On Armed Forces Day 21 May 2005
Big Bubba sits here with a tear in his eye thinking of comrades in arms who have gone before. The balance has tipped according to the Disabled American Veterans. Today, for the first time, Disabled Veterans from the Vietnam Era outnumber the World War II Disabled Veterans. We Serve. We Die. Thank You America For Letting Us Serve, And God Bless America!
Fiddler's Green
Halfway down the trail to Hell,
In a shady meadow green
Are the Souls of all dead troopers camped,
Near a good old-time canteen.
And this eternal resting place
Is known as Fiddlers' Green.
Marching past, straight through to Hell
The Infantry are seen.
Accompanied by the Engineers,
Artillery and Marines,
For none but the shades of Cavalrymen
Dismount at Fiddlers' Green.
Though some go curving down the trail
To seek a warmer scene.
No trooper ever gets to Hell
Ere he's emptied his canteen.
And so rides back to drink again
With friends at Fiddlers' Green.
And so when man and horse go down
Beneath a saber keen,
Or in a roaring charge of fierce melee
You stop a bullet clean,
And the hostiles come to get your scalp,
Just empty your canteen,
And put your pistol to your head
And go to Fiddlers' Green.
The author is unknown. The poem was first published in a 1923 issue of US Cavalry Journal. The poem has a long oral tradition, from the 1800s, handed down from trooper to trooper. Big Bubba served in the 4th Squadron 12th United States Cavalry, 2nd Battalion 33rd United States Armor and the 2nd Battalion (Mechanized) 23rd United States Infantry all proud heirs to the noble traditions and legacy of the United States Cavalry.
Fiddler's Green
Halfway down the trail to Hell,
In a shady meadow green
Are the Souls of all dead troopers camped,
Near a good old-time canteen.
And this eternal resting place
Is known as Fiddlers' Green.
Marching past, straight through to Hell
The Infantry are seen.
Accompanied by the Engineers,
Artillery and Marines,
For none but the shades of Cavalrymen
Dismount at Fiddlers' Green.
Though some go curving down the trail
To seek a warmer scene.
No trooper ever gets to Hell
Ere he's emptied his canteen.
And so rides back to drink again
With friends at Fiddlers' Green.
And so when man and horse go down
Beneath a saber keen,
Or in a roaring charge of fierce melee
You stop a bullet clean,
And the hostiles come to get your scalp,
Just empty your canteen,
And put your pistol to your head
And go to Fiddlers' Green.
The author is unknown. The poem was first published in a 1923 issue of US Cavalry Journal. The poem has a long oral tradition, from the 1800s, handed down from trooper to trooper. Big Bubba served in the 4th Squadron 12th United States Cavalry, 2nd Battalion 33rd United States Armor and the 2nd Battalion (Mechanized) 23rd United States Infantry all proud heirs to the noble traditions and legacy of the United States Cavalry.
posted by BigBubba at 9:27 AM
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7 Comments:
I salute you Big Bubba and all the Vets who have served not named Kerry.
I posted Ted Pecks Kerry quotes in Why do liberals talk about books they have not read.
I upset someone in France they are sending Porn to my site.
Yesterday's important day got very little coverage in the MSM.
My great-uncle Bill, like a grandfather to me because both my grandfathers died before I was born, served on the front lines during WWI. He was injured and lived the remainder of his life quite disabled. Unfortunately, Uncle Bill signed away most of his rights--he couldn't read or write, and totally trusted that the VA would take care of him. Didn't happen, but neither Uncle Bill nor his wife Pearl, ever complained about the resulting financial hardships.
Within a few hours of the 9/11 attacks, I dug out my uncle's funeral flag and draped it from my front eaves And Uncle Bill's photo is the only family picture on display in my living room. A very special man, who continued to be a patriot until the day he died.
Two of my cousins were on the beach on D-Day. Both came home, well and physically unharmed. Psychological issues were another matter, but I never, ever, heard Kenneth or Claude utter a word of complaint. They were proud to serve. Both died young (ages 44 and 39), and I'm glad they didn't live to see or hear the wusses who blab on and on today.
Thank you, Big Bubba, for serving and for protecting our nation. All too often, Americans forget what sacrifices have been, and continue to be, made by those who serve.
God bless you!
Since reservists are allowed to celebrate Armed Forces Day on "any" day in May (not just the third week), I have taken the liberty to commemorate what was perhaps an earlier, yet similar, occassion celebrated on May 1st, 1772. A report of that celebration follows below:
"This custom of celebrating the day (St. Tamanend's Day) was continued down within the recollection of many of the present inhabitants of this city [Annapolis, 1841] ." We have noted this celebration here to show that the fame of Tamanend had traveled from the neighboring Province of Pennsylvania, where he had long been celebrated on account of his services to and friendship for the early settlers, and also to call attention to the custom of those taking part in the affair to decorate themselves with buck tails or buck skins, for the reason that a little later the followers of Tamanend and those subscribing to their ideas were designated in the public prints as "Buck Skins." The first meeting of the Society is recorded in an issue of the Pennsylvania Chronicle, dated May 4, 1772. "On Friday, the first instant, a number of Americans, Sons of King Tammany, met at the house of Mr. James Byrn, (Located on the west side of Tenth Street between Mulberry (Arch) and Sassafras (Race), Deed Book I, p. 36.) to celebrate the memory of that truly noble Chieftain whose friendship was most affectionately manifested to the worthy founder, and first settlers of this Province. After dinner the circulating glass was crowned with wishes loyal and patriotic and the day concluded with much cheerfulness and harmony. It is hoped from this small beginning a society may be formed of great utility to the distressed, as this meeting was more for the purpose of promoting charity and benevolence than mirth and festivity."
The following toasts were drunk on this occasion:
1. The King and Royal Family (George III. of England).
2. The Proprietors of Pennsylvania (Thomas Penn and John Penn, son of Richard).
3. The Governor of Pennsylvania (Richard Penn, Lieutenant-Governor son of Richard Penn).
4. Prosperity of Pennsylvania.
5. The Navy and Army of Great Britain.
6. The pious and immortal memory of King Tammany.
7. Speedy relief to the injured Queen of Denmark (Caroline Matilda, sister of George III. of England, and wife of Christian VII. of Denmark).
8. Unanimity between Great Britain and her Colonies.
9. Speedy repeal of all oppressive and unconstitutional acts.
10. May the Americans surely understand and faithfully defend their constitutional rights.
11. More spirit to the Councils of Great Britain.
12. The great philosopher, Dr. Franklin.
13. His Excellency, Governor Franklin, and prosperity to the Province of New Jersey.
14. His Excellency, Governor Tryon, and prosperity to the Province of New York.
15. The Honorable James Hamilton, Esq., late Governor of Pennsylvania.
16. The Chief-Justice of Pennsylvania (Honorable William Allen, vice Kinsey, deceased, 1750 to 1774).
17. The Speaker of the Honorable House of Assembly of Pennsylvania (Joseph Galloway).
18. The Recorder of the City of Philadelphia (William Parr, vice Chew, resigned).
19. The pious and immortal memory of General Wolfe.
20. The Pennsylvania farmer (John Dickinson).
21. May the Sons of King Tammany, St. George, St. Andrew, St. Patrick, and St. David love each other as brethren of one common ancestor, and unite in their hearty endeavors to preserve the native Constitutional American Liberties.
The company started off with the regulation toasts of the day, and it was only when they reached the eighth toast that their real feelings show themselves; the ninth was stronger in its sentiment, the tenth rings out; quite vigorously for America's rights, but the toast-master evidently thought that it was now time to tone down the enthusiasm, so the eleventh toast sounds well but is perfectly harmless. Then follows a series of toasts to provincial dignitaries until we reach the twentieth, when the real sentiment of those participating crops out in the toast to the Pennsylvania farmer whose letters were then challenging the attention of the world.
In the last toast is the call to unite all parties in a common cause to defend the rights of America against oppression.
After the seventeenth toast we find an asterisk, and the note below says,— "The kind genius that presides over American Freedom forbade it and the Sons of King Tammany appeared as averse to drink it as they would have been to swallow the 5 mile stone."
-FJ
Finally, a comment from Farmer John that doesn't require a hard four day ride and a change of horses. I have to challenge the statement, "........as this meeting was more for the purpose of promoting charity and benevolence than mirth and festivity." Yeah, right, twenty one toasts and there was no "mirth and festivity?" I can see dancing on the tables with some possible passed out bodies under the table.
I am still working on a response on the leadership discussion.
BB,
I don't think their was a complete absence of mirth or festivity, but I do know that after I enjoy a little mirth and festivity, my charity and benevolence tends to rise... but after 21 toasts? That does indeed give lie to the claim.
I look forward to your comments re: leadership. Although I suspect that we both favor practicing the truthful and straighforward style of Achilles, one must some times acknowledge the necessity for employing Odysseus' qualities as well. I suspect that many of the revellers at the 1772 gathering might agree, or perhaps they might have stopped toasting much earlier in the day than they did.
-FJ
Farmer John, I never became interested in our own history until now in my golden years (or, in my case should that be bronze?) and my interest in genealogy developed. I never knew, or even heard of King Tammany and the Tammany Society. I did know about Boss Tweed and Tammany Hall. In my ignorance I thought "Tammany" had something to do with corrupt Irish immigrants. What an interesting little side trip researching the Tammanys. Thanks for your contribution.
My pleasure BB, and if you ever care to rifle more thoroughly through the folds in richly attired Clio's gown one day, let me know. I can promise the experience would be at least as amusing as the recent film "National Treasure" was.
-FJ
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