Coach Roy's Random Thoughts....
On Decoration Day
When I was growing up in a little town on Long Island, the big event of the Spring was the Memorial Day Parade.
At one point, after I got back from Viet Nam, I even got to be the organizer of the parade, coordinating the actions of the American Legion Post, the Fire Department, Little League teams, Scouts and 4 Bands! Not bad for a town of about 10,000 souls.
The highlight of the event was when my Uncle Herbie played taps [he usually was the echo] at the Veteran's Memorial. There were usually 2 or 3,000 people in that park - the police had to shut down the main street, and it took quite a while for the traffic to clear up - it was a holiday after all.
Of course, this was all back when Memorial Day was celebrated on May 30th, the traditional "Decoration Day" from the Civil War.
Yesterday there was another Memorial Day ceremony in our little town. Not sure how many people showed up, I'd guess less than a thousand. Maybe its that last weekend was the start of the "beach season," maybe its the number of organizations who feel they have to put their stamp on the ceremony, maybe there are still a lot of folks who feel guilty about their lack of support back during Viet Nam - I don't know, and frankly I don't care now.
I'll probably walk over to the local memorial later today and see whos names are up on the monument. Tonight, we'll honor the memory of those men at the first practice of the American Legion Baseball team, last year's Delaware State Champs. I think the Legion team here does much to honor those who fought and died so we can still play our American game.
What did Whitman say? Baseball will be our salvation?
I know that High School and Legion games are the only events in town where the Star Spangled Banner is played regularly once Football is over. That's a shame too.
At one point, after I got back from Viet Nam, I even got to be the organizer of the parade, coordinating the actions of the American Legion Post, the Fire Department, Little League teams, Scouts and 4 Bands! Not bad for a town of about 10,000 souls.
The highlight of the event was when my Uncle Herbie played taps [he usually was the echo] at the Veteran's Memorial. There were usually 2 or 3,000 people in that park - the police had to shut down the main street, and it took quite a while for the traffic to clear up - it was a holiday after all.
Of course, this was all back when Memorial Day was celebrated on May 30th, the traditional "Decoration Day" from the Civil War.
Yesterday there was another Memorial Day ceremony in our little town. Not sure how many people showed up, I'd guess less than a thousand. Maybe its that last weekend was the start of the "beach season," maybe its the number of organizations who feel they have to put their stamp on the ceremony, maybe there are still a lot of folks who feel guilty about their lack of support back during Viet Nam - I don't know, and frankly I don't care now.
I'll probably walk over to the local memorial later today and see whos names are up on the monument. Tonight, we'll honor the memory of those men at the first practice of the American Legion Baseball team, last year's Delaware State Champs. I think the Legion team here does much to honor those who fought and died so we can still play our American game.
What did Whitman say? Baseball will be our salvation?
I know that High School and Legion games are the only events in town where the Star Spangled Banner is played regularly once Football is over. That's a shame too.
Comments