From: anthropo@carina.unm.edu (Dominick V. Zurlo)
Subject: Resica memories 6
Date: Wed, 23 Dec 92 00:37:58 GMT
Organization: University of New Mexico, Albuquerque

Seeing how it's almost Christmas, I thought this would be 
appropriate to tell of one of my favorite Resica memories...
that of Christmas in July.  Every year we would celebrate
Christmas in July at camp.  We would have a christmas tree
in the dining hall, a fake fireplace in the middle of the room 
with staff stockings hanging on it.  (There was a real fireplace also,
but the fake one lent a particularly undeniable air of 
this is christmas)

The staff would also exchange (mainly) gag gifts to each other.
Names would be chosen the previous week out of a hat, and appropriate
gifts would be purchased or made.  Now, while most were
gag, some were not.  Such as one year when I gave my 
polyanna a couple of poems written on Birch-bark paper scrolls.

we would sing christmas carols (some with suitably altered words).
However, the best part of Christmas in July was the Flag Raising ceremony,
or more appropriately what we did for it.  To understand this, first let
me paint the scene.  Three majestic flagpoles stand to the West of the
fairly expansive parade field...the troops would be arranged on the 
middle/eastern side of the field.  the staff would be lined up on the 
west side of the flags, with the exception of the flagbearers and such.
We had a usual set of flaggers, of which I was one the entire time 
I worked there.  It was amazing, at one point, there were three people
on the staff, raising the Penn. state flag from New Jersey... But I 
digress...

We would all sleep out beneath the stars on the parade field in formation.
(the flaggers I mean).  We would all awaken early to perform the usual
morning ablutions, and get back into our cots on the field.  When time 
for the flag raising, we would be at our posts in full dress uniform,
and dutifully raise the flags, adjorn to the dining hall for breakfast,
where we would get our food, and then return to our cots, and have 
breakfast in bed.  As is appropriate on christmas...

One year, as something a little different, we arranged our cots so 
that when the command for attention was called, all of us, still in 
bed, would simultaneously rock forward slightly causing the cot to tip
it's "bottom" feet and place us in a leaning position (heads up) 
from which we then got out for real attention.  We debated raising the
flags from the leaning position, but decided that would be very
disrespectful, and did not do that, for which I personally am glad.  

This event brightened the week marvelously.  We were also very
careful to try and eliminate religious references while 
preserving the basic goodwill and brotherhood messages. 
I think we did a fairly credible job.

Anyway, just thought I'd share this little memory. 
May this season of holidays be fulfilling and fruitfull to 
each and every one of you reading this, and may peace come
into you and your loved ones lives.

Good 'ole St. Nick
.
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*  Dominick V. Zurlo              *    "If the world's an      *
*  WWW                            *    oyster, why am I        *
*  Eagle Scout '87                *    allergic to Mollusks?"  *
*  blacklisted '88                *                            *
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