LeonardLawrence
11-12-07, 04:45 PM
Attended ourVeterans day parade in the State Capitol of NY (Albany).
I found myself with some mixed feelings as I watched with my two girls and thought I would share them. It is kinda personal so if you are not interested this is a good place to stop.
I put them in bullet form, so feel free to comment or not, however you see fit. I also added a pic of my girls who had the best seat in the house for the parade. The older stood at the POA for the passing of the colors!
Act of Heroism:
The beginning of the parade was the local police. The have a pretty impressive mounted unit. One of the two horses on parade decided to defecate in the middle of the street, in the middle of the parade route, in the middle of the everything. One of the neighbors immediately stated "We can't have that" and he scooped up the mess and saved the marchers, sailors, Marines and dignitaries from the mess. This was the first time that my allergies acted up for the day. Not the act, but the thought that this guy cared enough to clear the way.
Gold Star Mothers:
One vehicle pass in review. Second time my allergies acted up. Should you wave? should you clap? It all seemed so surreal to me, but at the same time VERY real, when you think about the sacrifices made. No action could make up for the loss of a child....
Blue Star Mothers:
Group of fathers and mothers, passing in review. Same surrealness. Same pride, same allergies. A wave and a smile was all I produced. Luckily my oldest saved the day with her princess waves.
War Protestors:
Not suprisingly no allergies here. I initally noticed a couple walking past us to the beginning of the parade. They were holding a sign that said "We support those who are damaged because of the war". Okay, Sentiment was semi-commital, maybe non appropriate. I am a believer that Anti war doesn't mean Anti American...although I wish they would shut up so we could win....and then they could complain. The the parase started and I realized it was a section of Veterans for Peace. I still am working out my feelings on this. I won't tell a former Army LT from WW2 or a soldier that lost his legs that he cannot say his piece. I am definitely for freedom of speech, but why do I wish they hadn't been part of it. It wasn't just the fact that there was an ugly side. Disabled vets were in the parade...without the signs. There was a sign that implied the war was related to 1930's Facism. Lucky the little one's were there....not saying I would have brawled....but.....well.... Irritated, I guess.
Colors:
Um, there were alot of colors passing. We stood at POA for the main, but I am sure we missed a few due to keeping kids out of the road. Is there an exemption for that? I will say three hail mary's and four Chesty Pullers and call it even on that one. Luckily my older girl can spot the Marine Corps Colors from a distance.
Marines...and all the rest.
Was pleased to see dress blues. SSGT and three Lance Cpls. Looked very sharp with bearing. Army was unimpressive, nothing notable, nothing bad. Sailors pulling up the rear were scratching, itching and adjusting their snoopy bowls. Expected. No offense to any Docs here, but is there drill in boot camp, hello?
Women's Memorial.
Sadly women veterans were underepresented. I know statistically and all that, but ladies come on! My only thought was that they were smarter than the men and got out of parade duty. If this is the case I won't be wearing a wig and standing in for you next year. Please say this isn't the case.
http://www.veterans.state.ny.us/womenvetsmemorial.htm
To make up for it we went to the Womens Veterans Memorial (above link) attached to the Korean War Memorial. We spent some time walking around and talking in 4 year old terms about woman Marines ...and the rest....and the Korean war. Would be nice to see a sprinkling next time of more ladies. Maybe with camouflage faces? (J/kidding, kinda).
Ladies. come on. my kids need role models outside the home too!
Anyway...enough rambling. If you read this far I will send you a check for $100 on the second Tuesday of next week. I am sure we lost folks at hello. :)
I found myself with some mixed feelings as I watched with my two girls and thought I would share them. It is kinda personal so if you are not interested this is a good place to stop.
I put them in bullet form, so feel free to comment or not, however you see fit. I also added a pic of my girls who had the best seat in the house for the parade. The older stood at the POA for the passing of the colors!
Act of Heroism:
The beginning of the parade was the local police. The have a pretty impressive mounted unit. One of the two horses on parade decided to defecate in the middle of the street, in the middle of the parade route, in the middle of the everything. One of the neighbors immediately stated "We can't have that" and he scooped up the mess and saved the marchers, sailors, Marines and dignitaries from the mess. This was the first time that my allergies acted up for the day. Not the act, but the thought that this guy cared enough to clear the way.
Gold Star Mothers:
One vehicle pass in review. Second time my allergies acted up. Should you wave? should you clap? It all seemed so surreal to me, but at the same time VERY real, when you think about the sacrifices made. No action could make up for the loss of a child....
Blue Star Mothers:
Group of fathers and mothers, passing in review. Same surrealness. Same pride, same allergies. A wave and a smile was all I produced. Luckily my oldest saved the day with her princess waves.
War Protestors:
Not suprisingly no allergies here. I initally noticed a couple walking past us to the beginning of the parade. They were holding a sign that said "We support those who are damaged because of the war". Okay, Sentiment was semi-commital, maybe non appropriate. I am a believer that Anti war doesn't mean Anti American...although I wish they would shut up so we could win....and then they could complain. The the parase started and I realized it was a section of Veterans for Peace. I still am working out my feelings on this. I won't tell a former Army LT from WW2 or a soldier that lost his legs that he cannot say his piece. I am definitely for freedom of speech, but why do I wish they hadn't been part of it. It wasn't just the fact that there was an ugly side. Disabled vets were in the parade...without the signs. There was a sign that implied the war was related to 1930's Facism. Lucky the little one's were there....not saying I would have brawled....but.....well.... Irritated, I guess.
Colors:
Um, there were alot of colors passing. We stood at POA for the main, but I am sure we missed a few due to keeping kids out of the road. Is there an exemption for that? I will say three hail mary's and four Chesty Pullers and call it even on that one. Luckily my older girl can spot the Marine Corps Colors from a distance.
Marines...and all the rest.
Was pleased to see dress blues. SSGT and three Lance Cpls. Looked very sharp with bearing. Army was unimpressive, nothing notable, nothing bad. Sailors pulling up the rear were scratching, itching and adjusting their snoopy bowls. Expected. No offense to any Docs here, but is there drill in boot camp, hello?
Women's Memorial.
Sadly women veterans were underepresented. I know statistically and all that, but ladies come on! My only thought was that they were smarter than the men and got out of parade duty. If this is the case I won't be wearing a wig and standing in for you next year. Please say this isn't the case.
http://www.veterans.state.ny.us/womenvetsmemorial.htm
To make up for it we went to the Womens Veterans Memorial (above link) attached to the Korean War Memorial. We spent some time walking around and talking in 4 year old terms about woman Marines ...and the rest....and the Korean war. Would be nice to see a sprinkling next time of more ladies. Maybe with camouflage faces? (J/kidding, kinda).
Ladies. come on. my kids need role models outside the home too!
Anyway...enough rambling. If you read this far I will send you a check for $100 on the second Tuesday of next week. I am sure we lost folks at hello. :)