We're looking for as many patriotic Union men as we can get to rally round the flag of the 142nd PVI and Old Glory in Stroudsburg, Pa., on May 25, Memorial Day.
The 10 a.m. parade features a mile and a half (no, really) parade route and an appreciative turnout of spectators. It is a very large parade and we are apparently leading it.
It culminates at Stroudsburg's town square in front of the court house, which this year features a huge refurbished bell due to ring for the first time since maybe WWII later this month.
But wait, there's more.
The town square features two 32 pounder naval guns, which we think, if our antique brains can be trusted to remember, were produced by the Phoenixville Ironworking Company during the war. We're not sure and we're checking. How they ended up in Stroudsburg is anyone's guess, but the parade organizers are asking us for a dedication ceremony. Apparently they were never dedicated in the first place even though they've been there, we're told, for 130 years.
So we march in the parade, stack arms and wait in the shade at the court house, amidst the temptations of hundreds of beautiful, adoring women with pie (one can dream), and when the parade is finished we fall in again for a brief ceremony after which we leave the court house square and the politicians throw themselves enthusiastically into the great American tradition of oratorical bloviation under a hot sun before a numb crowd, eventually reaching some mystical state of ecstasy.
We'll cheerfully take all the soldiers and music we can get. Reasonably clean uniform is requirement one; requirement two is the ability to march to the step at 90 beats a minute for more than 50 consecutive yards. Almost the entire parade route is covered with spectators, we go to route step only for a few hundred yards while crossing a bridge. Third requirement, functional canteen. There are really no other requirements, since a nice mix of uniforms from different units like Zouaves, VRC, state jackets, sacks, frocks, various unit insignia, would be quite appropriate for the overall purpose of remembering and honoring the men we emulate. We'll have officer, first sergeant, drum, fife, company structure. If by any miracle any other entire units want to take part, by golly you betcha yup we'll do two companies. If enough units want to send their colors, we'll figure out a way to include them all in a color front. Civilians are also quite welcome. We'll get everybody back to their vehicle when it's over.
It's a great downtown, coulda been created from a Norman Rockwell painting. Stroudsburg is on Interstate 80 almost at the New Jersey line, near the Delaware Water Gap. It's a very long hour from Manhattan, 45 minutes from Scranton, 45 minutes from Allentown, 2.15 hours from Harrisburg, 3 hours from Gettysburg, and two hours from Philly. It's an hour and 10 minutes from Middletown, NY, for any Orange Blossoms etc. up that way. About two hours to Binghampton.
If you enjoy doing what you do to the sound of cheers and applause, this is the venue. Quite a few folks locally have figured out over the years that Memorial Day began with "us" and they're into it.
If you have any interest at all please shoot me an email: editorwon@gmail.com We'll figure it out from there.
Yeah, I'm enthusiastic. I LIKE this parade.
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Bill Watson
