Loudmouth

Celebrating the Sacrifice

By Stoney ⋅ May 26, 2008 ⋅  Print this post ⋅ Post a comment

While it seems like a lifetime ago, I can still remember celebrating the Bicentennial.  The summer of 1976 was in many ways like just about every other summer up to that point I suppose.  As a military dependent, living on or near base, summer was usually about typical things like bike riding, movie matinees, the pool and fun with friends.  For us military brats it also usually meant hanging out with friends at the DYA (Dependent Youth Activities) or AYA (American Youth Activities).  In 1976, life as a military dependent was almost like living in a mini-USA in another country.  July 1976, while typical, was different in that it was not only the year we as Americans would be celebrating 200 years of freedom, but for me personally, it would also mean gearing up to leave one military family behind in Zweibrucken, Germany to travel across the ocean to discover a whole new military family in Fort Riley, Kansas.

For most Americans celebrating this great country is usually kept to annual tributes like Memorial Day, Veterans Day, and of course, the Fourth of July.  For military brats, and some of you may know what I mean, growing up was almost a continually celebration of those who fought to provide all the freedoms we as Americans enjoy.  It didn’t matter whether it was at a base in the States or as far away as Germany, Italy, or even Japan, the life of a military brat would always include monthly events such as air shows, parades, as well as a whole range of things that no matter what soil we stood on, would remind us what soil we came from.  For me, despite being packed up and ready to fly back to the States, that summer was no different.

Being a Cub Scout, and yes chuckle if you wish but it was yet another way to gather and have fun with “family”, I was to be part of the Fourth of July parade that would not only travel throughout the base, but for the first time, wind through the German streets surrounding Zweibrucken Army Base.  It would be a parade like no other, it being the Bicentennial and all, and we Scouts would march along proudly displaying our troop colors as well as our country’s colors. 

As the day approached my excitement turned to near horror as I discovered that my mother had packed my Cub Scout uniform and sent it along with many other household items to be waiting for us at our new residence in Kansas.  I was devastated!  Here was not only a chance to march in this parade honoring 200 years of American freedom, but also the last chance I would get to hang out with friends I had grown close to the previous four years.  Never one to let his kid down my dad, Master Sergeant John L. Cannon, spoke to the troop leader and a plan was formulated.  While I would not get to march with my fellow cubbies, I would get to ride on a special float depicting the signing of the Declaration of Independence!  I would be portraying John Hancock, a guy who signed his name on the Declaration so big that King George could read it without using his spectacles (glasses).  I was so excited that I even spent my allowance money, usually reserved for Batman or Ritchie Rich comics (yeah, go ahead and laugh), and bought a replica of the Declaration of Independence to use  for our adaptation of the signing.  Mom made up for sending off my uniform early by gluing faux feathers to some pens and making me a cool costume complete with pants that stopped just below the knee, shoes with big buckles and of course, a big white wig!  Not bad for an Italian lady still trying to get a grasp on the language nevermind American culture and history.

As the years have passed I find it hard to remember many of the details of that day but the things I do remember hold special places in my heart.  Once we arrived at the starting point for the parade, mom, like all moms usually do, made sure my big blousy blue shirt was tucked in before giving me a kiss for luck.  Dad and I then walked over to the float and after helping me up dad told me “Pistol (that was dad’s nickname for me-being a Cannon and all) be the best John Hancock ever”.  He then did something he’d never done in front of me before-he stood straight up and gave me a salute and said “we’re counting on you soldier”.  I did the best stand and salute back a 10-year-old kid can do and then took my place around a small table on the float with several of my fellow Scouts.  For the next hour or so we acted like we were signing the Declaration of Independence and waved to the crowds gathered along the streets.  Even as a 10-year-old kid I can remember that while I felt like an important contributor, I realized I was just a small part of a large tribute to a very special birthday in our country’s history.

While I remember very little about the rest of the day I do recall having my fill of hot dogs and red, white and blue ice cream.  (That year it was sold in the box in a sort of Neoplolitan fashion just with the color changed to fit the occassion).  Soon I would be on my way to Fort Riley Kansas and eventually Frankfurt, Germany and in the next six summers I would get to enjoy holidays celebrating America and her heroes with other military friends in similar fashion to how I guess most everyone else did.  Cook outs, baseball, and fun!  In 1982 we moved back to Augusta and on July 4th of that year we moved into our new house on Brookfield Parkway. 

In an election year, particularly this one, I know that it’s easy to get wrapped up in things that worry us day to day.  In 2008 you almost have to get an additional part-time job to gas up your car, the education system is at a low and there’s seems to be a threat to our borders every time you look around.  It’s easy to get complacent.  But losing hope in a country that since the 1700’s has managed to rise above every obstacle seems not only the wrong thing to do, but also in some ways seems like a slap in the face of all the men and women who have given the supreme sacrifice just so we can even have the right to complain. 

On Memorial Day we remember those who gave up their lives so we can live ours in Freedom.  So we can go where we want, when we want.  So we can have the freedom to challege the status quo.  Sometimes it can be hard to believe but in the United States of American we still have a voice.  Many have lost their lives to preserve that voice and in return we should do whatever it takes to make sure that their voices are never forgotten.  Whether it be paying for a soldiers meal, placing flowers on a fallen soldier’s grave, sending a thank you card to our troops, or even playing John Hancock in a parade, we should all do our part, on not JUST Memorial Day, but all year long to pay tribute to the ultimate American Patriots this country has ever known.

Our American Soldiers.

Have a Safe and Happy Memorial Day!

Stoney

P.S.  Thanks Dad! 

“MEMORIAL DAY POEM.”

The bugle echoes shrill and sweet,
But not of war it sings to-day.
The road is rhythmic with the feet
Of men-at-arms who come to pray.

The roses blossom white and red
On tombs where weary soldiers lie;
Flags wave above the honored dead
And martial music cleaves the sky.

Above their wreath-strewn graves we kneel,
They kept the faith and fought the fight.
Through flying lead and crimson steel
They plunged for Freedom and the Right.

May we, their grateful children, learn
Their strength, who lie beneath this sod,
Who went through fire and death to earn
At last the accolade of God.

In shining rank on rank arrayed
They march, the legions of the Lord;
He is their Captain unafraid,
The Prince of Peace . . .
Who brought a sword.

 ~~By Joyce Kilmer.~~

Random Articles You Should Check Out

• Interview w/ Shotgun Opera
• Interview w/ Jason Jones of The Drownout
• McCranie Going Away Show Scheduled for Thursday
• New Tunes Alert…
• Downtown Bar’s Re-Opening Postponed