St:Patrick's Day Parade: When Traditions Meet

Both of 3BAM's guns and tractors were part of this year's parade. 

It was just another one of those days, a very cold one at that, that made wonder if sensible people my age who'd left the military--the real military where you get paid to freeze your ass off-- more than two decades ago shouldn't have better things to do on a late winter Sunday than freeze my ass off marching in the St-Patrick's Day parade. To begin with, I'm not even close to being Irish. It's possible I'm not sensible, but if you accept that as the explanation, than neither are any of the fifteen other members of 3BAM who showed up to parade our guns and trucks and freeze their asses off in this year's parade. Nor is their a whole lot of Irish in 3BAM, though Will Gallant and I know all the words to Garryowen...or at least I know all the words and Will knows how to hum along. 

Let Bacchus's sons be not dismayed, 

But join with each jovial blade,
Come booze and sing and lend your aid,

To help me with a chorus!

Instead of Spa we'll drink brown ale,

And pay the reckoning on the nail, 

No man for debt shall go to jail, 

From Garryowen in glory!

As always, I digress. The point is that the parade, which has been continuously held in Montreal since

Col (H) Charles de Kovachich practices a bit of PR with spectators.

1824 is a part of the city's tradition, just like the volunteer gunner is a part of the city's tradition. So I look at 3BAM's participation in the event as a sort of crossroads of tradition, not to mention a good opportunity to do a little bit of friendly public relations for 3BAM, the 2nd Field Regiment, and the Canadian military in general.  The crowd was very receptive to our presence and I made a point of getting members of our entourage including the Honourary Colonel to pose for photos with dignitaries and spectators, passing them wherever I could, a little card that would (I hope) direct them to this blog to find out more about us. One lesson learned: I should have brought more cards.

Laurent Langlais (right) and Maurice Noreau (left) 

The guns and tractors notwithstanding, I'm pretty sure the biggest crowd-pleaser in our little battery was Laurent Langlais' beautifully restored M37 truck with it's powerful fender mounted siren that Laurent teased (or delighted) the spectators with. 3BAM is all about the guns of course, but since the guns weren't firing and making noise I think Laurent's truck was in this instance more satisfying to the crowd.

The weather it seems, was a complete reprise of last year's parade; sunny, but very cold and windy with harsh, contrasty, very bluish light that's just bloody awful for photography, but that's par for the course when going anywhere with 3BAM. There is no working in the studio within the carefully controlled photography-friendly environment that I like to work in. Not yet, at any rate.

Last year, we marched directly behind a pipe band. This year there were no bands in front of us, nor for quite some distance behind us, so...no music and that seemed a bit odd. I'm quite used to hearing certain tunes--some Irish, some not-- being played as the parade marches along. Many of are popular military marched in both the British Isles and North America.

In Carlowe Town I lived I own, 
All free from debt and danger, 
'Til Colonel Reilly listed me, 
To join the Wicklowe Rangers, 
They dressed me up in scarlet red, 
And they used me very kindly, 
And my heart near broke when I bid good-bye, 
To the girl I left behind me.

Charles de Kovachich and Steve Gregory pose with member of the Society.

We were joined in this event by Mr. Stephen Gregory, who as those familiar with this blog was made an honourary gunner in the 2nd Field Regiment at last December's St-Barb's Dinner. As lightly dressed as he appeared, I don't know how it is he got through the event without freezing to death. (he didn't have a parka.  I guess his long undies must have been extra warm.  It was great to have him participate though.I'm sure that, just like all the rest of us could have simply stayed in the warmth of his home.



The minstrel boy to the war has gone, 
In the ranks of the death you will find him;
His father's sword he hath girded on, 
And his wild harp slung behind him;
"Land of song!" said the warrior bard,
Though all the world betrays thee;
One sword, at least, thy rights shall guard,
One faithful harp shall praise thee.

One person who could not be with us for this event was our Sunray, Gilles Aubé, who is still partially immobilized after a back injury sustained a couple of weeks ago doing maintenance on our guns. I'm sure that he really wanted to be be with us given that we had so much more visibility this year, where we paraded three vehicles, then last where we only had one. Notwithstanding his absence, Michel Lepage ran the show quite well and everything went off without a hitch. With this event behind us, we can soon start looking forward to warmer days in spring and summer.

Mayor Denis Coderre watches as 3BAM passes the reviewing stand.

Ubique!
Erin Go Bragh!

Gary Menten,
Photographer,
3BAM