Tootsie Roll Amnesty Day proposed
When did Memorial Day in Loveland turn so Bazaar? I don't know the exact date, but it was somewhere between the terrorist attacks in September 2001, and the death of long time Memorial Day organizer, George Anderson. George never brought out large throngs of people, but he always gave the community a grave, solemn and dignified effort. And, people stayed for the sober service.
I always get into a funk on Memorial Day, always did, and suspect – always will. It is appropriate I think to get into a funk at a funeral service. I lost buddies in Vietnam, my buddies had moms and dads, and wives and girlfriends. I get in a funk thinking about them too. I have a friend that lost her three best friends to the Vietnam war, and I will spend the day wondering how she is handling Memorial Day. I will remember local Veterans like George Anderson, and Kenny Shurts, who lived in my neighborhood - and their dedication to building the Loveland's Veterans' Memorial. Their families will be in attendance also. They have
always been there paying respect to the war dead and wounded. George and Kenny are both dead now – I will pay my respect for their service during war, and to their contributions to Loveland when they came home.
This year, Gold Star mom, Carolyn Maupin will be the keynote speaker, and I congratulate those who have arranged her appearance. I anxiously await her talk, but acknowledge it will probably add to my funk.
I don't want to rain on anyone's parade, and I acknowledge the hard work, and sincere effort of the community volunteers and Veterans in charge, however, I will try respectfully, to suggest a few changes.
I have a couple thousand small American flags in my basement collecting dust. They are slightly used; used by thousands of school children in a welcoming home event that I organized for injured Iraqi Veteran Sammy Gorton when he returned to his home town of Loveland. And used to honor Matt Maupin's death last year. I want all the ball teams, scouts, and others to trade in their Tootsie Rolls, and instead of tossing the candy to the crowd, pass out these flags to those along the parade route. I am asking the tumblers, that last year somersaulted down the parade route to pass out these flags instead. Anyone interested, can e-mail me and I will deliver the flags.
Last year's parade included politicians asking people for votes, commercial enterprises, asking people to buy, and even a bazaar at the corner of West Loveland Avenue and Loveland Madeira Road.
I applaud and appreciate those scouts, and community groups in the parade last year, that did not participate in the candy throwing frenzy.
I am always one of the last persons to actually get to the Memorial, because I stay until the end of the parade, taking photos. The last few years, I have noticed how hard it is to walk “towards” the Memorial, because there are more people leaving the parade than staying for the sober activities that follow.
I believe the nature of things now is that people feel this is a “support the troops” event. Well that is fine, but I would suggest supporting the troops, by walking solemnly to the Memorial and paying somber tribute to their war dead buddies, and Gold Star moms. I am not sure how the Tootsie Roll throwing, somersaults,
and commercialization on Memorial Day supports our troops. July 4th and Veterans Day might be a better venue.
I am not alone with my feelings; after talking to many people about the nature of the parade in the last few years, they also express quiet dismay.
As a seventeen-year old snare drummer in my High School marching band, I remember practicing for weeks a Funeral Dirge Cadence that I was privileged to drum in a somber Memorial Day walk to the local cemetery where wreaths were laid, and prayers spoken. I remember tuning my drum, and spending hours carefully muffling the drum snares so it had just the right sound. You also need to choose just the right drum sticks. I remember hearing the same muffled drum sounds that November on TV as I watched the procession in Washington D.C. for John F. Kennedy.
I applaud all those who come out for the parade, but suggest that it be more of a funeral procession. And, wish that all the young folks and their parents would stay for the memorial service - to truly understand that soldiers die in war, and that their mothers, families, friends, and war buddies never stop mourning.
I haven't stopped mourning, the drum still beats in my head, and I don't really mind rain on Memorial Day.
