toppogigio's Photobucket VVA Watchfire 2009 album media

Day is done...

toppogigio — Sun, 5 Jul 2009 17:51:22 MDT

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Day is done... - Flags-Tablewithlights2.jpg

The Bonfire

toppogigio — Sun, 5 Jul 2009 17:34:06 MDT

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The Bonfire - Bonfire2.jpg

The Bonfire

toppogigio — Sun, 5 Jul 2009 17:29:17 MDT

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The Bonfire - Bonfire5.jpg

The flag retirement uses a bonfire in a large firepit. The folded flags are placed on the fire by members of the audience. (The larger garrison-sized flags have to be unfolded to be placed on the fire so as not to smother it and put it out.)

Buddy Farina--Master of Ceremonies

toppogigio — Fri, 3 Jul 2009 14:08:43 MDT

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Buddy Farina--Master of Ceremonies - BuddyFarina--MC.jpg

Girl Scouts perform a narrated flag folding demonstration.

toppogigio — Fri, 3 Jul 2009 14:08:37 MDT

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Girl Scouts perform a narrated flag folding demonstration. - GSFlagfoldingbeginning.jpg

Girl Scout Troop 26066 of Texas City performed a Flag Folding and Meaning program.

Girl Scouts perform a narrated flag folding demonstration.

toppogigio — Fri, 3 Jul 2009 14:08:33 MDT

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Girl Scouts perform a narrated flag folding demonstration. - GSFlagfoldinglast.jpg

Girl Scout Troop 26066 of Texas City performed a Flag Folding and Meaning program.

Girl Scouts perform a narrated flag folding demonstration.

toppogigio — Fri, 3 Jul 2009 14:08:29 MDT

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Girl Scouts perform a narrated flag folding demonstration. - GSFlagfoldingmid.jpg

Girl Scout Troop 26066 of Texas City performed a Flag Folding and Meaning program.

The firepit where the flags will be retired.

toppogigio — Fri, 3 Jul 2009 14:08:25 MDT

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The firepit where the flags will be retired. - Sunsgoingdown--firepit.jpg

TAPS

toppogigio — Fri, 3 Jul 2009 14:08:22 MDT

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TAPS - TAPScloseup.jpg

As the sun began to set, “Sparky” Koerner, Music Director at College of the Mainland, Texas City, performed “Taps”.

Pvt. Ward's family attended the ceremony.

toppogigio — Fri, 3 Jul 2009 13:55:30 MDT

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Pvt. Ward's family attended the ceremony. - PVTWardsMom--WOTvet.jpg

War on Terror Field Cross...

toppogigio — Fri, 3 Jul 2009 13:55:24 MDT

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War on Terror Field Cross... - WOTdogtags.jpg

Dog tags for soldiers/veterans lost the War on Terror are placed on the Field Cross by members of the VVA 685 (Galveston) Honor Guard.

WWII dog tags placed.

toppogigio — Fri, 3 Jul 2009 13:55:18 MDT

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WWII dog tags placed. - WW2VetandSon1.jpg

A special addition for a World War II vet was made this year as well. This gentleman placed dog tags for a long-time friend. He was accompanied by his son

WWII dog tags placed.

toppogigio — Fri, 3 Jul 2009 13:55:13 MDT

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WWII dog tags placed. - WW2Vetandson2.jpg

A special addition for a World War II vet was made this year as well. This gentleman placed dog tags for a long-time friend. He was accompanied by his son

Family members place dog tags on the field crosses also.

toppogigio — Fri, 3 Jul 2009 13:52:08 MDT

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Family members place dog tags on the field crosses also. - PvtWardsDad--WOTvet.jpg

Joshua Ward, KIA in February of 2009. Josh’s parents were at the ceremony; his Dad placed the dog tags on the field cross.

Placing of the dogtags on the field crosses.

toppogigio — Fri, 3 Jul 2009 13:47:14 MDT

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Placing of the dogtags on the field crosses. - FieldCrosses1.jpg

VVA 685 (Galveston) Honor Guard placed dog tags of veterans on field crosses representing WWII, Korea, Vietnam, and The War on Terror.

Placing of the dogtags on the field crosses.

toppogigio — Fri, 3 Jul 2009 13:47:08 MDT

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Placing of the dogtags on the field crosses. - FieldCrosses2.jpg

VVA 685 (Galveston) Honor Guard placed dog tags of veterans on field crosses representing WWII, Korea, Vietnam, and The War on Terror.

The Placement of the Service Flags

toppogigio — Fri, 3 Jul 2009 13:43:54 MDT

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The Placement of the Service Flags - MilitaryFlags2.jpg

Dickinson High School Air Force JROTC

Placing the field crosses.

toppogigio — Fri, 3 Jul 2009 13:40:15 MDT

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Placing the field crosses. - FieldCrossesc-1.jpg

VVA 685 (Galveston) Honor Guard

Flag Raising

toppogigio — Fri, 3 Jul 2009 13:34:47 MDT

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Flag Raising - BoyScouts--FlagRaising.jpg

Dickinson Cub Scout Pack 207

Flag Raising

toppogigio — Fri, 3 Jul 2009 13:34:38 MDT

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Flag Raising - FlagRaising.jpg

Dickinson Cub Scout Pack 207

The sky cleared in time for the evening's ceremony.

toppogigio — Fri, 3 Jul 2009 13:13:49 MDT

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The sky cleared in time for the evening's ceremony. - Cloudsmovingoff.jpg

POW/MIA Table Ceremony

toppogigio — Fri, 3 Jul 2009 13:13:47 MDT

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POW/MIA Table Ceremony - MIATable3.jpg

The evening began with the POW/MIA Ceremony, performed by the Air Force JROTC from Dickinson High School.

More rain...wind, too.

toppogigio — Fri, 3 Jul 2009 13:13:42 MDT

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More rain...wind, too. - MORERAIN.jpg

A good squall came through and about drowned us. Fortunately, our hosts at the Dickinson VFW post had a large pavilion that we used as shelter.

RAIN!!! LOTS of rain during the day before the ceremony.

toppogigio — Fri, 3 Jul 2009 13:13:38 MDT

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RAIN!!! LOTS of rain during the day before the ceremony. - RAIN.jpg

Mom presenting the flags from San Marcos and VFW Post 3413

toppogigio — Fri, 3 Jul 2009 13:02:53 MDT

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Mom presenting the flags from San Marcos and VFW Post 3413 - Mompresentingflagsto685.jpg

Left to Right: Rita Metzler (VFW-A 3413, VVA 923) Robert Rodriguez, Buddy Farina, and Jim Rose of VVA Chapter 685