 50th anniversary, residents enjoyed a talk on how American warfare has shaped the town, from the Pequot War to present day.

Sacred Heart Professor Jennifer McLaughlin discusses Fairfield's involvement in major american wars and conflicts.
Photo Credit: *Mike Lauterborn*

Joe Jenkins

06/16/2014 4:00 a.m.

The talk was delivered recently by Jennifer McLaughlin, professor of American history at Sacred Heart University.

Through the lecture, titled “A Call to Arms: War and Commemoration in Fairfield from the Pequot War to the Memorial Day Parade,” McLaughlin spotlighted the most significant American conflicts over the past 375-plus years and provided comments about the level of town involvement, how residents were impacted and how events were memorialized going forward.

A lifelong Fairfield resident with children who are seventh-generation Fairfielders, McLaughlin noted that Fairfield was founded in 1639 by Roger Ludlow and fellow European settlers fleeing west from skirmishes with the Pequot Indians. Ludlow was impressed with the local landscape, which was full of fields and had direct ocean access.

McLaughlin went on to further discuss Fairfield and its involvement in several other major american conflicts, including the most recent in Iraq and Afghanistan.

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