The Oldest Memorial Day Parade in Our Fair Republic

[Perknose]

. . . is in my lovely little town! My Dad loved Sousa marches. Nothing says a simpler time in our fair Republic than Sousa marches and a non-partisan but "patriotic" parade. Everyone loves a parade! Before radio, TV and the internet, there used to be little else for entertainment besides traveling raree shows and the occasional public hanging.

I went to a Memorial Day Concert by the Philly Pops Orchestra Saturday night. My date playfully challenged me as to why, given my politics, I stood and lustily sang along to God Bless America at its end:

Stand beside her and guide her

Truth be told, I was non-plussed for a moment while I considered my answer, which was that I stood and sang out of a true love of and deep appreciation for my country, despite her many, many flaws. And that I stood and sang in remembrance of every mother's son who sacrificed their lives out of citizen duty . . . for which they bravely and honorably gave "their last full measure of devotion," no matter the rightness or wrongness of the war they were sent to fight.

THIS sacrifice, and the pain of the loved ones they left behind, should never, ever, ever be trivialized or forgotten.

I said finally that I stood in full support of the soaring ideals -- THAT ALL MEN ARE CREATED EQUAL -- on which we were founded and that, in pursuit of which, we have spent the last nearly 250 years trying to live up to.

I'm . . . old. I grew up in a time and place that seems quaint and distant now, a time when Democrats and Republicans did not seem to consider each other traitors, when no one I knew had their patriotism questioned, for we were all Americans, forged, as our President John Fitzgerald Kennedy said in his inaugural address, in the "hard and bitter peace" of the Cold War, ready to "bear any burden," for we were still seen then, and indeed saw ourselves, as the leader of the Free World.

Naive? Sure. I don't care. But this idealized America, this welcoming America of inclusion -- "give me your tired and poor" -- is, and forever will be, the America I hold in my heart.

 

[Atreus21]

. . . is in my lovely little town! My Dad loved Sousa marches. Nothing says a simpler time in our fair Republic than Sousa marches and a non-partisan but "patriotic" parade. Everyone loves a parade! Before radio, TV and the internet, there used to be little else for entertainment besides traveling raree shows and the occasional public hanging.

I went to a Memorial Day Concert by the Philly Pops Orchestra Saturday night. My date playfully challenged me as to why, given my politics, I stood and lustily sang along to God Bless America at its end:

Stand beside her and guide her

Truth be told, I was non-plussed for a moment while I considered my answer, which was that I stood and sang out of a true love of and deep appreciation for my country, despite her many, many flaws. And that I stood and sang in remembrance of every mother's son who sacrificed their lives out of citizen duty . . . for which they bravely and honorably gave "their last full measure of devotion," no matter the rightness or wrongness of the war they were sent to fight.

THIS sacrifice, and the pain of the loved ones they left behind, should never, ever, ever be trivialized or forgotten.

I said finally that I stood in full support of the soaring ideals -- THAT ALL MEN ARE CREATED EQUAL -- on which we were founded and that, in pursuit of which, we have spent the last nearly 250 years trying to live up to.

I'm . . . old. I grew up in a time and place that seems quaint and distant now, a time when Democrats and Republicans did not seem to consider each other traitors, when no one I knew had their patriotism questioned, for we were all Americans, forged, as our President John Fitzgerald Kennedy said in his inaugural address, in the "hard and bitter peace" of the Cold War, ready to "bear any burden," for we were still seen then, and indeed saw ourselves, as the leader of the Free World.

Naive? Sure. I don't care. But this idealized America, this welcoming America of inclusion -- "give me your tired and poor" -- is, and forever will be, the America I hold in my heart.

Better idealism than cheap lazy cynicism. Bravo.

 

[stargazr]

I miss Doylestown.

 

[Starbuck1975]

Thank you @Perknose. This thread should be a sticky, as its a far better sentiment of what Memorial Day should be.

The American Legion was once very active in my town, and I fondly remember my grandfather (WW2) and uncles (Vietnam) marching on Memorial Day, followed by the local sports teams, first responders and an array of refurbished troop transports. Not surprising, it would essentially be the same parade on the 4th of July.

The high school marching band playing the same Sousa marches, without political statements or juvenile tribalism taking away from the sense of community. Occasionally, someone would make a speech at the town gazebo, but it was always to pay respect to those whose names adorned the various memorials.

I also remember the barbecue at the American Legion, where the veterans would retreat inside to smoke, play cards, drink hard liquor and talk about their fallen friends. They would never talk about their combat experience, or boast of heroics on the field of battle, despite many of them decorated for valor and injury. It was simple stories about the guys who didn’t make it home. My grandfather fought in the Pacific, and to this day I do not know how he earned the scars across his body, but I can point out every guy who didn’t make it home from his company photo.

 

[Perknose]

They would never talk about their combat experience, or boast of heroics on the field of battle, despite many of them decorated for valor and injury. It was simple stories about the guys who didn’t make it home. My grandfather fought in the Pacific, and to this day I do not know how he earned the scars across his body, but I can point out every guy who didn’t make it home from his company photo.

This above says it all.

 

[zinfamous]

Nice post, OP :beer:

Sounds lovely and neat but having endured marching band for about 4 years, when I was actually rather skilled at this sort of thing....I can honestly confirm that there isn't a worse sound in the world than anything by John Phillip Sousa. Oh god marching music...oh god. If you want to make someone hate music, make them play that crap.

 

[Homerboy]

Excellent post. I imagined you reading it in one of those old-timey voices with a clenched fist and a tear welling up in your eye.

 

[Victorian Gray]

Nice post, OP :beer:

Sounds lovely and neat but having endured marching band for about 4 years, when I was actually rather skilled at this sort of thing....I can honestly confirm that there isn't a worse sound in the world than anything by John Phillip Sousa. Oh god marching music...oh god. If you want to make someone hate music, make them play that crap.

*This* is marching music.

 

[zinfamous]

*This* is marching music.

well, that's the sound and music that bagpipes were designed to create. the other stuff that we call marching music, and what we do to our wind instruments and embouchure to make it....oh god.