Tuesday, February 05, 2008
OLD SOLDIERS AND PHOTOGRAPHERS NEVER DIE
I am closing my 52 years of military service. When I joined the Army, even before the turn of the century, it was the fullfillment of all of my boyish hopes and dreams. The world has turned over many times since I took the oath at West Point, and the hopes and dreams have all since vanished, but I still remember the refrain of one of the most popular barracks ballads of that day which proclaimed most proudly that old soldiers never die; they just fade away. And like the old soldier of that ballad, I now close my military career and just fade away, an old soldier who tried to do his duty as God gave him the light to see that duty.
The above is an excerpt from General Douglas MacArthur's address before a joint session of Congress on April 19, 1951. And much like the two shutterbugs in the second picture, much of the American public were amused by the discrepancies on many of the general's arguments. But MacArthur's parting words, nonetheless, became one of the great exit lines in American history.
Read his complete speech here.
*
posted by Señor Enrique at 9:36 AM
4 Comments:
-
Oman said... The sepia theme fits the event properly. Beautifully captured Señor.
-
Señor Enrique said...
Thanks, Lawstude. Thought I'd lighten up this post and play around with the coloration of the pics since the subject is indeed a somber one.
-
Sidney said...
I really love the last picture!
-
Señor Enrique said...
We might end up looking just like them, Sidney, when we get to be their age -- bragging about certain shots we've taken and really having a good time reviewing them. But I wonder what technology has in store for us when that day comes.
