With cameras in hand, I took the first Metro train and a very seamless trip to Union Station, I arrived about 5 AM People on the train had a bit of excitement building, but it probably wouldn’t be as much as later.
What you see below is the first part of the Edited photos from that day.
Enjoy….
I discovered that the GUNS were set up in Taft Park just as I had been informed by many who had done inauguration missions over the years. However this was a “fortress” as the Capitol Police officer that I had encountered on Monday.
Around 0630 AM I knew what the rest of the day would be like. I could almost touch the LMTV, but the signage said it all…
I headed to the post office today and mailed the next batch of ordered calendars. Barely making the “last in line” before they closed, I engaged a few people in line and many had never heard of the 3d Infantry – The Old Guard – Escort to the President . I just happened to have a “sample” calendar with me and several asked for order forms.
Picked up the newspaper. Yep you guessed it … right there on the front! Took the paper & basics home and as I began to read “tomorrow’s news today” … yep you guessed it, I saw – “the Official Barack Obama Coins”, “The official Barack wall hanging”, “The official Barack …”
I have been photographing the Presidential Salute Battery for over 18 months since they truly are an awesome team of soldiers who are a “symphony in motion” when they execute their missions and fire their M5 – WWII vintage anti-tank guns in honor of The President, Marking the arrival of a dignatary for a wreath laying at Arlington National Cemetery, final honors for either an General or Admiral.
So far I’ve accompanied them as my schedule permits, wherever they’ve gone. I would like to capture their work down near the Capitol on “the DAY” – it seems it’s not in the cards. Perhaps next time.
Since 2000, John Michael has continually photographed this elite regiment while they executed their ceremonial missions. It was earlier this year while doing research on a book that he’s writing about a specialty platoon within the regiment that he concluded the need for this calendar. In speaking with men who had served in the 1950′s – 1960s – 1970s and to-date, none could recall that there was a calendar produced about the entire regiment.
John Michael poured over the thousands of photographs he had available and thought the theme of “The Old Guard on Parade” would be an appropriate one for 2009 in light of the upcoming Presidential Inauguration. The Old Guard will play a key role on Inauguration Day ushering in the new President, Barack Obama.
With a textual history included, the Calendar’s photographs feature the many specialty units within the Regiment including:
“It has been an honor to be able to photograph these fine troops and the work they do.” said John Michael “I’ve been blessed to observe and capture in photographs much of the work these soldiers do as part of their daily schedule. They are truly the finest and Americans should be proud to have such an outstanding treasure in the US Army.”
The US Army 3d Infantry Regiment, “The Old Guard” has its origins dating back to 1784 when the United States was evolving from the colonies to a sovereign country. This US Army elite regiment (Escort to the President) has a dual responsibility of both the defense of the United States Capital area and the ceremonial missions it carries out.
These include Presidential Inaugurations, White House arrivals, State Funerals, the final honors support at Arlington National Cemetery – and only military unit who has continuously guarded the Tomb of the Unknowns, and More.
When John Michael previewed the calendar to a noted Washington DC based military historian, the response was “John Michael is an athlete with a natural talent for photography who over the years has honed and fine tuned his skills through experience. This calendar is another of his creative works packaged for the world to enjoy and appreciate.”
The calendar comes in three versions -
All of the Calendars feature 12 months of photos from John Michael. The second version provides a brief history of the 3d Infantry Regiment and each of the specialty units featured in the calendar. The PREMIUM version of the calendar is a larger format and contains more descriptive information about the OLD GUARD.
John Michael will also offer the “PREMIUM COLLECTORS EDITION” – a limited “autographed” quantity of 250 which will be numbered.
The first version is available directly on line for purchase, the latter versions are available directly from Photography by John Michael.
When John Michael is asked why he’s devoted nearly the last ten years immersed in capturing, recording and presenting the work of the US military with a focus on the US Army, his reply is that he’s been given an on-going mission of “Preserving the memories so others will remember…” ™
John Michael continues his ongoing tradition of “giving back” – Proceeds from the sale of all the calendar’s versions will be donated to the 3d Infantry Regiment’s OLD GUARD LADIES ASSOCIATION to assist in their support of the active duty troops within the Regiment.
ABOUT John Michael – He resides in Alexandria, VA with many decades of photography experience. Since 2000 he has photographed the final honors at Arlington National Cemetery. photographed reunions of the Special Forces Association (Fayetteville, NC) the OSS Society (Arlington, VA), The Old Guard Association (TOGA). His creative talents have also resulted in an ever-growing assortment of military heraldry note cards, Christmas cards and greeting cards featuring scenes of Arlington National Cemetery. His book on the “Big Guns of the Old Guard” will be published in Spring of 2009.
I’ve put the finishing touches on the “new” version of the calendar featuring the 3d Infantry Regiment of the US Army – The OLD GUARD. It’s a prelude to the PREMIUM version which is the next version of the calendar available soon!
I was on a mission today to capture a few of the photos of gravestones as requested by friends, family or interested parties. It was the end of the mission day when I arrived at ANC after trying to meet with a local card shop who originally had expressed interest in carrying a selection of my greeting cards / notecards. I was attempting to show off the new calendars that are being developed. But I digress.
Even after all these years of traversing the hallowed grounds of the United States’ shrine to it’s military heroes, I still need to get an orientation at times when I’m heading into a Section of the cemetery that I rarely frequent. My first direction was to head to Section 3, a very familiar place since that’s where I spend time with the Presidential Salute Battery when they execute their missions. When I saw one of the caisson teams slowly making their way back through the cemetery to the stables on Fort Meyer, I decided “to roll” along with them. The soldiers looked a bit tired, since their day began by showing up at 4:00 AM at the stables to go through their preparation for their four-plus missions that they probably participated in during the day. (They spend their entire day in the cemetery…)
I clicked off a few photos as I followed them up through the McClellan Gate (original entrance to Arlington National Cemetery) as they reached the intersection, the team and the section sergeant turned left towards the Tomb of the Unknowns…
The warm autumn sun, shone brightly this day as the sunbeams broke their way through the overhead trees. One of the last final honors of the day was still in progress as I headed along the road in front of the Tomb of the Unknowns. I had the pleasure of spending a bit of time with one of the ANC security guards as I waited for the ceremony to conclude.
Signs of the change of season were evident and the harbinger trees were already turning their fiery colors. I headed up the road that borders Section 3 and the Tomb of the Unknown and the sun dancing among the crimson leaves of a maple caught my eye.
After my Section 3 work was complete, I traversed to the opposite side of the cemetery and headed to Section 30 (The original layout of the cemetery followed no rhyme or reason as they assigned the numbers to the sections. Some layout within the sections are completely confusing to me also!)
When I reached Section 30, I decided to “take the walk” and paid my respects to MG G.M. Barnes, the visionary who’s forward thinking has led to many of the things we take for granted today. I’ve called the man “The Father of Modern Computers”, since he was instrumental in funding the ENIAC – the first computer (Pennsylvania University claims its theirs, but without the funding from the US Army, they would have had NADA!) General Barnes was the head of research and development within Ordnance of the US Army during WW II. Another distinction is that he is the “Father of the M5 Guns” – the artillery that the Presidential Salute Battery uses to fire salutes to the President, Heads of State/Countries, and salutes for wreath layings and final honors of Flag officers of the US Army, US Coast Guard, US Navy and US Marines.
The 3d wonder that I absorbed as I headed to the last photo of the day was a rare blooming of crocuses (they normally bloom in the Spring!) in front of a US Army’s CWO’s resting place.
Among the soldiers are several distinctive units that carry on the missions to honor those dignitaries and perform the final honors as they are laid to rest in honor. The 21 gun salute that many think they see is really a firing party which is a rifle team that has been given the command “FIRE THREE VOLLEYS”. It just so happens that there are seven soldiers with rifles that then fire those shots.
It was a hot sweltering day in the Washington DC area. In Arlington National Cemetery, I had planned on attending and photographing what I thought were two IN & OVER missions of the Presidential Salute Battery and then going onto Fort Meyer to continue my research. I later learned that there was a wreath laying later in the day, so we now had three missions to attend.
After the second mission, the men of the Presidential Salute Battery headed back on post for a much needed time out of the oppressive heat and sun. I followed them and as they headed off for their meal, I also found myself hungry and headed to the snack bar via the community center/USO. I paid a visit to the USO office, and encountered a Sergeant of the 3d Infantry who had been in several of the final honors that I’ve photographed. When he saw me he proclaimed in a loud voice “It’s the Photographer of The Old Guard” – a surprise distinction, but from his words after, it seems that I’ve developed that growing reputation.
All I will say is “Thank you for your service Sergeant!” and I appreciate all what you and the rest of the regiment and the US Army does and has done for this country! Hooah!
What a treat! Despite some continued periods of liquid sunshine, the remainder of the 4th of July, 2008 was just great – no it was
It had been several years since I made the pilgrimage to the National Mall to see the great fireworks display in concert with the ongoing Smithsonian Folklife Festival that is held every year the days surrounding the 4th of July.
Earlier in the day I had arrived on Fort Meyer VA to watch and then I photographed the 50 Gun Salute to the United States that was orchestrated and delivered by the Presidential Salute Battery – the BIG GUNS of the Old Guard – 3d Infantry Regiment of the US Army. After the tribute, the guns were then secured and attached once again to their respective trucks as part of the convoy that would head down to the National Mall.
As we waited in the convoy, two US Park Police cruisers arrived to then escort the “elite” convoy from Fort Meyer downtown Washington DC to the steps of the US Capitol bulding. It was an exciting trip as the cruiser pictured below ran constant interference with siren blaring and lights flashing (seems many try to ignore the movement of a special group, but the officer in the US Park Police cruiser did outstanding work that kept all on the bus focused on how expertly he “STOPPED TRAFFIC” and kept us moving!)
Arriving at the US Capitol, the soldiers immediately got to work setting up, positioning and cleaning their guns …. as nitefall approached, they donned their dress blue uniforms and prepared to accompany the Washington Symphony Orchestra with Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture. The firework show began simultaneously as the roar and flare of the cannons resounded on the Nation’s Mall …
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