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Remembering the Denby Christmas Tree: A Look Back at a Formal Christmas Celebrated by Secretary of the Navy Edwin Denby and His Son

Published December 6, 2012

Take a look back at a formal Christmas celebrated by Secretary of the Navy Edwin Denby and his son. See the photo of the Denby Christmas tree and learn the tragic story of Edwin Denby, Jr.

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The family below is celebrating, what appears to be, a very formal Christmas. Look how stiff the father is … he happens to be Edwin Denby, Secretary of the Navy. The 10-year-old boy in this photo — super excited to get the rifle — is Edwin Denby, Jr. On February 11th, 1942, he was killed when his submarine, the USS Shark, was hit by a depth charge and sunk.

Washington, D.C., circa 1922. "Denby Christmas tree." Junior remembers this as the best Christmas ever! His gun-giving dad is Secretary of the Navy Edwin Denby. National Photo Company glass negative. — Washington, D.C., circa 1922. “Denby Christmas tree.” Junior remembers this as the best Christmas ever! His gun-giving dad is Secretary of the Navy Edwin Denby. National Photo Company glass negative.

Posted in Faces & Places of Yesterday
and tagged 1920s, Christmas, Secretary of the Navy

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