Memorial Day - 2011

In an effort to help my boys appreciate the sacrifice the service men and women make for our country (up to and including the “ultimate sacrifice” that far too many of our young men and women have had to make, and is the focus of today’s holiday) – I sat and watched “The Hurt Locker” with them.  It was a little more gritty than we normally allow our boys to watch, but I felt the lessons important enough to look past the profanity and the graphic scenes.  The “Mother of Five” and I sat and talked about the movie, and what we saw in the movie with the boys after we watched it.  I am convinced they have a better appreciate for the struggles our soldiers are facing every day in the Middle East.

Watching “The Hurt Locker” with them was to be the prelude to this year’s Memorial Day Parade and Prayer Service.  Our Boy Scout Troop was again asked to take part in the parade, and as the “Color Guard” for the Memorial Service at the cemetery. 

The day’s events started with short parade starting at Broadway and 2nd St, turned down Water St. and concluded at Varner St.

 

First up – The guests of honor.  Our town’s Veterans.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Followed by a contingency of Jordan Firefighters

 

 

 

 

 

There were a few pageant winners (no photos… sorry) followed shortly by Jordan Cub Scout Troop and Jordan Boy Scout Troop

  

 

 

And, what small town parade is complete without the High School Marching Band.

 

 

 

Since the parade route was short enough and my photos were taken at the beginning of the route, I was able to cut through town, and meet the parade again at the end of the route for a couple more photo opportunities.

 

 

Once the band reached the end of the parade route, it was time to head up to Spirit Hill Cemetery for the Memorial Day Service.

 

 

 

 

The Troop gathered and the “Color Guard” prepared for the flag ceremony. 

#3 of 5 was one of the four scouts selected. 

 

The following nine photographs are a series of pictures taken during the Flag Ceremony.  From our vantage point at the opposite end of the cemetery a couple of us dads noticed the boys were about to make a VERY embarrassing error. 

See if you can spot the nearly “fatal flaw” that was almost made. 

Thankfully, the mistake was spotted, and an embarrassing situation was averted (I was told that #3 of 5 was the one who made, but also the one who caught and prevented the error from happening).

       

Once the flag was raised, then lowered to half mast, the Color Guard returned to ranks, and they were followed by our Veterans.  I found this to be very moving.

  

Once the Veteran’s “Honor Guard” arrived to the staging area, they lined up, and fell into parade rest throughout the duration of the service. 

 

The “Honor Guard” concluded the service with a 21-gun salute, followed by a duet of Taps by two members of the High School Marching Band.