Remembrance Day / Veterans' Day

Wed. Nov 11 Happy Veteran's Day

Such an odd greeting...I never thought of this day as happy... solemn, serious, reflective, even sad, but not happy. But that's the greeting everyone here uses.

We took the time this morning to attend the Veteran's Day service at Veteran's Memorial Park. They gave out poppies although not recognizable by Canadian standards. These poppies are formed to look like real flowers, not flat and stylized like ours do.

The services down here are much less formal and much more personal than Remembrance Day in Canada. The veterans wear such different uniforms that it's hard to tell who is what. Today there were Marines, Navy, Army, Air force, and Coast Guard represented here. It was a short service outside with presentation of flags by the Legion and a keyboard and an accordion playing the music. We heard from a Marine and a retired Naval CPO, and the minister. The program said there would be paying of wreath but it must have happened while someone was talking because we didn't see it. After it was over [it took about an hour and they didn't stop at 11:00 ... they didn't have 3 minutes of silence; just a 21 gun salute at 11:45 and someone playing Taps very slowly...no Reveille either....also no bagpipes!!!]

We spent about 15 minutes talking to a couple of Marines, about their service and who is Senior down here. Apparently it is at the discretion of the Parade Commander, but they both agreed that the Navy was formed first in a pub in 1756 [give or take a few years.] He then told us about getting into the Marines when he wanted to be an Airman. It got lost in the details but he was very funny, and told us that there were some Canadians down there with him at that boot camp. I should have asked him if he remembered the names. My Uncle Albert Greenwood crossed into the States to train as a paratrooper with the US forces until his dad found him and dragged him back home. But this guy was too young to know Albert. He was only in his mid 60's.

So the last part finally came in today and we hope to be the water by Friday, assuming we can get everything re-assembled. So of course that means the weather is changing. We are supposed to get a low pressure bringing a cold front through. And if it works out right, we will be heading down the coast and over to Bimini by next week.  We are so tired from the heat and climbing up and down the ladder, it will be a pleasure to sit on the boat and just chill while she sails herself over to the islands.

And Mark & Gail, we were just talking about when we met you and where we were this time last year!! We were in Cape Charles at the Veterans' Day service...we met you about two weeks later heading into the Dismal Swamp! See you soon!

The catamaran behind us had its owners arrive yesterday. They are both former military from Brighton, Ontario! I hope we leave first... if they go, there is nothing between us and the trains!!

So helping time and getting back to work! Quentin is at the "office", posting his blog and hopefully getting some other work done. We are finishing the history unit this week. Stay warm... or cool, whatever you prefer. I hear the dandelions are flowering again in TBay...what no snow? Julie will be going crazy! How can you put up Christmas decorations without snow?!?!?

Quentin and Me

Storm coming

fixing the traveler deck

mess of masts 

service today