Announcement

**Charles Heath** · 11-06-2008, 05:42 PM

Re: LHG's R-Day Memorial March 22 Nov 2008

Adding to the info for the latecomers.....

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8 AM
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Gettysburg National Military Park

Hosted by: The Living History Guild (Member-Potomac Legion)

You are invited to participate in a ceremony honoring the unknown soldiers unidentified by state interred in the National Cemetery and a memorial march on the field that will include the Bliss Farm, 3rd ME/Berdan/VT sharpshooters' marker on West Confederate Avenue and the 120th New York in the fields near the Peach Orchard. Additional information will be forwarded to interested persons upon request. Slots are limited to the first 50 and open to all Potomac Legion member units. Non PL members wishing to attend may request participation and be sponsored by a PL member. Once the maximum number of participants is reached, your name will be placed on a wait list and you will be notified in order of requests received to fill openings caused by cancellations.

This year we are starting a bit earlier than usual because we are including a ceremony in the National Cemetery. The march is slightly less than 3 miles, with movement across areas of the field few walk. The trails are fair, not difficult to walk and it certainly lends perspective to ground that gives a deceptively flat appearance. Our activities will finish about the same time the parade begins downtown and we currently have no plans to join it.

If you are interested in being a volunteer narrator and doing a battle history for one of the units listed below or donating flags for use in the National Cemetery, please contact Doug Oakes oldsoldier51@yahoo.com. If you have a favorite unit along Hancock Avenue, near the Angle, that you would like to include, contact us so we can incorporate it into the march route. A maximum of 10 units will be scheduled in order to allow us to finish the march prior to the expiration of our permit.

Unit
14th Connecticut -Ken Maloon
12th New Jersey
1st Delaware
3rd Maine
1st USSS
Co F Vermont Sharpshooters
120th NY- Doug Oakes

This year the march will be preceded by a memorial ceremony in the National Cemetery honoring those unknown soldiers who lie unidentified by state. The actual march begins at the grass lot on Taneytown Road across from the old Cyclorama and is a complete loop finishing near the Hancock monument so there will be no shuttling this year.

At each stop, a brief overview of the unit's actions at Gettysburg will be given and the Roll of Honor read. In addition, a small flag will be laid in the name of the state that furnished the source of enlistments.

Our permit allows weapons only within the confines of the march outlined above, so be advised, outside those limits you are subject to NPS rules, which forbid the carrying of firearms and can result in the confiscation of your weapon. DO NOT carry any weapons into the National Cemetery. We will form in the parking lot without equipment, enter the National Cemetery, and return to the parking lot to retrieve our gear.

POC: Douglas Oakes, oldsoldier51@yahoo.com, 607-734-0458

Registration:
� Respond via email to oldsoldier51@yahoo.com by Nov 15, 2008.
� No fee, but we do need a name roster
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Sequence of Events

8 AM Participants begin arriving at parking lot on Taneytown Road
8:30 AM Form for march to National Cemetery
8:45 AM Begin memorial ceremony in National Cemetery
9:45 AM Return to Taneytown Parking lot to recover weapons & equipment
10:15 AM Uniform & weapons inspection
10:30 AM March begins

Order of Movement
� March in 2 files between monuments on roadways, 4 files on the fields
� Review unit actions per the submitted list
� Read remembrance verses
� Present Arms
� Place flag
� Shoulder arms
� Depart for next regimental marker

Rest break with water resupply will be at the parking area in Pitzers Woods
1:30 PM Complete march at the Hancock Monument on Hancock Avenue
1:45 PM Disband
Route of March
� Start point vicinity of the grass lot on Taneytown Road across from the Cyclorama
� Move to the National Cemetery without equipment or weapons
� Conduct memorial ceremony and place 1 small US flag at the end of each row of the unknowns unidentified by state & 1 by each of the three granite markers giving the total number
� Depart National Cemetery to grass parking lot to recover weapons and equipment
� Depart grass lot on Taneytown Road and proceed in columns of two to the Angle
� Cross the fields utilizing the existing mowed paths in columns of four to the Bliss Farm
� Conduct a brief memorial ceremony, followed by the placing of a small US flag, a brief history of the unit actions and roll call of unit casualties.
� Proceed in columns of four utilizing existing paths and fence openings, avoiding any crops to West Confederate Avenue.
� Proceed in columns of two to the 3rd ME, 1st USSS monuments
� Conduct a brief memorial ceremony, followed by the placing of a small US flag, a brief history of the unit actions and roll call of unit casualties.
� Proceed across the fields in columns of four, utilizing existing pathways and fence openings to the Emmitsburg Road
� Cross the Emmitsburg Road vicinity of the Sherfy Farm
� Proceed across the fields to the 120th NY marker on Sickles Avenue.
� Conduct a brief memorial ceremony, followed by the placing of a small US flag, a brief history of the unit actions and roll call of unit casualties.
� Proceed across Plum Run toward the Hancock monument on Hancock Avenue
� Remove ONE top fence rail at the intersection of three fences below the Hancock monument and replace after crossing.
� Proceed to Hancock Monument & disband
� Participants will walk to their vehicles on the Taneytown Road past the Leister House.

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This is last Potomac Legion event for the 2008 season, and despite the fact it is somewhat overshadowed by After The Battle/Slaugher Pen the weekend prior, it is well worth supporting, and generally a good time to enjoy the battlefied, monuments, and the company of some fine folks.

**Charles Heath** · 11-19-2008, 05:01 PM

Re: LHG's R-Day Memorial March 22 Nov 2008

After last weekend, Grumpy Dave passes along a little weather watch for this march:

Weather for 17325--Gettysburg

Nov 21 Friday

Times of sun and clouds. Highs in the mid 30s and lows in the low 20s.

Nov 22 Saturday

Mix of sun and clouds. Highs in the mid 30s and lows in the low 20s.

Nov 23 Sunday

More sun than clouds. Highs in the low 40s and lows in the low 30s.

Heck, I might even be able to make the Friday tour. ;)

**MD_Independent** · 11-19-2008, 08:18 PM

Re: LHG's R-Day Memorial March 22 Nov 2008

Hope I can make it. The boss is talking about Kentucky once again, and there is a possibility of leaving before the weekend. I'm going to try and trade Thanksgiving for R-Day. I'd rather miss a boring evening spent with people I really don't like, than an opportunity to get a nice pic of myself in uniform next to the Birney Avenue sign. Too bad I can't climb the PA monument to get a pic standing next to General Birney hisself. Or maybe I could....

Billy Birney

**Charles Heath** · 11-21-2008, 12:50 PM

Re: LHG's R-Day Memorial March 22 Nov 2008

Billy,

Bring that indigo dyed yarn for Bev from Terre's dyepots at Westville....hey, that stuff is really starting to get some mileage on it!

Meanwhile, don't let some dirty old men con you into becoming the next member of the "Jenny Wadd Club."

(Soupbone, I hear you laughing.)

**Charles Heath** · 11-23-2008, 05:18 PM

Re: LHG's R-Day Memorial March 22 Nov 2008

Boys!

Rather than go to the parade in town, some of us opted to jine up with the stalwart young men and old goats in the LHG, 12th NJVI, and 13th NJVI for yet another cruise across the actual battlefield. Okay, sure, it was a voted on post-season event just a week after ATB, but you know how that goes.

Bev and I arose around 5 a.m. to gather up the last of our gotta-have things, devour a couple of piping hot "hooters" (these are bacon, fried egg, and cheese on a hot buttered bagel) for breakfast. How nice it was not to have to move firewood, drag along water tanks, props, signs, tentage, rations, mess furniture, trailers, rakes, hoes, plumbing supplies, horses, mules, wagons, barrels, boxes of paperwork scads of loaner gear, and other event support items. The trip up from The Bunker to Gettysburg with "Danica" Bev in her new Honda CR-V was pleasant enough at 80 mph (backed off to 75 mph in those infamous Maryland 55 mph speed trap zones), and we checked on the nice persimmon trees by the Burger King exit in Thurmont, but none of the sweet fruit with the CS button seeds were to be found. Grumpy Dave was nowhere to be found today, so the sun was up and shivering by the time we arrived in view of the Meccazoids on the fully fruited plains of Gettysburg.

Just for the sake of covering history, the previous wondermus marches included:

� Culp's Hill to the Peach Orchard (5.0 miles)
� Reynolds Avenue to Barlow's Knoll with emphasis on the artillery actions (2.7 miles)
� Peach Orchard, Wheatfield, Devils Den and Little Round Top (3.6 miles)
� Culp's & Cemetery Hills (3.2 miles)
� The Round Tops (3.5 miles)

Naturally, all of these marches are officially listed as "a mile and a half" in The Chronicles, and as short as they may seem, the distances are "just right" in terms of stopping, reading, saluting, bugling, etc.

Having read the post-final update to the final update to the very last blast of pre-event instructions, we eased into the correct overflow parking lot (there are several now that the ugly ugly ugly observation tower is long gone, and the cyclops-o-rama and OVC are closed), and soon other folks started arriving in frost bitten vehicles. Having placed a wreath on the former site of the battlefield Stuckey's and solemnly eulogized the disappearance of the most holy Pecan Logs in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, we were prepared to begin the day's festivities.

Charles: Does Dave Hunter know you wear blue?
Will: Don't you dare take a blackmail photo and send it to him.
Charles: Didn't have to. See that NSR spycam in the tree by the wall over there?
Will: I knew it. Man, I'm in trouble now.
Caleb: No BBQ for you!
Charles: Go write "Gov. Vance was a shrewd man." 100 times on the chalkboard.

Okay, maybe not too many minutes later, and not so many parsecs soon, but Old Blacky the Great Northern GMC Kabukimobile from almost Elmira arrived in stylish fashion, and we knew we were doing just fine when we could finally spy Doug and Terri in the cab. After exchanging pleasantries in the parking lot, I wisely hid behind Bev while the younger, less experienced, and unable to run quite fast enough to escape -- were being drafted for NCO roles in much the same was as a famished Velociraptor chooses it's dinner. Hillybilly Birney was drafted into service as the Orderly Sergeant -- complete with a sergeant's frock coat as it if had fallen from the skies. Maybe it did.

Charles: It's a shame the war ended the way it did.
Bill: Why's that?
Charles: You people would have something to eat besides bagels and hard rollsfor breakfast.
Will: Grits in every pot across the land!
Anonymous Pennsyltuckian: What, no comments about the supreme greatness of scrapple and pon haus?

The 13th NJVI posse arrived in a convoy serial, as if a professional sporting team from the Meadowlands, and the valiant, nutmeg infused, Will "Brown" Tatum refused the loan of a federal issue overcoat stating:

"I need this not, for the pleasant thoughts of my yet to be completed stylish and trendy County Cloth overcoat kit will keep me warm, today, if on no other day. I, for one, will never submit to northern subjugation and tyranny, nor overcoats -- unless made of jeanwool from Gov. Vance's own mills."

Caleb and Bill giggled like two schoolgirls knowing young Will was likely to freeze off his happy little hoohoo and cajones during the next 3 miles. In any case, he was in good company, as the battlefield was littered with...nevermind.

The private relic show got off to a great start with an original Rodman in the ranks, but the mix of boys was pretty much either under 25, or 50-ish plus. An original freeze dried Heath was right behind him creaking, wobbling, and farting (with great vigor) along, much to the olfactory disgust, distaste, and discomfort of those few in the rear of the company. At some point, the wheels came off the original Osmer, but we knew he was doing just fine when he asked (in his best dirty old man voice) the lovely nurse-kabuki Kortney for a sponge bath. Art Stone carried the colors with alacrity. Some of you were wondering why we as one company were totin' a national color. Cuz we could, but we knew we were in trouble when the painted gold stars starting delaminating from the silk due to the cold.

Will: C-c-could you use a s-s-sidekick for Into The Piney Woods?
Charles: Can you spell Natchitoches?
Will: Of course I can, I'm an educated man.
Charles: Do you fish?
Will: Yes. Why do you ask?
Charles: Confirmation, my good man.

The first part of the march (more like a stroll) was in our splendid yankee uniforms sans accoutrements and weapons, since the fine folks in the cemetery don't especially like Cletus, Jethro, and Elmo hanging about with their Hawkens, Lil' Abner hats, and fringe bags, so we eased into the warmth of one of the few cemeteries with heated sidewalks. I would happily say this was a real treat, but the heaters must have been turned off for the winter. Never worry, as they'll be working full blast come July.

Bill: Never trust a fart over the age of 60.
Charles: Do you know the definition of a surprise?
Bill: No.
Charles: A fart with a lump.

We saw several other groups wandering about within the cemetery, and even had a rare Doug Dobb's spotting, so that could have been the 15th NJVI. We had the 12th, 13th, and 15th NJVI in close proximity, which spells nothing but trouble, but we also had a Rhoadie and a blue frozen excommunicated Tar Heel with us, along with the ever lovin' Pukin' Bill Backus, so we could take 'em if necessary. In fact, at one point we thought there would be a train wreck of columns, but this was narrowly averted because the other column realized we were under the leadership of a New Yorker, and you know "those people" aren't about to yield any form of road, sidewalk, or deer trail rights of way. As the Fenians amongst us would almost say, "Get a bug fogger, you Ballyhoo."

The good news is the "Unknowns" in the cemetery were already marked with flags on each grave, unlike some years where these fellows are pretty much ignored. As prepared as we were to mark these graves with the usual little US flags, we were relieved we didn't have to do so. This year, there was no travesty for the forgotten unknowns. The cemetery looked darn good, and for those of you who have seen some of our southern cemeteries, such as Oakwood in Richmond, know I need not speak further on this matter.

Charles: This one time we were in Vicksburg, and it was so cold the rats jumped in the Johnny's fire to stay warm.
Pukin' Bill: Huh?
Charles: Yessir, there we were opposite the square fort, and the snow drifts were up to about five feet in places. Men were freezing to death left and right. It was a tough time without shoes, tents, blankets, or pole dancers.
Pukin Bill: I thought it was hot.
Charles: The Yalusippi River froze solid, and we drove our T-38s right across to Louisiana on the ice where we handled the Bayou Yeti roughly.
Will: We need a shovel about now.
Charles: Just go to a Landrum event to find weather beyond your wildest expectations.

We returned to the nearby parking lot without cold weather casualties, and 'coutered up for the remainder of the march on this balmy tropical day. We also had a weapons and uniform inspection, of which both Hilly Billy, and Old Bill's muskets required OSHA glare protection, since they were so clean and shiny. I don't have this problem. This second part of the march included a pass, fart, and review of the deader than a doornail Cyclorama. We still don't know perzacktly what the sandbags on the roof were for, but if the building needed that must ballast to stay on the level, then scuttling her on the high lawns was likely a great idea. The sidewalks are green here, which I interpet as a not so subtle way of the Gettysburg Chamber of Commerce letting us know it is "all about the cash."

Charles: What's that?
Bill: What's what?
Charles: Are you happy to see me or is that a smoked turkey leg in your pocket?

Having said a few good words for the unknowns in the cemetery, and having navigated the scuttled HMS Cyclorama, we then eased over to the Bliss farm area, and listed to some good words about the actions of the 14th Connecticut, 12th New Jersey, and 1st Delaware. All of these regiments claimed to have captured this barn by the way. We had a young man in our ranks who had absolutely nothing period on his person save for a borrowed greatcoat, a great attitude, and a touch of frostbite. He had to have had some mighty cold legs under those modern thin cotton blue jeans. He took the place of Ken Maloon reading the brief history of the 14th CT, the description of the actions that day, and a recital of the roll of their dead in good fashion. The 12th NJVI was covered in a similar manner, although with warmer legs, by Neil of the Stockton Guard, and a fine lad did great honor to the 1st Delaware....up to the point where Will Tatum, our cherished Tar Heel rep, bristled a bit at the mention of the capture of the 7th North Carolina's battle flag. We had to hold Will back....easy mule, easy.

Terri: You have to try these Wegman's Chinese BBQ potato chips.
Will: This may be against my religion.
Terri: They taste like eggrolls.
Bev: This I have to try.
Charles: Needs some duck sauce.
Bev: Dang, they do taste like eggrolls.
Charles: Do we have to pay for this expert opinion?

At this point, some bald headed old man in the "Pygmies and Midgets" section of the company mentioned just how much he'd love to have some ice cream. The groans were audible.

Each year, on the anniversary date and time of the great charge across the big field, a goodly number of park visitors and uniformed reenactors walk across this mile or so of hot, humid, and shadeless ground. Some years those afternoon jaunts are heated to the point where drawing a single breath becomes a point of labor. Suddenly, with this memory in hand, the cold air felt pretty darn good. With quick thinking, and youthful optimism I put some of this cold air in my haversack for next July.

Doug: How far'd we go yesterday?
Charles: About a mile and a half.
Doug: How far'll we go today?
Charles: About a mile and a half.
Doug: How far'll we go tomorrow?
Charles: S.M.A.

As you may suspect, with a number of the old cranky, constipated, irascible Aztec Club (look it up) members or at least members old enough to have been road guards for Caesar, mixed in with young folks who have yet to sport a single gray hair, the conversation in the mumbling ranks ranged from ribald to randy to raunchy and back again. I shan't name names, but one of those defining moments in life was hearing some of the older set explain to the younger set that it is better to leave the grand ball with girls in tow than with each other, especially if you are heading back to the same motel room, but this is a tale best told elsewhere. Also of note, we inquried about the frequent (and deep) groundhog holes having homeowners insurance, if we needed a letter of credit to cover damages when marches slipped into said holes thigh deep, and continued our annual tradition of "what was your favorite/least favorite C-ration back in the day?" Yes, you had to have been there. Whole bunches of "do you remember when" going on back there. Naturally, at least according to Tony Soprano, "remember when" conversations are the lowest form of conversation. Well, fine.

Caleb: We have a motel room.
Pukin' Bill: We are going to the ball.
Charles: Together?
Lefty: Who is the wingman?
Caleb & Pukin' Bill: What's a wingman?
Bill: This isn't going to work out well.
Lefty: Nope.
Charles: The objective is to leave the ball with a girl.
Lefty: That's more like the road on the way to the objective.
Bill: Let's help these two find the path to the road, first.

Ambling over to the McMillan Woods Boy Scout Camp driveway or thereabouts, we sauntered past that area (having no horses or horse trailers) to the relatively unknown cul de sac with the 1st USSS and Vermont Sharpshooters monument. For some reason, we had trouble finding anyone even remotely interested in the 3rd Maine, but the draftee in question did a fine job outlining their service, what they did at Gettysburg, and generally looking pretty darn cold. Actually, maybe we talked about the 3rd Maine in the big field with loads of sunshine...or it came up after lunch....

Charles: Caleb do you see that building with the red and white stripes on the roof?
Caleb: Yes.
Charles: That's the Kentucky Monument.
Pukin' Bill: (Giggles)
Will: Is it true Kentucky issued kittens as rations?
Charles: No comment.
Caleb: Has anyone seen Rob Grandchamp?

Anyway, Dave "Nolan" Berndt did a bang up job with the USSS and Hiram "gotta job to do in the rear" Berdan. He even provided a nice pass around set of images of Hiram B. and California B., and I thought about the fresh pork the USSS lads enjoyed earlier this year at Glendale-Malvern Hill, as their counterparts did in 1862. I thought about how they were smart enough to stay in their warm homes and not be out there with their solid little toes saying, "find a campfire, you dumb-ss!"

Bill: The peanut butter mixed with bug juice made a nice ration heater.
Lefty: I always got the lima beans for breakfast.
Charles: I hated the spaghetti.
Bill: A real man ate the veins, sinews, gristle, bone chips, and such in the meat patties after dark.
Charles: I liked the brains and eggs. I had it often as a kid.
Lefty: I hated the green eggs.
Bill: Eggs weren't supposed to be that shade of green.
Charles: Neither was the ham.
Bill: I still have my P38.
Charles: Me, too.
Lefty: Me, too.
Whippersnapper: Are you guys antique aircraft pilots?

The Co. F, Vermont Sharpshooters monument is made of marble, and was knocked down in a storm or a by a big tree, Sasquatch, or something squashed it right well maybe 10 years ago. It was rebuilt with love and affection somewhere around 8 years ago (I vaguely remember Marc Riddell mentioning this some years back), and it is a very pretty, simple, yet elegant marker topped with an eagle. We noticed the big bird's tailfeathers were frozen.

Narrator Neil: The projectile hit the soldier in the chest splattering heart and blood all over the place just as the men were sitting down to eat. The sergeant wiped off his hardtack and ate it anyway.
Collective company voice: Ewww.
Anonymous former zouave: That's hardcore.

Evidently, Hiram Berdan's mission to check on something in the rear met with success, as we had a snack awaiting us near the "Arm Pit Heater" in the Pitzer's Woods Parking Lot & Reenactor Petting Zoo. God help me, but it was deja vu all over again here in the Pitzer's Woods Parking Lot -- the sight of some of the most miserable living histories known to man, beast, and, well, sometimes the scenery riding by on the horse trail is as good or better than that of the Kennesaw Mountain Jogging Trail. Ah, plus we had a selection of portajohns, and with the cold weather, you can bet more than a few references were made to George's post cold water swimming plight a la a memorable episode of Seinfeld. Anyway, the ham, varietal breads, hardboiled eggs, lemonade, and water were welcomed by one and all. Mmmmmm, goood.

Voice from the head of the column: Man down!
Another voice: Groundhog hole!
Lefty: Damn holes.
Bill: How bad is the hole damaged?
Charles: Hey, does the groundhog have homeowners insurance?
Little Voice From Deep in the Hole: "$#%&!!!! ILOC!"

We walked across the big field (notice I don't call it what a heck of a lot of other folks call it) by the replanted Peach Orchard (one of several, actually) and spent a moment watching a horse in a red-blue blanket watch us. Doug Oakes mentioned his shirt tail relative who was killed near this 120th NYVI marker, and spoke of the regiment's record, their actions at Gettysburg, and their dead and mortally wounded. The latter might not sound like much at first, but when the injuries (if known) are linked with the date of death, it can give a man pause to consider the weeks of lingering pain from infected amputations or simply the agony of hanging around for 72 hours after a gutshot. Sobering it is, and some of the modern antibotic resistant staph infections have a morbid parallel.

These marches have covered quite a bit of the battlefield over the years, a heck of a lot of history, and pose a sharp counterpoint to the parade of God only knows what in town. Last year, a young buck was darn near in tears describing the actions of the Pennsylvania Reserves and his relatives within one of those regiments. I hope he had a chance to see what we did with the 4th Penna. Reserves in April in some swampland near Richmond, Va. earlier this year.

Doug: Swartzy is down.
Bob: How's the drum?
Bill: He is up again, and walking.
Lefty: Looks like he is down again.
Doug: What happened?
Charles: Looks like an attractive redheaded nurse attending. Osmer-the-Great may be down for a long while.

When we returned to the parking lot for the usual grip-n-grin, the happy little company of about 35 souls gave the intrepid Mr. Savage our young blue-lipped bugler three cheers. The young man deserved at least that much and a hot cup of cocoa, IMHO. I hope we see more of him.

The evening came to a close with a fine meal with the ever growing 13th NJVI. In a dulce et decorum finish to the season, and with a nod to the fabulous Out of Old Capitol Prison event, we had both ham and chicken on the menu, Hank. Oh, with applesauce/raisin sauce on the ham. Yes, a tavern cooked meal in what really is a restaurant in a circa 1776 house. I thought about how cold and wet we were a few times this year, and how much it made me appreciate a warm place with good friends and good food. The 13th NJVI had reservations for 30, and darned if they didn't fill every seat or nearly so.

Last year, the memorial march covered more regiments, and just a little more ground in terms of vertical lift, but it was mostly uphill in the form of the Round Tops. This year, we didn't have any of the infamous shuttling that we have with most of these affairs, but here is what was covered last year by the draftee, er, volunteer narrators:

� 18th Pennsylvania Cavalry
� 5th NY Cavalry
� 1st Vermont Cavalry
� 118th Pennsylvania
� 119th Pennsylvania
� 12th Pennsylvania Reserves
� 5th Pennsylvania Reserves
� 9th Massachusetts
� 10th Pennsylvania Reserves
� 1st Vermont Brigade
� 6th Maine
� 49th Pennsylvania
� 5th Wisconsin

A little cool weather on our toes makes us realize just how fortunate we are in these modern times, and gives us just a scant glimpse of what the boys of 1861-1865 went through. One of the hints I take from the CW era notes and photos is to wear a nice cotton shirt under my federal issue wool flannel shirt. Yep, it makes life a little warmer. No overcoat needed yesterday.

After all those hundreds of LHs at the Pennsylvania Monument over the years, do you remember the lack of shade at the Penna Monument? Well, as a park improvement, ALL the trees over there are gone now, and you can see the red brick maintenance shop from the old fire pits. No kidding. That little woodlot is g-o-n-e. Good thing the little stone outhouses are finally repaired.

Until next time!

**MD_Independent** · 11-23-2008, 07:37 PM

Re: LHG's R-Day Memorial March 22 Nov 2008

"we knew he was doing just fine when he asked (in his best dirty old man voice) the lovely nurse-kabuki Kortney for a sponge bath."

Charles,
The economy is bad. It's becoming ever more difficult to buy new gear. My car needs new brakes. Would it be appropriate to 'sell' off sponge baths at events, given by the girl, of course? Can sponge baths be given with a frozen sponge and slush from a canteen? I've been going out with her for over a year, and Kortney still hasn't offered me that service. Maybe if I offered half the proceeds to preservation, I could become an 'approved vendor'.

As a side note, I'm feeling like a rock star right now. Nothing like having a half-crazy
ex-girlfriend in the parade shouting out my name, and again, and then her entire little group of friends yelling "Billy, Billy" in high-pitched, high school girl voices... Had to double quick it to O'rorkes in order to find shelter from the fans. The whiskey was nice, giving my bodyguard(Kortney) and myself some much needed courage. My goodness, Charles, if there was any possibility of me going back to the girl before Saturday, it's over now. By participating in such a parade, following a military unit like a common camp whore or Irish washer woman, she is now officially tainted in my eyes. Another chapter in my life has closed....

Touring the battlefield this morning was great. Saw a young couple at Devil's Den, and, my oh my, I came to appreciate my nurse. The young couple, a 'streamer and his lady, pulled up just as we were heading back to the car. The young lady in question was extremely bad tempered, because the young man made her 'get out of the car to look at F#**#&@ rocks!". Mine was all about going up to the top and looking around a bit. I am also proud to say that she can now identify the different corps badges and the divisional colors. Plus, she has expressed an interest in learning how to sew. I've taught her how to press cider, make moonshine, cuss, and chew tobacco. Time for her to teach me something.

Finding the 1st MD Eastern Shore and 2nd DE monuments was a nice bonus. Go Cecil!!!

Ok... Now, to business. Being an orderly sgt. for this march was extremely easy. Monsieur Oakes did all the work, leaving me very little to do. And following the drummer meant that I didn't need to lead, be sober, or walk in a straight line. Luckily, I stayed back a few car lengths, and when I saw his foot lose traction, I was able to walk right around him. Incidentally, I want to be a sgt. at least once when I can do my job. My goodness, but I was 'cramming' for the past two nights. No roll calls, no orders to give. Noone to yell at, except for the dog when I got home. I was sorely dissappointed.

Where we goin' next year?

Billy Birney

**SweetBeth210** · 11-25-2008, 02:01 PM

Re: LHG's R-Day Memorial March 22 Nov 2008

That wasn't me in the parade that saw you, it was my mom marching with her fiance's unit. I am associated with the Liberty Rifles and would not appreciate you slandering my reputation in such a fashion. Your public words are hurtful. Get the facts straight. I'm glad I didn't see you, as I'm sure it would have been a pathetic scene. I never thought Billy Birney would allow himself to be whipped. I was hoping we could remain friendly, all hope ends now.

**MD_Independent** · 11-25-2008, 07:04 PM

Re: LHG's R-Day Memorial March 22 Nov 2008

Ms. Elizabeth,
You have my deepest apologies and regrets. I was mistaken, and I beg your pardon. Have contacted the administrators in the hopes that one of them could edit my above post and delete the 'slander'. Again, you have my humble apology and regards.

William Birney

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LHG's R-Day Memorial March 22 Nov 2008

LHG's R-Day Memorial March 22 Nov 2008

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