Memorial Day

ARLINGTON

FIRST CANTO

I saw his name engraved in granite

In the shadow of the ivy covered oak

a long time tenant in that sacred grove

The wind moves now and then through

barren branches

A bird alights sometimes, as if by chance,

It chirps and then flies on

all else is mute

The marble tomb nearby wear night and day

the sentries, stand with steadfast vigilance

it bears no name.

During the changing of the guards

at preset daylight hours

Upon command the sentries spring to life

and to action

They walk with slow, precisely measured steps

clicking their heels at certain intervals

toeing the line invisible

across expanse of marbled ground

presenting arms and slapping rifle

Flawless in execution and procedures

flawless in bearing and attire

one is the perfect mirror to the other

down to the last detail: just so, no more, no less

Their buckles shine, The honor badge is gleaming

The are the heroes of the Old Guard Regiment

Instant obedience and discipline

thus manifest, are but reflections

on inner core of strength, esprit and gallantry

submerging self for Cause and Greater Good.

(attained by very few)

The changing of the guard has been accomplished

The last command has been obeyed

The guard now on duty now enters his station

Stands at attention over the tomb

Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

SECOND CANTO

The people come from far, here to these

hallowed hills to witness and be cast

in ceremony. They stand in silence

and they stare with awe,

They think of their solemn thoughts with

somber eyes,

Transported by the mesmerizing ritual into

the Presence of a Greater Truth and Order

and brushed by the gentle wings of Destiny,

they seem to hear faint echoes stirring

from the vault of sky and time

evoking visions in their souls and puzzling

memories of what? from where?

Thus paying tribute to the One Unknown

(and with him to the many like him

whose burial mounds and crosses are

stretching far below The Tomb)

They sense that he who sacrificed his life

Decades ago nay centuries was

Now exalted.

(and with him the many like him)

exalting Gallantry and Honor, Honor and Valor.

Spectators in this Shifting scene on

Patriotic state, the people leave

Reluctantly, the Nations Shrine still Pondering.

They wander down the soddy path

They speak in muffled tones, shuffling

Their feet before they exit slowly

Through the Outer Arch.

THIRD CANTO

I saw his name engraved in granite

enlaced with ivy from the nearby tree

I plucked a spring of living ivy

And took it home with me

planted in a pot of earth

upon my window sill

the climbing vine has taken root

and it is greening still

Your body may be buried

you may be long since gone

but cherished memories of you

and your name lives on.

I stepped out of my cabin door

and looked up at the sky

I saw a golden eagle soar

I heard the eagle cry

The eagle soared into the sun

and was soon lost from view

The spirit of the unknown one and you.

FOURTH CANTO

Down through the corridor of Time

The eagle sounds its piercing cry

keening over all the fields

where the fallen warriors lie.

Their tattered uniforms and bones

have Mildered in their narrow grave

White crosses bear a name and date

so young and all so brave.

Through countless wars in global spots

they fought in air, on land and sea

They paid the price, they gave their life

so others could be free.

They fought chaotic battles

To victory or defeat

and now they lie in long, long rows

orderly and neat...

A bugle in sunsets glow

is sounding Taps from far away

Soon now the winds of night will blow

And tomorrow is another day.

EPILOGUE

The Stars and Stripes wave on the ridge

High above Arlington Bridge

in between are stretched the grounds

with all of its heroes earthen mounds

From up high the spirits chide

Forever shall our Flag abide

In Freedom Honor – Valor

by Ruth Mariott (1)
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The Sentinel's Last Walk

Millions of visitors to Arlington National Cemetery view the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. A ceremony that is seen but by a select few is the Last Walk of a Sentinel. Only fellow Tomb Guards, family, and close friends may attend the last tribute by a sentinel to the Unknowns when the guard has finished his tour of duty at the Tomb. The final ceremony to honor the Unknowns then takes place after the last Changing of the Guard for the day. The guard takes his last walk - has he has hundreds of times before - walks towards and enters the plaza (a), is inspected one last time to ensure the uniform is perfect (b) - perfection is all that can be offered back to those who made the ultimate sacrifice, walks onto the mat in perfectly prepared shoes (c), walks the exact 21 paces in each direction, pauses exactly 21 seconds after each change in direction, and finally passes on his orders to the next guard for the last time (d). After exiting the plaza and returning to the quarters below the plaza, the guard returns with an armful of roses (e) while a bugler stands and watches and waits (f) - roses instead of a rifle, one each for each of the Unknowns (g) - and gently places one at each resting place, followed by a salute. After placing the last rose, there is a final salute while taps is played a last time (h). The sentinel then exits the plaza and walks for the last time back to the quarters below (i), with all attending standing in perfect silence, watching, knowing the guard's service at the Tomb is complete - having done what his country had asked him to do, ended by a final tribute to those who not only gave their lives for their country, but who also gave up their identity.
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(1) Ruth Mariott, author of the poem "Arlington" passed away on July 11, 1997, shortly after learning that her poem had been published in the Congressional Record after it was read by Senator Robert Byrd of West Virginia. She received a military funeral with the Old Guard rendering honors. Adapted from information given at the Website: http://www.reddok.com/KC130/arlington.htm

Sword Arch, Naval Academy Chapel Wedding

I personally know of two couples who had been married at the U.S. Naval Academy Chapel. Chapel is an understatement for the structure - it is a cathedral. Yesterday, a good friend of our son was married there, the day after graduation (1). The weddings are scheduled one hour apart, as the production line continues to service the waiting pairs in rapid order one-after-another.

Our son was the groom's best man - and faithfully executed his duties. He and the groom had been roommates in Brancoft Hall all four years - plebe year to graduation. After the wedding ceremony, the newly married pair exited the chapel through an arch the groomsmen formed with their new swords (2). The arch of swords for weddings is authorized for commissioned, warrant, staff non-commissioned officers, and non-commissioned officers only. The arch of swords ceremony is an old English and American custom, which gives a symbolic pledge of loyalty to the newly married couple from their military family.

The ushers normally form the sword detail (a), however other officers, warrant or staff non-commissioned officers may be designated as needed. Customarily, six or eight members take part in the ceremony (b). The swordsmen form at the bottom of the chapel steps, in two equal ranks, at normal interval, facing each other, with sufficient room between ranks (3 to 4 paces) for the bride and groom to pass (c). The senior usher is positioned in the left rank furthest from the chapel exit. The command officer gives the order "Officers, Draw Swords" and the swords are drawn from their scabbards in one continuous motion (d), rising gracefully to touch the tip of the opposite sword. Then, at "Invert Swords" there is a quick turning of the wrist so that the cutting edge is up. Only the newly married couple is allowed to pass under the arch (e). To add color to the newly married couple's exit, each rank of swordsmen may lower their swords as the couple approach, and demand a "kiss" - not allowing them to pass until a kiss is provided (f). Immediately as the couple pass the last rank, the command officer may prepare to give a single swat to backside of the bride with the broadside of the sword (g) (3), after which the duties of the sword arch party are complete, and they may then retreat back to the chapel (h).
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(1) Midshipmen cannot be married and attend the Academy, so once graduated and commissioned, there are no regulations barring matrimony.

(2) Proper use of the ceremonial sword (or saber) is given in Field Manual 3-21.5: Drill and Ceremonies, Appendix F

* When performing Manual of Arms, please keep these important points in mind:
* Blade tips are relatively sharp; exercise care during use.
* Sword and saber manual of arms is a developed and practiced skill. Do not be flamboyant when handling a drawn sword.
* WKC swords and sabers are intended for ceremonial use only. Horseplay, re-enactment fighting, and sword-to-sword impact is dangerous and can result in damage to the blade and personal injury.
* Children have a natural fascination with swords and often mistake a ceremonial sword for a weapon. Supervise children closely and teach them that the misuse of a sword is dangerous.

Army Sabers/Swords Manual of Arms

The saber is worn by officers while participating in ceremonies with troops under arms, or as directed. It is carried on the left side of the body attached to the belt by the scabbard chain with the guard of the saber to the rear. The sword is worn by all platoon sergeants and first sergeants while participating in ceremonies with troops under arms, or as directed. It is carried in the same manner as the officer’s saber.

F-1. NOMENCLATURE

The nomenclature for the saber is saber for all officers, model 1902. The blade is 31 inches long (more information about sword lengths). The nomenclature for the sword is non-commissioned officer’s sword, model 1840. The figure to the left shows the nomenclature for pertinent parts of the saber (sword) and scabbard.

(3) An ideal result from the broadside-of-the-sword-to-the-back-side-of-the-bride is given in this photograph - no bruising or drawing of blood is desired. This brief extra is a great crowd-pleaser, and the bride is said to typically not be expecting it since the earlier marriage ceremony is a great distraction.

Drop of a Hat - New Naval Officers

Today, we no longer have a Midshipman in our family - we have an Ensign, an officer. The Vice President's speech had good self-deprecating humor, some good motivational words, not too much politics, and a story that tugged at your heart about a dream realized by a first generation emigrant and the loss of his fallen officer (1). We celebrated a job well done by the Class of 2010, cheered for company mates whose names who have become familiar over the past four years, and realized that this special group won't ever be as close spatially or temporally as they are today. Our son commented a few days ago how quickly he has become disconnected from the Academy - moved all of his things out of Brancroft Hall, moved off the Yard, and checked out. His email traffic is down to a trickle - there are others now picking up the leadership roles left behind.

With right arms bent at 90° angles and right hands held up, solemn promises were made, three-cheers given by the Classes of 2011, 2012, and 2013 for the new Ensigns and Second Lieutenants, followed then by three cheers for those they leave behind, covers thrown high into the air and barely reaching the ground before throngs of children and not-so-young-children dashing to retrieve one or two or three - and some times more.

Then the stands full of family and friends made their way down to the field where the new officers were surrounded by their well-wishers and many posed photographs were taken in all the possible combinations of posies - with the only constant among each the display of shiny Marine rank insignia bars or Navy shoulder boards.
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(1) Vice President Biden singled out Huy N. Truong, who had been injured while serving in Iraq before he entered the academy. "He could barely speak English, he'd just received his green card, yet he put his life on the line for the nation," Biden said. Truong, a native of Vietnam, caught the attention of his command staff, who helped him apply to the Naval Academy. From the Baltimore Sun, May 28, 2010.

Six Jet Airplanes - Excuse Me While I Kiss the Sky

Today was the Navy's Blue Angels exhibition at the United States Naval Academy - one of the scheduled activities that are a part of Commissioning Week for the Class of 2010. It seems like a good part of the Annapolis community shows up for the display. The photograph to the left tells it all - a mixture of families of soon-to-be Marine Second Lieutenants and Navy Ensigns.... proud family from Maryland, Hawaii, California, Colorado, Oregon, North Carolina.... a mixture of veterans from World War II, Vietnam, the Global War on Terror.... and even an Air Force Academy graduate and Army Tomb Guard thrown in for balance.
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It was a good day for watching. Six jet airplanes zipping by, as if the sky was made for them to slip between sheets of air overhead. A place and time when necks strain and eyes squint and mouths ooohh's and aaahhh's as the groans of turbine engines spin while burning kerosene as the blue and gold-trimmed darts are thrusted forward at imaginary targets in the sky that no one but the pilots see - a celestial heads up display.

There will be 232 Naval Pilots from the the Class of 2010, with an additional 80 Naval Flight Officers (back-seaters like Goose in Top Gun). It is fun to hear the stories from the Midshipmen about their experiences attaining their dreams, and a bit of a shared let-down when disappointments hits - not getting their selection choice to fly or being disqualified for one reason or another after touching it for a short time. Regardless, I appreciate having the opportunity to shake a hand and say "congratulations." They are all rock stars in their own ways - like the heavy metal and rock bands' music playing during the Blue Angel demonstration. What a privilege to have been able to meet them and follow their progress over these past four years. It's was a beautiful day.

Plebes (Herndon) No More

Naval Academy Holds the Grease
Safety-First Monument Climb is Quick Sans Oil Slick

By Arthur Hirsch, The Baltimore Sun
8:54 PM EDT, May 24, 2010

Minutes before members of the U.S. Naval Academy's Class of 2013 were to begin the annual first-year-ending assault on the Herndon Monument Monday afternoon, a chant went up from some of the hundreds gathered for the traditional climb: "Grease the pole. Grease the pole."

If "pole" seemed a disrespectful way to refer to the 21-foot granite obelisk erected for Capt. William Lewis Herndon, perhaps it expressed the measure of dissatisfaction in the throng. By order of Vice Adm. Jeffrey L. Fowler, superintendent of the service academy, the monument was not slathered with lard nor coated in Crisco, neither was it buttered as in one year gone by, nor treated with the dark petroleum-based, rust-preventing goop called Cosmoline.

The "pole" was dry this year, as it has been sporadically since the ritual began in 1940, and that made for a quick afternoon — and some letdown in the ranks.

A greaseless Herndon is just not "representative of the struggle," said plebe Max Cutchen, of Marietta, Ga., who said he and his classmates were "very disappointed" to hear their Herndon would be 100 percent fat-free.

Nonethless, they came running by the hundreds out of the Tecumseh Court toward the monument in their shorts, T-shirts and socks, hurriedly gathering around the stone base to form a human platform for others.

By tradition — if never in actual fact — the plebe who grabbed the cap perched at the top would be the first member of the class to reach the rank of admiral.

In seconds, the plebes were making headway, absent the slapstick slipping, sliding and sloppy groping that makes the monument climb the amusing spectacle that it is.

Midshipmen Josue Castejon, Class of 2012, pointed to a plebe maybe a third of the way up the obelisk mere seconds into the assault.

"It took us forever to get up that high," said Castrejon, whose group made the climb last year. It took them one hour, 43 minutes, 38 seconds to send Schyler Widman to the top to grab the plebe cap perched up there.

That wasn't bad, and certainly better than, say, 1995, when Stephen Charles Fortmann of the Class of 1998 grabbed the "Dixie Cup," as the blue and white cap is called, in 4 hours, 5 minutes, 17 seconds — the longest since the climb began.

This year the lack of grease would make all the difference in time and travail: no slips, no falls, no bumps, no bruises, no sprained ankles or neck injuries.

The Herndon climb has generated such casualties in the past, and Fowler, the departing superintendent, had seen enough of that. This year, he decided that concerns about safety would dictate a greaseless climb.

Fowler said publicly a couple weeks ago that the Academy might do away with the ritual entirely, shifting the emphasis of the end-of-plebe-year celebration to the Sea Trials, a series of competitive events that has been part of the annual rituals since 1998.

Based on the Marine Corps' Crucible and the Navy's Battle Stations recruit programs, Sea Trials is a more serious affair involving relay races, stick jousting, an obstacle course, underwater events, a hill assault and bridge defense exercises.

And no lard, butter or other lubricants, which are considered too dangerous. Not everyone in the crowd was buying the safety argument.

"They send these guys to war, come on," said Laurie Lizotte of Grafton, Mass., whose son is a member of the class of 2013. She was pointing a camera at the monument, lamenting the prospect of the Herndon climb going the way of warships under sail.

Mike Williams of Montgomery County, who was there to watch his son Philip run the Herndon ritual, seemed less troubled about the lack of grease than the notion of the tradition being no more. "I think it's a rite of passage, it's part of the whole mystique of being at the Naval Academy," said Williams. "I don't see any reason why it should be done away with."

Midshipman Jordan Davidson, Class of 2012, said whatever the possible dangers of the climb, "the memories of Herndon definitely outweigh the risk."

Keegan Albi seemed unconcerned about safety as he climbed the northwest side of the monument, gaining quickly on the peak. The 20-year-old redhead from Eugene, Ore., reached to the Dixie Cup and got it. In 2 minutes, 5 seconds. Not quite a record, but close to the 1 minute, 30 second time recorded for the last greaseless run, in 1969.


"It was pretty easy 'cause they didn't grease it," said Albi, whose classmates were already calling him "admiral."

"I just climbed on people. …If they keep it and I defininately think they should, they should grease it."

So strange, said plebe McLean Panter of Memphis, Tenn.: "All year we were waiting for it and it's all over in two minutes."

arthur.hirsch@baltsun.com
Copyright © 2010, The Baltimore Sun

Pop Goes the Tortoise

My wife and I have been anticipating our oldest son and his wife arriving, with their three little kids in tow. With all of the wildlife activity in our yard, we figured there will be a fair amount of interest on the little kids' parts. Yesterday morning I noticed a tortoise making its way across one of our garden paths. I called for the kids to come and look. Grandma and the two boys looked from the patio window as I made my way out of the door. As I was looking at the specimen, I said "come on over." The rest of the gang had followed me outside, but asked "Why?" They had seen a second animal on another path and run out to it for a close look, not knowing I had seen a different one and was staring at it on the other side of the yard. Who would have known, two tortoises, both walking across paths, in different parts of the garden at the same time.

Unlike the photograph on the homepage of the Mid-Atlantic Turtle & Tortoise Society showing an Eastern Box Turtle in a forest habitat, the two images I caught yesterday in our backyard garden, the environs of our suburban setting, have proved to be hospitable to the species the past several years. I assume the top photograph a. is of a male (this one happens to be engrossed with the earthworm he has captured - much like the robins that have descended on our front yard since I have been finishing defining and establishing our new flower beds - especially the scale plates on the front legs and the pronounced beak on its mouth.

These are fascinating animals. We have noticed these two hanging around for at least two years. The species is under distress, with their population in decline due to loss of habitat and too much collection out of the wild. Maybe with this pair, we will find out one of these days that there are a catch of little tortoises in our yard - just like our grand kids this and next week. (1)
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(1) News update, May 23, 2010: This morning at 6:00, I looked out the upstairs bathroom window and saw the two tortoises walking together - one after the other - from the gravel path into the bed of lavender. I wonder if there is a deeper significance to this than surface appearances?

By Any Other Name

Roses are divided into 150 or so species, some of which have been garden plants for many centuries. Stems are often prickly or thorny and can be erect, arching, scrambling, or trailing. Flower form may be flat, cupped, rounded, high-centered, urn-shaped, rosette-shaped, quartered-rosette, or pompon. Flowers are often fragrant and range in color from white to nearly black. Species and cultivars are divided into old garden roses (in existence before 1867) and modern roses. Each division has many subgroups. There are many thousands of cultivars. Grow roses as specimens, in the border, as hedges or climbers, in the rock garden or cutting garden, or in containers. They can fill pretty much any garden need.
Noteworthy characteristics: Some species have been used in gardens for hundreds of years. Beautiful, fragrant flowers that are often good for cutting. Work well in a variety of garden situations.

Care: Even though many consider roses to be high maintenance plants, in reality they can tolerate a wide range of conditions. They usually prefer an open site in full sun, however. They grow best in moderately fertile, moist but well-drained soil that is rich in humus. Plant in early spring or late fall. Suckers should be removed from rootstock. Plants flower best with regular feeding.

Propagation: Softwood cuttings can be taken from the time of the first bloom in spring to summer; take hardwood cuttings in fall. Bud in summer. Sow seed in containers in fall.

Problems: Roses are susceptible to a wide variety of pests and diseases including aphids, leafhoppers, spider mites, scale insects, caterpillars, sawfly larvae, Japanese beetles, rose stem girdlers, thrips, rose chafers, rose midges, rose slugs, leaf cutting bees, black spot, rust, powdery mildew, dieback, canker, crown gall, viruses, and downy mildew. Deer and rabbits can munch on plants.

From the Website of Fine Gardening.
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Our favorite garden flower is the rose, even with all of the problems one can encounter. It has taken some special effort to keep from completely tanking while trying to grow roses here in Annapolis. As mentioned before, the Japanese Beetles were the first unexpected surprise we experienced (see the earlier post), but those were easy to remedy with a phermone trap the second year. Black spot disease caused by Diplocarpon rosae took better than two seasons of adjustments, and a lot of fungicide sprayed early in the season in two week intervals and through out the summer - a lot of extra watering beyond what our drip irrigation system applies helps, too. The low maintenance version of the rose that we discovered after two yers was the Knockout Roses.

Regardless of all the problems listed above, we liked the looks of the roses in our Oregon garden - deer withstanding, and the looks of our roses in our Annapolis garden - despite several years of failures. We would like them in any garden - I'm sure. Of course, we also have no problem with roses gracing our table in doors as well.

Rose is a rose is a rose is a rose
Loveliness extreme.
Extra gaiters,
Loveliness extreme.
Sweetest ice-cream.
Pages ages page ages page ages.

Gertrude Stein, 1913, from "Sacred Emily", published in 1922, in Geography and Plays.
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a. The Cecile Brunner rose in our garden was grown from a cutting we made of a specimen in Bob and Lois's yard, our next door neighbors in Corvallis. The plant climbed high into a white oak tree and would bloom every spring, sending the smell of roses through out the neighborhood from the tens of thousands of blooms. We have the memory preserved on an arbor over on of the gates into our back yard (b).

Two climbing roses - red and salmon (c and d) - cover another arbor (f) over the second gate into our back yard. I have no idea of what varieties these are - one of the previous owners had planted them.

e. Rose are a gift that can keep on giving. Our friend Vicki grew a plant from a bouquet of roses picked in our Corvallis garden. When we moved East, she gave us a cutting back from the plant that was now flourishing in her garden.

g. Knockout roses are simple to grow, and seem to be resistant to black spot disease, as well as Japanese Beetles. We have them growing in a bed near our front door (h), as well as in another bed in the back yard.