2009 Washington DC Memorial Day Parade
The MDSSAR Color Guard participated again this year in the Memorial Day Parade in the nation's capital representing the National Society. Our color guard has been in the parade every year since its reintroduction to Washington in 2004. Part of the parade is laid out in historical order. This has always put us near the beginning.
Four MDSSAR members along with eight color guardsmen from Georgia, Ohio, Vermont and Virginia marched in uniform. Members of the George Washington Chapter marched in their blue blazers. This year's parade route was west along Constitution Avenue from 7th to 17th street. Our blue wool coats were hot even with a slight overcast sky, but we all made it to the end. The crowds clapped and waved as we went by, and as we made our way back to the car many said we had done a good job or we looked good.
Before and after the parade we all had people asking to take photos of us. Drummer Ayers and fifer Embry keep getting waylaid by photo request, included a TV spot, it took them nearly an hour to make it from the parking garage to the parade starting point. President Hoover carried our Cowpens National flag and Commander Smithson carried the Maryland flag. Our MDSSAR flag was carried by Genealogist General Dooley.
Click on the pictures to see them enlarged and see more pictures from the event in the photo album.
Pictures thanks to Geoffrey G. Colby's wife.
To see video of the entire parade you can see it over at DVIDS.
You can see the NSSAR and MDSSAR in section 3 of 12 parts, about 5 minutes in this section. Don't blink we only are on for about 30 seconds.
