Ready, aim...

The Memorial Day Ceremony at the Downey Cemetery is sponsored by the American Legion Post 270. The American Legion is a volunteer organization chartered by Congress in 1919, and is "committed to mentoring youth and sponsorship of wholesome programs in our communities, advocating patriotism and honor, promoting strong national security, and continued devotion to our fellow servicemembers and veterans."

The Legion has a long history of accomplishments. Here are just a few of the significant dates and events, from the history page on their website:

• Aug. 9, 1921
  The Legion's efforts result in the creation of the U.S. Veterans Bureau, forerunner of the Veterans Administration. Today, the Legion continues to lobby for adequate funding to cover medical, disability, education and other benefits for veterans.
• Sept. 19-21, 1942: Preamble to the Constitution of The American Legion is changed for the first and only time since it was written in 1919.  The word “War” is changed to “Wars.”
• Dec. 15, 1943
  Past National Commander Harry W. Colmery starts to write in longhand, on Mayflower Hotel stationery in Washington, the first draft of what will later become the "GI Bill of Rights" – considered the Legion's single greatest legislative achievement. Higher education becomes democratized after 8 million veterans go to school on the GI Bill, get better jobs, buy houses in the suburbs and raise families.
• Aug. 26, 1982
  The Legion presents a $1 million check to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund for construction of the Wall in Washington, becoming the largest single contributor to the project.

Today, the Legion has over 2 million members worldwide. But local membership is declining, and there are no longer 7 volunteers for the traditional "21-gun" rifle salute. These four volunteers are Michael Murray (US Army), Richard Tuttle (Downey Police Dept), Johnny Croshaw (USMC), and Dean Wright (USAF).

Wrapping up

One last look at last week's Memorial Day Ceremony at the Downey Cemetery...

Two of my favorite parts of the ceremony are the gun salute and playing of Taps at the end of the ceremony. The crew of veterans who perform the gun salute was smaller this year, but no less effective.

The crew of trumpeters has remained the same for several years, and they enjoy a few minutes of cameraderie before the ceremony starts.

The passing of the guard

Every year at the Memorial Day Ceremony, an honor guard performs a final salute before the playing of Taps. What we typically think of as a 21-gun salute is really just three volleys from the soldiers in the guard—in this case, just four, for a 12-gun salute.

The honor guard team has changed over the years that I've been attending the ceremony, and there are fewer members. This year, half the team was new, and all of them were a little bit fuzzy on the details. So before the ceremony began, they started taking notes from a young high school student who knew the drill—ready, present, port, face left, face right, when do we cock the rifle again?—he knew it all, and was ready and willing to serve. A future honor guardsman in the making?

Day is done

The rifle salute was offered by American Legion Post 270. I'm not sure what they were shooting, but the third rifle almost looked like a flame thrower to me.



My favorite  part of the Memorial Day Service is always at the very end, when Taps is played. The melody sounds around the cemetery as each of the three buglers echos the haunting notes. It is a fitting ending and always leaves me with a sense of sadness.

"Day is done, gone the sun
From the lakes, from the hills, from the sky
All is well, safely rest
God is nigh.

Fading light dims the sight
And a star gems the sky, gleaming bright
From afar, drawing near
Falls the night.

Thanks and praise for our days
Neath the sun, neath the stars, neath the sky
As we go, this we know
God is nigh." 
~ Horace Lorenzo Trim

Which way?

On Monday, I watched seven veterans prepare to fire a 21-gun salute. (See Monday's Memorial Day post.) As I framed this photo, I heard the leader shout, "Face left!" Pause... "The other left!"