Friends Of the
River's
Memorial Day Parade – San Bernard River
Style
By
Jane Wallace
The second annual
San
Bernard
River Memorial Day Boat Parade
was a huge success in more ways than
one. It was a success for
the many friends
on the river banks who enjoyed the
twenty decorated boats; it was a success
for the boat
participants who
spent time decorating their boats to
enter the parade; and mostly, it was a
success
as a tribute to the soldiers for whom
the parade called our attention.
From the middle of
the river, the views for the boat riders
were awesome. Small groups to
large parties of
people gathered on their lawns, piers,
or boat houses to wave, march, salute,
smile, applaud, cheer, and give a “thumb’s-up”
to the boats as they passed.
Week-enders, in their boats along the
river, stopped and anchored along the
shorelines to
watch the parade
and cheer on the boats.
The view of the parade
from the river banks was magic.
Although each boat was decorated
differently, the theme of "God Bless Our
Soldiers and Country," was crystal
clear. Red, white, and blue flew
triumphantly in many different shapes
and sizes; patriotic music blared, and
horns blew.
The winners of the decorating contest
were:
Best
Overall #2 -
David Pope
Best
Theme #4
-
Gloria and Darrell
Powell
Most
Spirit #23
-
John and Jane Wallace
Best
Sound #9
-
Artie and Judy
Burnett
Best
Individual #12
-
Ken and Linda
Wright
The
flags flew, the horns blew,
and the music played for our
soldiers; soldiers of the
past who served our county
long, long ago and those who
are serving today.
One of the Army bases in
Iraq has a special table in
a dining facility called the
"Missing Man Table." This
description of the Missing
Man Table is read at every
formal military occasion,
'...the
table is raised to call your
attention to its purpose,
and it is reserved to honor
our missing comrades in
arms. The table is round to
show everlasting concern for
our missing men. The
tablecloth is
white
symbolizing the purity of
their motives when answering
the call to duty.
The single red rose,
displayed in a vase on the
table, reminds us of the
life of each of the missing
- and their friends
and
loved ones of these
Americans who keep the
faith, awaiting answers.
The vase is
tied
with a red ribbon, symbol of
our continued determination
to account for our missing.
A
slice of lemon on the bread
plate reminds us of the
bitter fate of those
captured and missing in a
foreign land. A pinch of
salt symbolizes the tears
endured
by
those missing and their
families who seek answers.
The Bible represents the
strength
gained
through faith to sustain
those lost from our
country,founded as one
nation
under
God. The glass is inverted
to symbolizing their
inability to share the
evening's toast. The
chairs are empty
they are missing.'
Last Saturday, on our little
river, F.O.R. did something
to remember these and all
soldiers on Memorial Day. We
remembered the brave
warriors lost protecting our
right to be free.
*See more Parade Photos on
parade tab above*
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