1986 found me in Chicago. I attended the Vietnam Veterans Welcome Home Parade my last day in town. I wasn't going to go at first then the morning news reported that the momentum of the parade was building and so I stowed my stuff and hoofed it downtown to the parade route. It was a cool June day, absolutely glorious under a clear blue sky.
I stood with the cheering crowds and had my Polaroid camera with me. The only photo I had taken so far was that of a pretty little Asian girl dressed in a little pink top, her shiny black hair pulled back. She was waving a little American Flag as the veterans marched on. A mustached Vietnam Veteran was just beyond her in the photo wearing his Army jacket and standing at attention saluting the troops.
I wanted to take more photos but found it hard to capture the event. But I had the camera and the emotion of the parade was so incredible I wanted to grab it somehow.
As another group marched past the joy on their faces was as bright as the day itself. I stepped toward them and snapped a photo of some marchers. It spit out of the Polaroid undeveloped as they do. In a microsecond I wondered what drawer this would find itself in at home among the countless photos already there.
Without thought I grabbed it out of the camera and handed it to the soldier whose photo I had just taken. His face lit up in incredulity. He was thrilled! So was I! What an amazing feeling to see such unbridled grateful happiness!
I took another and gave it away. And another and another. Each time
I got the same surprised reaction. As the groups passed I'd stand in the street, focus on someone they'd smile for the camera and then I'd give them the photo! Then they'd laugh, or shout, or squeals, hug or grab my hand, smile more, thank me and off they'd go! Into the breach of love and welcome and honor.
I went through the 4 packs of film I had with me, asked the crowd for directions to a camera store and ran the two blocks to buy more film, then back to the same place on the sidewalk.
More soldiers, mostly men, but a lot of women, paraded past. One group of Army Nurses in fatigues waved and cheered from the tailgate of a transport vehicle. I got behind them and pointing up got their smiling faces in the viewfinder. The truck sped up so I had to run to give them the photo. Their faces and cheers are my clearest memory. Then turn and take a Photo. Smile! Photo! Laughter! Photo! Joy! On and on and on.
Each $10 pack of instafilm contains 10 slides. I'd already gone through eight or nine boxes. I turned toward my comrades on the street and told them I was tapped out but would go buy more if anybody wanted to ante up and help me out.
Money was thrown to me from all sides, they were having as much fun as I was and wanted to be a part of it! I ran back to the store and returned with all the film they had. In all I took 170 photos and gave 169 of them away. I never saw a single one.
The soldier in my first photo slipped into the stream of Veterans when his unit marched by.
I don't know where that photo is now. In a drawer somewhere, but I can see it plain as day.
I believe that many of those Veterans who marched that day have passed on. It's been nearly 30 years and a lot of them were suffering then from war related conditions.
To those who have given their all for our Freedom I give you my Thanks and I Honor you everyday and this Memorial Day 2014.
