Sunday, November 11, 2012
Highlights from this year's Veterans Day service at the Soldiers Home, beyond the usual overwhelming gratitude and poignant displays of respect and support:
1) About the video: As I pushed David Fox to his spot, a TV camera captured my feet and his wheels. Afterward, KING 5 reporter John Langeler asked me about David. I told John that while David is not big on photos or interviews, I thought Ray McDade might really enjoy the experience—and tell a good story to boot. I mentioned the possibility to Ray, who was thrilled, and immediately after the service, John knelt right down to Ray’s level and talked for quite a while. When they were finished, I asked Ray what they’d talked about, and he said, “Everything and anything.” John (and Ray) did an amazing job. Watch it here: http://www.king5.com/news/local/Vets-from-three-wars-honored-in-Orting-ceremony-178729961.html.
2) About those cakes: It’s been said I have a hard time “taking off my editor hat.” But for crying out loud: Last year the giant refreshment-table cakes misspelled “veterans”; this year, misplaced apostrophes turned the whole day and place singular. Sigh. (I scraped off the offending frosting blobs with a spatula.)
3) About the music: Every year, at every ceremony, the Puyallup Valley Community Band plays a stirring medley of military songs, and the residents always stand (or raise a hand or hat) to acknowledge their branches, and everyone always claps (and I always cry). So the medley is the background music here (but not the same band), although this year I had a close second choice: This year, right in the middle of a presentation, a man in the crowd yelled, “Play ‘God Bless America.’” There was an awkward group silence/chuckle, then Recreation Therapy Director Terry Nisbet announced, “We’re just going to go ahead with the Benediction now.” And that was that. Until the Benediction ended, and the man again yelled, “Play ‘God Bless America.’” This time the silence drowned out the chuckles, and the Color Guard retired the colors as scheduled. But as soon as the ritual ended, the band, bless its sweet heart, launched right into “God Bless America.” And applause drowned out the silence.
Which seems a very fitting end.
Highlights from this year's Veterans Day service at the Soldiers Home, beyond the usual overwhelming gratitude and poignant displays of respect and support:
1) About the video: As I pushed David Fox to his spot, a TV camera captured my feet and his wheels. Afterward, KING 5 reporter John Langeler asked me about David. I told John that while David is not big on photos or interviews, I thought Ray McDade might really enjoy the experience—and tell a good story to boot. I mentioned the possibility to Ray, who was thrilled, and immediately after the service, John knelt right down to Ray’s level and talked for quite a while. When they were finished, I asked Ray what they’d talked about, and he said, “Everything and anything.” John (and Ray) did an amazing job. Watch it here: http://www.king5.com/news/local/Vets-from-three-wars-honored-in-Orting-ceremony-178729961.html.
2) About those cakes: It’s been said I have a hard time “taking off my editor hat.” But for crying out loud: Last year the giant refreshment-table cakes misspelled “veterans”; this year, misplaced apostrophes turned the whole day and place singular. Sigh. (I scraped off the offending frosting blobs with a spatula.)
3) About the music: Every year, at every ceremony, the Puyallup Valley Community Band plays a stirring medley of military songs, and the residents always stand (or raise a hand or hat) to acknowledge their branches, and everyone always claps (and I always cry). So the medley is the background music here (but not the same band), although this year I had a close second choice: This year, right in the middle of a presentation, a man in the crowd yelled, “Play ‘God Bless America.’” There was an awkward group silence/chuckle, then Recreation Therapy Director Terry Nisbet announced, “We’re just going to go ahead with the Benediction now.” And that was that. Until the Benediction ended, and the man again yelled, “Play ‘God Bless America.’” This time the silence drowned out the chuckles, and the Color Guard retired the colors as scheduled. But as soon as the ritual ended, the band, bless its sweet heart, launched right into “God Bless America.” And applause drowned out the silence.
Which seems a very fitting end.
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