Wash., DC, National Memorial Day Parade

[Stickbug]

This is a short message in a higher profile area, directing you to a thread we've posted in the Event Announcements Forum.

http://www.cwreenactors.com/forum/showthread.php?t=81

If you are already committed to a unit and a parade on that day, please keep your word with them.

However, if you're free and can attend the National Memorial Day Parade with us, we'd be very pleased to have you among our company to honor those who gave "the last full measure of devotion."

I will underscore two points:

1) EAT BREAKFAST

2) BRING WATER, much more than a canteen full. Present forecast calls for 85 degrees. Let's have enough and to spare.

I got a call today from the Pentagon Channel, which broadcasts worldwide, asking us for details on our company. It is quite an honor to be part of this thing.

All for the Union,

Doug
aka Stickbug

[Gary]

Boy, was I off scheduled. I was in Washington in the last days of April. I should have scheduled myself in late May. It would have been wonderful to see a Memorial Day Parade in Washington. Have fun and don't dehydrate.

[Remise]

Too bad you could not make it. Next year we will start talking about this event much sooner, as we are hoping to put a battalion, not a company, in the parade.

B.C. Milligan
First Penna. Reserves, Company K

[Remise]

Maybe we will look slightly like these guys.

[Stickbug]

Note the slant that their rifles all have over the left shoulder?

We should print this out and bring it along with us...

[Remise]

Not only that, but if you march that way, it is a lot more comfortable. Since this photo has been around for -- oops -- almost 140 years, you would think that reenactors would emulate it, when they go to "right shoulder shift!"

B.C. Milligan
Company K, First Penna. Reserves

[cblodg]

Note the slant that their rifles all have over the left shoulder?

We should print this out and bring it along with us...

Uh.. that would be right shoulder. And yes, we should all attempt to have this kind of slant. It never fails, even after showing someone period images, and even sketches from the manuals, they still want it straight up and down!

Chris

[Stickbug]

Please note the updates to the thread linked above. Hope some of you will drop me a line and join us in DC on Monday.

Cheerz!

Doug

[Stickbug]

Brief AAR on DC's National Memorial Day Parade:

Despite the first broiling day of the season, we had a fair number of stout souls show up for our little stroll down Constitution Ave. in DC.

Negotiating DC streets is one thing. Close off half a dozen and it gets pretty wierd. Add in a few "no left turn" signs and we wandered around for the better part of a half hour before we got to park on Penn. Ave. At least the lads in my car got to see the sights in the big city.

We got everyone out of the car and onto the sidewalk, suited up and got our flags squared away. It was about a mile hike to our assembly point so it took us a bit longer to get there than I'd anticipated. But we made it with about a half hour to spare before things began to crank up.

As we walked up to our assembly area there was a marching band from a well known military academy beside us. A tall African-American boy said, "Hey, look, here come the Continental soldiers!" I stopped dead and fixed him with an icy stare and barked, "Who's your history teacher?" He looked taken aback, so I repeated myself and he answered, "Why, I don't have one!" I responded, "It shows!" and flashed him a grin. He grinned back and all his friends around him gave him a hard time and beat on him. It was a nice moment. I doubt he ever mistakes Federals for Continentals again.

Our assigned muster spot was among the equestrian parade elements, so we got to have shade and there was plenty of water being handed out by the staff. Due to a parade staff snafu they misdirected a few of our boys to the SUV parade element down the street. We missed them, but we managed to soldier on. I regret that I only got one picture of anything in the day, and it wasn't even of us. I was so busy making sure that everything was attended to that I forgot to take pictures. Not like me at all!

The turn out of spectators along the route of march was enormous, MUCH bigger than last year and VERY enthusiastic in their applause as we marched along. The parade announcer even got most of the script right that we sent in to them.

I have to give our crew high marks for learning how to wheel as a color guard on very short notice. We looked pretty smart, if I do say so myself. Being the center flag bearer I set the cadence and for once enjoyed not being out of step once in the whole parade. <g>

We made the trip down the parade route in about an hour. Wound up near the White House on the Elipse, then swung right onto Pennsylvania Ave. to rest up a bit and watch a few other elements of the parade come past. There was one unit that sticks in memory, they were from Cody, Wyoming and they had a contingent of blondes in deerskin minidresses with lots of fringe. Not sure how they got the blonde Indians... <shaking my head in wonderment>

One of my guys was borderline heat exhaustion so we got him watered down, cooled off and back to the car and into A/C asap. We decided not to stick around for the rest of the parade and tried to make our way out of town. It turned out to be as hard to get out of town as it was to get in but we managed.

Notes for next year:

-Begin beating the drum for participation earlier and more loudly. We had about 8-12 guys no show for various reasons. It was a privelage to participate and we'd like to spread that thrill around.

-Start heading down to DC earlier in the day so we can enjoy walking along the parade elements and talk to some of the veterans, etc.

-Make sure that everyone is swilling more water well ahead of time to cut down on heat related risks.

-Make sure that I have a little more pre-parade training for my young fellows so we're not so rushed on the day.

What went right:

-Cell phone numbers being shared widely. Being able to talk to each other was a godsend.

-Carrying extra water and using it liberally.

-Having a designated rally site outside the city at White Flint Mall. (Outside Dave and Busters, top deck of the parking lot in the back of the mall.) (We've also got one set up in Falls Church, Va. across from Bob Mosher's house for next year as well.)

Lastly, a big thank you to all who gave of themselves and their time to be there today. A special thanks to BC Milligan for his encouragement and drive as a recruiter, and to Marc Hermann and Shaun Grennan for bringing a special color to our little band.

It was a privelage and honor and we hope to expand this effort in the coming years to give due honor to the "Boys of '61".

Doug aka Stickbug

[TimKindred]

Comrades,.

Indeed, Please do start things up early. I'll pass it along to the events schedular, and see if we can't get a better crew down to support you.

Respects,