Memorial Day 2007 index page

The National Memorial Day Parade

Washington, D.C.

Monday, May 26, 2008

Welcome
Federal Civil War reenactors!

Notice: Updates will be made to this page based on new information from the parade staff. That information will supercede all other information previously posted. Experience has shown that things can change rapidly near the parade date. Your attention and patience are appreciated.

Parade time: The parade step off time will likely be around 2 P.M. We need to be on site at 12 noon. Doug expects to go in early and stake out some shade. Bring LOTS of water and come early to wander around, take pictures and chat with the veterans.

Parking: The parade staff will advise us of parking arrangements about a month before the parade. Parking will likely be available under the Reagan Building on 14th and Constitution. That is a commercial lot and is a high security facility so no weapons will be allowed inside. Keep all your gear handy to leave with a pard on the curb while you park. Last year it cost $10 to park, so carpooling would be a good idea.

Outside D.C. Rally Points: We've got two rally points picked out in case we need them.

North of D.C.: White Flint Mall, oustide the entrance to Buster & Dave's on top of the parking garage. Bruce Milligan will be your contact person there.

West of D.C.: Mapquest 6603 Little Falls Road, Arlington, VA 22213. A high school there has copious on-street parking and Bob Mosher will lead a group into D.C.

We plan to have one vehicle to take the muskets and accoutrements into DC while participants can take the Metro. No weapons are allowed on the Metro. After the parade, we'll do it all in reverse.

On-site rally point: Parade staff place a marker on Madison Ave. for our position in the march. It is usually near 7th St. but there are no guarantees. We will be assigned an element number (which I'll post here when I know it). Look at the numbers and look around for the closest shade when you see our sign/number. We'll be in the blue suits. :)

Our purpose:

Bruce Milligan and I (Doug Dobbs) are recruiting for the National Memorial Day Parade in Washington, D.C. This parade seeks to honor all American servicemen who "gave the last full measure." This will be the fourth year we've coordinated this effort. Those who have gone the last three years have come away profoundly moved.

Our goal:

raise a late-war-sized battalion to remember those who perished
during the War of the Rebellion in a parade to honor our dead from all wars.

Guiding Impression:

We will be expecting participants to offer a reasonable impression for 1865 Federals, preferably a Sixth Corps campaign impression. Dress uniforms (frocks), blanket rolls and knapsacks may be left home, but it is required that you bring lunch (haversack) and water (canteen) to keep yourself fed and hydrated through the middle of what is usually a very warm, muggy day in D.C. We're not counting stitches, this is about honoring those who were faithful in their efforts to preserve a government of laws. I would like to present an image of what a CW army on campaign looked like, "real soldiers," so please minimize the spit and polish.

(I know the Sixth Corps was spit and polish in the Grand Review, but this year is not a reenactment of the Grand Review. It's a memorial. Let's give those who watch a better appreciation for the sacrifices of the men as they marched.)

Parking:

The parade staff will advise us of parking arrangements about a month before the parade. Parking may be under the Reagan Building on 14th and Constitution. This will likely be paid parking and no weapons will be allowed inside. That means keeping all your gear handy to leave with a pard on the curb while you park. Last year it cost $10 to park, so carpooling would be a good idea.

Why:

“…that from these honored dead we take increased devotion
to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion …
that government
of the people,
by the people,
for the people,
shall not perish from the earth.”

Abraham Lincoln
Gettysburg, Pa.
November 19, 1863