From Deseret News archives:
A stirring tribute to those who served their country
In this room filled with the nation's leaders, including the president, vice president and members of Congress, as well as publishers, movie and television celebrities and others, the red-coated Marines always provide a stirring moment in a night filled with the journalism club's roasting of the political parties in song, dance and speech a sometimes anachronistic, but hugely necessary, long-running display of irreverence.
There is always a shifting of bodies in the room as the band, after performing one of Sousa's stirring marches on this night it was the "Gridiron March" strikes the first chords of the service medley. Proudly, veterans of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard prepare to rise to attention as the trumpets blare and the notes fill the hotel room. Forty years ago, large numbers of the audience stood fiercely proud, perhaps remembering the roll of a ship or the roar of an airplane engine or a landing craft's pitch as it headed for a beach.
This, of course, should surprise no one in this age of a volunteer military. This should not be construed as any criticism of the young men and women who have committed themselves willingly to stand guard over the rest of us. Nor is it an appeal for the return of the draft. It is merely an acknowledgment of the passing of a tradition of shared experience that has linked men and women since the beginning of the Republic, a nod to the citizen warrior whose dedication, whether in peace or combat, through willing enlistment or conscription, has never been found wanting.
As the last drum roll reverberated and the band departed to a thunderous ovation, more than one in the audience expressed a sadness at the waning of a tradition and wondered if it is a loss the nation can truly afford. The answer, of course, is that there still are young men and women who understand the important role of part-time service, those who meld a civilian career while giving up weekends and other time to fill important jobs in the reserves or National Guard.
Comments
- Cougars beat Utes in overtime 1:11 a.m.
- UVU beats SUU; USU wins big 12:57 a.m.
- BYU spikers end season with a loss 12:55 a.m.
- Iverson may be headed to 76ers 12:34 a.m.
- Credit Coug defense for win 12:33 a.m.
- Aggies blow away T-birds 12:32 a.m.
- Mo steals show in Cavaliers' victory 12:31 a.m.
- Editorial: Facilitate Big Brother? 12:22 a.m.
- Mom befriends wife of PTSD vet 12:21 a.m.
- Political clash over U.S. debt 12:21 a.m.
- Cave to be sealed with body inside
- Predicting the unpredictable: BYU wins
- Hall mouths off about hate of Utah
- Vegas, Poinsettia bowls or bust
- Cougars beat Utes in overtime
- Glover gives Utes last-second upset
- BYU football: 5 keys to victory
- Cougars turn back Wildcats'
- Man trapped in Nutty Putty cave dies
- BYU is champion of the state
- Cougars beat Utes in overtime
396 - Hall mouths off about hate of Utah
150 - Thunder rolls by Jazz
136 - Cave to be sealed with body inside
115 - Man trapped in Nutty Putty cave dies
115 - Editorial: Poor welcome for Palin
113 - Rivalry Week is highly profane
88 - Hall's legacy measured today
75 - Y. focused on 10-win season
73 - Letters: C02 causes warming
70
watch out for next year for sure, the negatives are just closet (and...
And something else, I generally follow players from the state schools when...
I could care less that Max Hall said what he did. The feeling is mutual BYU...
Dear Max, probably could have done without that comment. Probably would've...
As a Utah fan, let me first say congratulations to Max Hall, the Cougars, and...
Geno's and Pat's are good.. but, they are mostly for tourists, the real...
(You even got a middle initial... how's that for 'ya Max) It's nice to see...
Even today, I still cannot get enough of this movie or Charles Gitonga Maina....
...disappointed with Max Hall's comments that he hates everything about UofU....
Over the last few days I read comments of people complaining about tasteless...


You can be the first to comment on this story.