We are BACK, Sort of

Oh my goodness, it was a long two weeks. 

Our computer.... we had to take Windows 10 off, and revert to Windows 7 Home Version, 

and it is still not back to normal yet.  The computer was stripped of all programs, but my 

precious pictures were saved.  The problem is, I have NO EDITING PROGRAM at 

present. 

I will rectify that soon. 

In the meantime, I am struggling with the fact I cannot get the computer upgrades 

to complete. 

I am going to have to take it back into shop tomorrow, 

to have them finish the upgrades. 

Keith was so kind as to help me buy a laptop, which I'll bring 

home in the morning, and I'll use that as my "photography" 

computer. 

So... a post... with no editing! 

Last Wednesday, I went to the Veterans Day parade in 

Leavenworth.  It is the second largest in the US, behind 

Washington, D.C.'s. 

A few minutes after step-off time of 10:30, here came the color bearers down the street.  They were led by two bagpipers!  (who may or may not have been playing Scotland the Brave)... 

See the Pullman Place sign behind and above them?  Best place to eat in Leavenworth! 

There were lots and lots of vets on motorcycles, this is a huge area for the 

veterans honor guard units. 

More colors, this time by firefighters... notice the two on the outside carry axes. 

There were cheerleaders, flag girls, and marching bands, go, Lansing Lions! 

And troopers carrying the colors. 

There were many vehicles, old and new. 

The US Navy Band had made a performance at Fort Leavenworth the night before. Were they ever GOOD. 

This lady sat across from me the whole time.  I wondered if that was her dad, whose picture she held. 

I never did get across to ask her, but I thought it was such a nice thing to do. 

Leavenworth and Lansing have large contingents of JROTC units. 

There were hundreds behind this. 

This year's parade did not feature as many horse-drawn units as in the past. 

Bad weather was actually predicted for that day... but we lucked out, and it 

only gusted once in a while, no rain. See the banners and the horse's mane? 

Then, the real reason for the parade came marching down the street: 

Everyone stood up straighter, and you can see that people began to clap and cheer. 

This unit, the lead, came to parade rest in front of us, while Taps was played around the corner at the reviewing stand. 

So young, many of them, but already with patches indicating they had been overseas multiple times. 

Guidons were whipping in the wind. 

Many in the crowd were veterans themselves, and many were saluted during the parade, and 

"Thank you for serving"... flew back and forth. 

And there they went! 

Behind them came hundreds of Boy and Girl Scouts. 

We thanked those kids over and over for marching. 

They stood a little taller. 

And oh yes, there were many, many older vets represented by floats and cars. 

And tractors... it's Leavenworth County, after all.  

The horse units were way at the end of the parade, of course.  There were not as many as last year, and I think the threatening weather did it.  However, as you see, we did get a little clearing. 

This unit had beautiful red, white, and blue saddle pads. 

The Fort Leavenworth Hunt members, the trolley, and, of course, the street 

cleaners brought up the rear of the parade. 

I stood with a veteran and his wife, and had a delightful time. 

Keith was ill, and not able to attend that day.  He is better now. 

This always brings tears to not just my eyes, but many along the parade route. 

It's a wonderful time, every time, to honor our nation's veterans. 

I'll get caught up over the next few days, but it may be a few days before I'm able to edit pictures. 

I'll get caught up reading your blogs, too! 

It's good to be back!