Photo by BRENT BATTEN
Brent Batten's son, Zachary Batten, 4, watches the Memorial Day service at Naples Memorial Garden on Monday, May 31, 2010 in Naples. Brent Batten/Staff
Photo by BRENT BATTEN
Brent Batten's son, Zachary Batten, 4, watches the Memorial Day service at Naples Memorial Garden on Monday, May 31, 2010 in Naples. Brent Batten/Staff
MEMORIAL DAY 2010
STORY: Remembering 'Soldiers of the Past' on Memorial Day
STORY: Patriotism on display at Marco Memorial Day service
PHOTO GALLERY: Memorial Day service at Naples Memorial Gardens
PHOTO GALLERY: Marco Island's Memorial Day service
PHOTO GALLERY: Bonita Springs Memorial Day Service
VIDEO: Memorial Day at Naples Memorial Gardens
VIDEO: One of a kind soldier statue unveiled in Cape Coral (NBC-2)
VIDEO: Scenes from Memorial Day services around Southwest Florida (NBC-2)
COLUMN: Brent Batten: Memorial Day made simple
BLOG: Memorial Day The Social Critic by Eddie Filer
BLOG: A Late Remembrance: Memorial Day 2010 Stuff That Fell Out While I Was Thinking by Tara Linn
YOUR STORY: Naples Philharmonic honors Purple Heart recipients at Patriotic Pops concert
YOUR STORY: Patriot Guard Riders escort Vets to Memorial weekend events in Naples
YOUR PHOTOS: Photos of military troops & veterans (see & upload your own photos!)
A running conversation with Zachary, age 4, on Monday, May 31, 2010.
“Daddy, where we going today?”
“Let’s go to the Memorial Day ceremony.”
“Where?”
“Naples Memorial Gardens.”
“They have a tree house there?”
No, you’re thinking of the Naples Botanical Gardens.”
“Oh, they have slides there?”
“No.”
“What they have there?”
“They have a band. You like the band, right?”
“Oh yeah, me been there before.”
“You have. We went last year, remember?”
“Who going to be there?”
“There’ll be Army men. Like last year.”
“They gonna have guns?”
“Yes, they’ll have guns. But we’ll leave before they shoot them. I know you don’t like when they shoot them.”
“Daddy, too loud.”
“Yes, too loud.”
(Later, upon arrival and seeing an aged man in veteran’s garb, walking with the aid of a cane.)
“Daddy, who’s that old man?”
“He was in the Army.”
“Why?”
“To fight bad guys.”
“Why?”
“So the bad guys wouldn’t get us.”
“The bad guys no get us?”
“No they didn’t. Because that man and his friends fought them.”
“Where his friends?”
“All around us.”
“Daddy, what are those little flags?”
“All those little flags are for men who were in the Army.”
“There’s a lot of them.”
“I know. A lot of men were in the Army.”
“Why?”
“To fight bad guys.”
“Fight bad guys like in Star Wars?”
“Not exactly. They were different bad guys.”
“Who?”
“Nazi bad guys and communist bad guys and terrorist bad guys.”
“A lot of bad guys?”
“Yes, a lot of bad guys.”
“Daddy, what now?”
“The band’s going to play.”
They gonna play (places hand over heart)?”
“Yes, they’ll play the National Anthem. Will you remember to put your hand on your chest?”
“Yes.”
“And take your hat off?”
“Sure. Then what?”
“Then the man is going to talk for a while.”
“Then what?”
“Then they’ll set a wreath down by the flag pole.”
“Then what?”
“Then they’ll fire the guns.”
“Daddy, let’s go. Me no want to hear guns.”
“I hope you never have to, son.”
“Daddy?”
“Yes?”
“I love you.”
“I love you too, Zachary. I love you too.”
Connect with Brent Batten at naplesnews.com/staff/brent_batten
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