So here we are seventeen years later, almost to the day.
Well one month shy of seventeen years but who's counting. The odd thing I
noticed just now is the date. It is actually 9:10 am on 11/12/13. Exactly seventeen years since I started the Fire Department. What does
this have to do with Veteran's Day? Absolutely nothing! (as I digress).
Veteran's Day started
like it has since 2006. I woke up and threw on the band kilt. You see when we
started the bag pipe and drum band we made kind of a pact (for lack of a better
term) the first parade we would march in as a band would be Veteran's Day. So
2006 was the band's first parade. Anyway a story for another time; let's get
back to 2013.
The house was a buzz as my youngest had a sleep over the
night before. The plan was for them to come down and watch the parade. So I'm
sure you can imagine the request for different foods from two 10 year old
girls, 12 year old boy, two adults, and a ten month old Saint Bernard. This of
course is not to mention the 19 year old still sleeping. Kind of a cluster but
apparently that's what I like. If we
don't start our day with turmoil something is wrong. So after everything calmed
down just a hair I head out of the house. I'm a little later than I wanted as I
know I have to retune my chanter because the reed is rather squirrely. The sky was
crystal clear and the sun was warm like many years past. I stood for a moment
in the driveway looking like Timothy Green.
The ceremony began with us playing a slow air for the
members of my department lost in the Strand Theater fire of 1941 (Another story for another time), followed
by the high school band and their incredible rendition of The National Anthem.
I really can't say enough to give you the idea how amazing these kids are. Pure
perfection every time out. The ceremony went off without a hitch. The
amphitheater behind city hall was chock full of people wearing or holding the
American flag. I would estimate that there was anywhere from four to five hundred people there, all
of them to thank our veterans. The local VFW played taps and volleyed off
the shots of remembrance. Now it was time for us to play again. Once again, as
many times before, we would play Amazing Grace. The way we play it is the same
as fire and police bands across the nation. One solo piper will start and play
it once. Then with a dramatic entrance which we refer to as the attack, the
entire band chimes in. At this point I play a different version than the rest
of the pipers. This causes harmonies creating tone change to help invoke
emotion. At the end of the round I play the final solo. I play it straight but
walk away. The walk away allows the music to fade off as though there is a
piper in the distance. I can't tell you what the walk away means to others, but
to me, I find it very special. I feel that the walk away is a symbol. Maybe it
carries the soul to its final rest. Maybe that is the moment for others to
reflect. Maybe people don't even notice. For this ceremony the walk away symbolized
the end.
This entry is really not about the morning of November 11th,
2013 as it was pretty average. Today I'm more interested in talking about the
evening. The City Police Department Honor Guard held a comedy event to support
the Wounded Warrior Project. Now I'm not going to get to deep into the Project
if you want to know more check it out. What I want to talk about is the man
that hosted the event. Yes ,he is a police officer where I live. Every time I
see this man he impresses me more and more. Once again he did not disappoint.
It's not the fact that he put together a great show hosted by Joey Carroll,
Harry Corcell, Chris Pennie and special guest Steve Sweeney (who by the way
donated their time for the Project). It's about what he has quietly done as a
member of our United States Army serving as an Infantryman for the Multi Nation
Forces 17th Iraq Army Battalion as well as a member of 1/325 Air, 82nd Airborne
Division. It would seem he joined in late 1995 and still serves today. The
1stSgt received a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star for his service overseas along
with numerous other metals and ribbons evident by the number of them on his
chest.
The 1stSgt stood at the podium speaking to the attendees about the
Project and why we were all there. He reminded us of the men and woman still overseas.
To this point his speech was solid. He stood tall over all of us in his dress
uniform pressed to perfection. He would then refer us to a table that was just
off the side of the podium. This table would test him and his speech. He began
by stating in a strong drill sergeant type voice, "This is a Table of Honor. To the front of the hall and closest to
the stage you can observe a table with a placement for one." His eyes
jumped up from the paper and quickly scanned the room so as to make sure
everyone was on task. "Although the
table is small the meaning is great" he paused for a quick glance. "
At this time I would like to explain the meaning of the items on this special table."
Once again the 1stSgt scanned the room. I have known this man for a couple
years and I have to say normally he enjoys the clowning. Not at this moment. His
face was solid and serious. "The
table is round-to show our everlasting concern for our missing comrades. The
table cloth is white-symbolizing the purity of their motives when answering
their call to duty. The single red rose, displayed in a vase, reminds us of the
life of each of the missing, and their loved ones and friends of these
Americans who keep the faith awaiting answers." His head would move
from the paper once again. This time he fixed his eyes on one man. His voice
now slightly different than when he started. I would not say that the 1stSgt
was shook, I would say he was right where he needed to be. We sit home safe at
night not a worry, not realizing what these men and woman have and are going through.
He took a moment to gather himself. His next words were an attempt to apologize.
The crowd would not have that! He would pause again. It was clear the man in
front of him invoked something. One more time the 1stSgt would head back to the
Table of Honor quite less clear than before. "The vase tied with a red ribbon, a symbol of our continued
determination to account for our missing." These words were the
toughest for him. Prior to continuing on he would introduce the man in front. This
man served with him and they both received the Purple Heart. He invited the man
to the stage and the man stood and made
his way to the 1stSgt's side as I am sure he had done in battle numerous times.
The man grabbed the mic and began to read from the paper. "A slice of lemon on the bread plate is to remind us of the bitter
fate of those captured and missing in a foreign land." The 1stSgt
turned from facing the room maybe not realizing the wall behind him was fully
mirrored. The man continued," A
pinch of salt symbolizes the tears endured by those missing and their families
who seek answers." the 1stSgt would turn back to the side of the man
as he continued." A bible represents
the strength gained through faith to sustain those lost from our country,
founded as one nation under God." Both men would share a look as the 1stSgt
would place his left arm across the man's shoulders. The man continued, "The glass is inverted-to symbolize
their inability to share within tonight's festivities. The chair is empty-for
they are missing." Once again the man would pause, look across the
room as serious as the 1stSgt did to begin this emotional moment. "To the American prisoner of War,
Missing in Action, and those who can no longer be with us...
The 1stSgt stood at the podium speaking to the attendees about the
Project and why we were all there. He reminded us of the men and woman still overseas.
To this point his speech was solid. He stood tall over all of us in his dress
uniform pressed to perfection. He would then refer us to a table that was just
off the side of the podium. This table would test him and his speech. He began
by stating in a strong drill sergeant type voice, "This is a Table of Honor. To the front of the hall and closest to
the stage you can observe a table with a placement for one." His eyes
jumped up from the paper and quickly scanned the room so as to make sure
everyone was on task. "Although the
table is small the meaning is great" he paused for a quick glance. "
At this time I would like to explain the meaning of the items on this special table."
Once again the 1stSgt scanned the room. I have known this man for a couple
years and I have to say normally he enjoys the clowning. Not at this moment. His
face was solid and serious. "The
table is round-to show our everlasting concern for our missing comrades. The
table cloth is white-symbolizing the purity of their motives when answering
their call to duty. The single red rose, displayed in a vase, reminds us of the
life of each of the missing, and their loved ones and friends of these
Americans who keep the faith awaiting answers." His head would move
from the paper once again. This time he fixed his eyes on one man. His voice
now slightly different than when he started. I would not say that the 1stSgt
was shook, I would say he was right where he needed to be. We sit home safe at
night not a worry, not realizing what these men and woman have and are going through.
He took a moment to gather himself. His next words were an attempt to apologize.
The crowd would not have that! He would pause again. It was clear the man in
front of him invoked something. One more time the 1stSgt would head back to the
Table of Honor quite less clear than before. "The vase tied with a red ribbon, a symbol of our continued
determination to account for our missing." These words were the
toughest for him. Prior to continuing on he would introduce the man in front. This
man served with him and they both received the Purple Heart. He invited the man
to the stage and the man stood and made
his way to the 1stSgt's side as I am sure he had done in battle numerous times.
The man grabbed the mic and began to read from the paper. "A slice of lemon on the bread plate is to remind us of the bitter
fate of those captured and missing in a foreign land." The 1stSgt
turned from facing the room maybe not realizing the wall behind him was fully
mirrored. The man continued," A
pinch of salt symbolizes the tears endured by those missing and their families
who seek answers." the 1stSgt would turn back to the side of the man
as he continued." A bible represents
the strength gained through faith to sustain those lost from our country,
founded as one nation under God." Both men would share a look as the 1stSgt
would place his left arm across the man's shoulders. The man continued, "The glass is inverted-to symbolize
their inability to share within tonight's festivities. The chair is empty-for
they are missing." Once again the man would pause, look across the
room as serious as the 1stSgt did to begin this emotional moment. "To the American prisoner of War,
Missing in Action, and those who can no longer be with us...
We pray for your safe
return and know--You will never be forgotten"
Peter
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