A Patriotic Parade.
To celebrate. To come together. To remember.
I will admit... I wasn't looking forward to waking up early on a Saturday morning to go and represent my school in the parade... but I'm glad I did. When we were pulling up to the meeting place this morning - I was surprised to see so many people. So many uniforms. So many flags. It was definitely bigger than I anticipated. Considering I saw people being bussed in from Charlotte to be in the parade. And I'm so glad I went.
To see so many people come out - wearing their red, white and blue. Wearing their Veteran shirts. Firefighters. Police Officers. Boy and Girl Scouts. Waving their flags. So many different people. People from all walks of life. Old, young. Rich, poor. Weak, strong. All together. All smiling. All proud. It was very moving.
It may be 9 years later. It may be one of many reasons our military is out there, all over the world fighting to keep our freedom intact and country safe. But it proves that we will come together. We will support. We will celebrate. We will remember. Always.
The other part of our group - riding in the Humvee.
Something else that was moving...After the parade we stopped at a store and while checking out we talked with the cashier about our sunburned faces and arms which led to us mentioning the parade. Without missing a beat - she said: "I was doing laundry."
Everyday, mundane laundry. And she'll never forget it.
I bet anyone over the age of 25 can tell you exactly what they were doing that Tuesday morning in 2001. And I bet they'll be able to tell you what they were doing on that morning until the day they die.
I don't think anyone needs to worry about forgetting. Because I don't think that's possible.
*Yes, I took every one of these pictures standing up, waving my flag, waving and smiling to everyone from the back of the truck. Our 'float' had a bug that tried to crawl into my pants. So...yeah. That wasn't happening.
One more thing...
"You can be sure that the American spirit will prevail over this tragedy."
--Colin Powell, 2001
1 special comments:
You know, all that complaining you did about agreeing to go with me and look what happened. It was very hot, but very worth it. Even if I did miss half of the football game, I would do it again. And yes, I have a sunburned face, and arm, and chest, but I will take that anyday. I don't fight the fight, but I thank God every day that there are people who do fight for me everyday.
And no, I will never forget. Standing in my classroom, teaching 4th grade in LC. I will remember that until, like you said, the die I die.
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