Ponchos and Patriotism

As it turned out today, my friend and I wrapped up scrappin' weekend early enough for me to get back for Carter's second of two Veterans' Day performance. The Assumption High School Band was set to play at 11 a.m. at the Veterans' Park along the river then at 1 p.m. outside the courthouse, where they were dedicating a new Veterans' Memorial.

Didn't quite work out that way.

As we were driving to Rapids around 11, we noticed the light morning sprinkles quickly turned to a downpour. A long, healthy downpour. Jenny and I look at each other and though, "Uh-oh, hope it's not raining in town!'

But it was. Big time.

Apparently, when the band members boarded the bus, some 10 blocks from the park, it was not raining, It started to sprinkle when they got there. Then it just poured and poured. They did not have rain gear for themselves or the instruments. But the band director told me later they found it more comical than anything else. Plus, could they really complain when the very veterans they were there to honor withstood conditions a hundreds worse when they were serving our country?!

After the wet ceremony, the kids jumped on the bus and went back to the school for an hour to dry things out. They pretty much had to put on cold, damp uniforms when they headed to the courthouse for the 1 p.m. ceremony. This time they had ponchos on. But since they moved everything indoors -- in a room too small for the crowd at hand -- the band had to play inside so the veterans and their families could hear the music.

The solution? Playing in the hallway.

They made it work. Of course, it got so warm so quickly, most of them quickly shed their ponchos. Carter was on the far left ...

....so I was able to see him (and photograph him) from my spot in the hallway. I had arrived early and got one of the first seats in the main room, but gave it up for someone who had a better reason to be there. It was a standing-room-only crowd with not much space to stand. But no one complained.

The representatives from each group holding a flag had a mess on their hands as all the flags were soaked from the previous ceremony. Again, no one complained about any of this.

And the band did a great job with some patriotic numbers, the Star-Spangled Banner, a medley of theme songs from every branch of service and a pretty brass ensemble version of Taps.

Since hubby was in Marshfield visiting his aunt and uncle, I picked Carter up at the school afterwards and we made our way home via DQ (he deserved a treat today) and Wal-Mart. I unpacked all my scrap gear and showed him "his" albums. Forty-one pages' worth from the weekend. Not bad.

Now I've got a few interesting photos (and soggy memories) for his ninth-grade book ... whenever I get to that. Not soon. Am relaxing tonight. Hitting the hay early.

And thanking God once again for the veterans in my life. Salute!