Memorial Day Service, May 31, 2004 • On the Mall

 

We arrived at the WWII Memorial at dusk, but with a storm on the horizon.

 

The general AWON membership settles in for the service,
seated directly across from the Wall of Freedom.

 

Grandchildren (front row) prepare to read the names of
our Fathers and their Grandfathers.

 

The Color Guard begins the AWON service.

 

AWON Board Member and Conference MC Bob Meek opens the service,
the first private service at the Memorial permitted by the National Park Service.

 

An invocation by Reverend Jack Hadler, husband of
First Founder Susan Johnson Hadler.

 

Conference Chairman Walt Linne comes to the podium.

 

Walt recites "High Flight."

"Oh, I have slipped the surly bonds of earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds . . . and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of . . . wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there.
I've chased the shouting wind along and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air,
Up Up the long, delerious burning blue
I've topped the windswept heights with easy grace
where never lark, or even eagle flew.
And while with silent, lifting mind I've trod
The high untrespassed sanctity of space
put out my hand, and touched the face of God."

The photo of Bob Meek, above, is thanks to Pat Tiemann Fabri.
The first photo of Walt Linne is thanks to Pat Behan Armstrong. The rest are Rik's.

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