WHITE CHRISTMAS SONG SERGEANT PORTABLE

Hutchins’ favorite memories from childhood were created in her grandma Isabel’s kitchen. I’ll close with a hats off to Price and the concert band. Many soldiers, parched from thirst, drank river water contaminated by the corpses of dead steeds and soldiers. In addition to battlefield deaths, his outfit incurred significant fatalities from illness. Moist, too, was a legitimate hero, serving with the Seventh Indiana Cavalry during bloody battles fought in Southern Territory.

Moist (from the Indiana side of the stateline), the area’s oldest Civil War vet, all through the 1940s until his death at the age of 101 on January 15, 1946.Įxcept when ill health prevented attendance, First Sergeant Moist attended all state and national Grand Army of the Republic conventions. In our Randolph and Darke Counties, newspapers honored David S. His slave owner kept track of his age on a “birthday stick,” carving one notch per birthday.

His young life as a slave was spent in West Virginia. Braxton of Columbus, Ohio, who died at 115 in 1942. That Independence Day, America’s citizens from North and South alike paid tribute to three Grey and one Blue survivors.Īs well, all through the 1940s, America honored the last surviving African-American slaves. Long ago in 1954, my generation and the media celebrated the lives of the last four surviving Civil War veterans. With the crises here at home and abroad, are we Americans ignoring or honoring the passing on June 29 of “Woody” Williams, the last World War II Medal of Honor winner? He wondered aloud if that generation may pass on the patriotic traditions that we greybeards at the concert had etched into our DNA as youth. He regretted the absence of 20-somethings in the crowd. He observed how the Greenville audience mainly was made up of old timers and lots of children brought by doting grandparents. The father of this hero, a tall man with more salt than pepper in his hair, praised Sinise’s efforts to get veterans into housing that accommodated physical limitations.īut then his mood became thoughtful. You can read about Sinise’s remarkable mission and donate to the cause at. This man’s words about his son brought back an Irish lament, “Johnny, I hardly knew ya,” whose words I learned at Alden’s Independence Day celebrations. Dan in Forrest Gump) felt “thank you for your service” was far short of deserved thanks for what wounded heroes had given of themselves to our country. His once strapping son had survived a bomb blast while in a combat zone, but he was sent home to family minus key limbs.Īctor Gary Sinise (who played legless Lt. Patton, seemed to stand a little straighter.Īfter the Greenville concert, our friends introduced my wife and me to a couple whose son lived in southern California in a specially adapted smart home for wounded veterans. Army, my father, a five-year veteran serving under Gen. When the bands back then on Independence Day played a John Sousa March to honor the U.S. Alden was just another country town, but it was home to us. The standing ovations brought me back in my mind’s eye post-World War II to the parades along the streets of Alden, NY. We, the audience, cheered each branch without partisanship.

WHITE CHRISTMAS SONG SERGEANT PORTABLE

One by one, veterans rose from their portable chairs. Her version of Amazing Grace was a somber reminder of those who died on the battlefield.įor me, the most stirring moment was when Price led the Band in songs honoring all six military branches of service. Moving in and out of numbers were songs rendered by guest singers Chelsea and John Whirledge. The Greenville Municipal Concert Band responded to Price’s enthusiasm and direction with powerful presentations such Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture. He completed his wardrobe with poofy, red, white, and blue slip-ons. The flamboyant Price wore a colorful flag shirt with stars on top and stripes across the bottom. It was held at the Marling Band Shell in lovely Greenville City Park.īand director JR Price had the audience in his hand as he introduced patriotic numbers, guest singers and the Greenville Color Guard showing the confidence of a ringmaster. My Yankee Doodle sweetheart from Warsaw, Poland went with friends and me to the Greenville Independence Day concert on July 3. Greenville Municipal Band’s performance of patriotic numbers brought back memories of past July 4 celebrations and heroes.

White christmas song sergeant