Happy Memorial Day

Scarecrow · May 29, 2011

Taken at the WWII Cemetery in Manilla PI.

I hope I caught the message I saw when I shot this

Everyone please enjoy today and take moment to remember those who gave the ultimate sacrifice...

480sparky · May 29, 2011

We're having an annual service tomorrow morning at the local cemetery. I always take pix. I'll post 'em later in the day.

Scarecrow · May 30, 2011

Cool thanx Sparky. Figured I would post em today as it is memorial day in Japan.

480sparky · May 30, 2011

As promised:

For the past 20 years, we've had a ceremony at the entrance of the local cemetery honoring those who have served our country and are no longer with us. I'm proud to state that I have attended every single one of these ceremonies, and for the past 6 years, I've taken photos in a strictly unofficial capacity. I take 'em just for fun.

This year, I decided to take a different look at the activities. Sure, there's always an introduction:

and we invoke the blessings of our Creator:

The GottaZing group sings the Nation Anthem:

Mayor Jim Peters reads General Order #11:

The local VFW post presents The Colors,

and all the able veterans are asked to participate in Formation:

A 21-gun salute then follows:

And the Colors are retired:

As I said, this year I decided to look for something beyond the ordinary. To begin with, there's a flag flying for every hometown hero who has passed away, regardless of cause or date of death. Currently, there's about 430 flags, and more are added every year.

I was under the impression all these years that there's a flag for each veteran in this cemetery. I was corrected this year.... there's a flag for each local veteran, no matter where they are interred. Be it Normandy, Arlington, Manilla, Flanders Field, Cambridge, Tunisia, Luxembourg, Corozal, Rome, even the next town up the road...... there's a flag here with their name on it.

Attached to each flag is that veterans' name, rank & branch of service (That name, along with any conflict in which they served, is also on a placard at eye level on the pole it is flying on) :

Before the ceremonies started, I looked around for something different, and found these:

During the activities, I took these:

I also took my D60, put on my 10,5 fisheye, and set the camera for Remote. I took it across the road and placed it on a headstone facing back toward the crowd. I ended up with:

Can anyone guess which one is me?