You don't have to practice to be miserable
Observations on Memorial Day by an old paratrooper
My son, who serves his country as a thrice-deployed soldier in the United States Army Reserve, upon seeing a plethora of Memorial Day activities which were somewhat divergent from the original Memorial Day intent, correctly observed that, “Memorial Day is the day for the ones who came back in a box.” Taking paternal liberties, I am adding one further category which is: those who came home sans box, but succumb to that condition due to grevious bodily harm incurred in the service of their county.
Those thoughts re-circulated in my gray matter as I observed and photographed a Memorial Day program at Bellwood Cemetery, May 25, 2014, here in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. Here are 14 pictures of that event. The gallery automatically advances every 10 seconds. See the story and featured pictures that go with this gallery at Corndancer dot-com.
 |
-
The original intent was to photograph this formation from the Black Pilots of America flyover of the program. After I saw what was going to transpire, I decided to stick around.
After the formation shots, I whirled around to snap the crowd watching the airplanes do their deed.
I took a break during the National Anthem to snap the crowd as they warbled the Grand Old Hymn. I detected a good baritone and a mezzo soprano in the crowd who were belting it out.
The Second Arkansas Infantry reenactment group was the honor guard for the event. When I saw their two artillery pieces, I decided to stick around.
These folks are volunteers who keep a part of American History living for new generations.
The temperature and humidity were high, a set of conditions not ideal for people wearing authentic woolen clothing and uniforms of the Civil War era. It was about this time that I decided to repair to a nearby shade tree until the action started. In doing so, I remembered what members of my former military unit said under similar circumstances, "you don't have to practice to be miserable."
Seated under the shade tree, I was in the company of fallen bretheren. I thanked them for their service and current hospitality.
They rest eternally at "dress right, dress and are recipients of tree ignonimous tree droppings.
My view of the ceremonies. After I saw that a wreath would be placed for evey American war along with appropriate commentary, was when I sought shade. I think they were on the War of 1812 then, and the sun was working on me.
After I had been in the shade a while, I was joined by one of the reenactors who said he was right before passing out. Shortly after he arrived, a member of the American Legion brought him some water. I noted that courtesy was not offered to the photographer.
After the war recitations and wreath placement, a motor cycle group ringed the flag three times as their recognition for the day.
There were women reenactors as well. Three of those were dressed in period widow garb. My hat is off to them as well as the soldiers. Their "uncomfort" level had to be off the chart. They are offering some sort of gesture with their hands which is a mystery to me.
The big moment was here. The guys fired their weapons.
Then the artillery blasted. Fortunately they fired three times. By the third time, I had the commanders firing command sequence down and depressed the shutter at the right time. Sometimes you just get lucky.
 |