Home at last
Another Andy McFarlane, this one 47 and serving under the Union Jack in Afganistan writes:
Repatriation
The leviathan of the sky does land
In England’s green and pleasant land
Its cargo more precious than gold
The body of a hero, boldOnce the giant’s engines stopped
The cargo ramp is gently dropped
Carried by six on shoulders true
The hero is saluted by the crewThe coffin draped in Union Jack
Is slowly carried out the back
Out of the dark and into light
Slowly down the ramp and to the rightThe six approach the hearse all black
And place the hero gently in the back
The six then turn and march away
Their duty has been done this dayPoliticians usually have much to say
No sign of them near here this day.
They hide away and out of danger
Much easier if the hero is a strangerThe hearse with its precious load
Moves slowly out onto the road
The floral tributes line the route
While comrades snap a smart saluteAt the edge of a Wiltshire town
The cortege slows its pace right down
The streets are packed, many deep
Some throw flowers, most just weepThe crowd have come to say farewell
The church bell rings a low death knell
Regimental standards are lowered down
As the hero passed through the townThe cortege stops and silence reigns
The townsfolk feel the family’s pain.
The nations’ flag lowered to half mast
Our brave hero is home at last
How many times has the Union Jack or Old Glory or Whatever They Affectionately Call Your Flag come “home” atop a coffin? And how many more?
It’s hard to select a photo of someone else’s flag. M,! didn’t name hers. It’s part of her i am not a robot set.
Rain is good … most of the time
We had some rain last weekend that probably depressed attendance at the first ever Traverse City Wine & Art Festival. It felt like we had plenty of people though!
This morning on Michigan in Pictures I have a post where I started thinking about rain and events and tourism and such and how I’m still going to the first-ever Traverse City Microbrew & Music Festival.
I do know that the rain will depress attendance at events like the TC Beer Fest that are just getting going and also at established ones that rely on good weather for big crowds. At a time when major event sponsors and – in cases like the GR & Leelanau bike races – whole events are vanishing due to Michigan’s dire economic climate, it seems to me that it’s almost a duty to lace on those boots and don raingear and get out to support & enjoy these events.
In Traverse City this year, our CVB started a new committee that is engaging lodging properties in the establishment, creation and promotion of events at a high level. I suspect that it’s going to help a lot of events that might otherwise fail to keep going and wonder if there are similar efforts on the statewide level brewing as well.
Check this and other pics out bigger in Nathan’s favorites slideshow or in his Detroit Tiger set.
…on a possibly related but probably unrelated note, we had a post earlier this week on Absolute Michigan about how the Tigers were providing folk in Michigan with something to roar about that you might enjoy.
What I’m doing instead of blogging…
I know that I totally blew the “Ben Wallace is back” NBA Comix … I probably could have done a whole week’s worth on that topic. Sorry about that.
I’ve been working on the Traverse City Wine & Art Festival.
It’s the first annual of what I hope will be many and happens Saturday August 22 from 5-10 PM at the Grand Traverse Commons in front of Building 50 on the lawn under the big tent.
The evening will feature wines from 22 wineries from the Leelanau and Old Mission Peninsulas and a selection of Traverse City and Leelanau restaurants serving food & desserts along with fantastic music from Rojo Loco, Jay Webber and Thom Jayne and the Nomads.
I’m amazed at how much work there is involved in putting together a major festival and so grateful that we’ve been able to assemble such an amazing team of volunteers and staff to put this event on.
Things are really coming together and I think everyone who attends will have a fantastic time – hope you’re there! Here’s the headliner:
5 minutes on the 5th annual Traverse City Film Festival
One more video from the 2009 Traverse City Film Festival, this one by Michigan videographer Scott Allman. If you listen carefully, you can hear me ask Jeff Garlin a question. Ah, fame.
For more great videos, check out the Traverse City Film Festival’s photo/video/twitter/blog mashup (which amazingly enough I was able to code).
Traverse City Film Festival #5
Here’s a recap of the 2009 Traverse City Film Festival that was produced by Drago & edited by Ed Einhorn. Filmed by Mike McGee, Bill Latka, Jon Casey. I think Ed did an amazing job of getting this together in a short time and can’t wait to work with him again next year!
Also check out this video by Scott Allman of Jeff “Curb Your Enthusiasm” Garlin & Larry “Borat” Charles with yours truly as the interviewer
