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THE VIRGINIA ARABIAN HORSE ASSOCIATION WAS INVITED TO RIDE IN THE
BI-CENTENNIAL PARADE IN WASHINGTON D.C. ON JULY 4th, 1976.
I WAS FORTUNATE TO BE A MEMBER OF VAHA AT THAT TIME.
UP AT DAWN . . . HORSES WASHED AND GROOMED . . . SADDLES SOAPED . . .
SILVER AND BOOTS SHINING IN THE EARLY MORNING SUNLIGHT . . .
TRAILERS FINALLY LOADED.
WE'RE GOING TO A CELEBRATION! A CELEBRATION FOR OUR COUNTRY!
TWO HOURS DRIVE TO D.C. . . . ONE STOP FOR BREAKFAST . . .
THEN ON OUR WAY AGAIN . . .
THE HORSES ARE ASLEEP IN THE TRAILERS.
PARKED IN FRONT OF THE MINT . . . FOURTEEN HORSES UNLOADED . . .
HOOVES BLACKENED . . . HORSES SADDLED . . . RIDERS IN CHAPS,
COWBOY HATS AND WOOL SADDLE SUITS.
MOUNT UP . . . LET'S GO!
WE RIDE THROUGH THE BUSY STREETS DODGING TRAFFIC
AND PEDESTRIANS.
KEEP MOVING! DON'T STOP!
HORSES AND RIDERS ARRIVE AT A CORNER PARK . . . SUNSHINE . . .
SHADE TREES . . . WATER FOR THE HORSES . . . FRIENDLY TALK
OF BLOOD LINES WHILE WE WAIT . . . FOR HOURS!
FINALLY TIME TO LINE UP . . . RIGHT BEHIND A MARCHING BAND!
A HORSEMAN'S MIGHTY FEAR!
OH NO! HANG ON TIGHT! THIS MAY BE A WILD RIDE!
HORSES STAND STEADY UNTIL THE FIRST DRUM ROLL SOUNDS.
AS IF SHOT FROM A CANNON, THEY MAKE A ONE-EIGHTY DEGREE TURN
IN PANIC RETREAT!
SLICK, SHINY, METAL HORSESHOES SLIP AND SLIDE
ON COBBLED STREETS FROM DAYS GONE BY!
HOLD THE REINS TIGHT . . . DON'T LET HIM TAKE THE BIT
AND DROP HIS HEAD!
STRAIGHTEN HIM UP AND GET BACK IN LINE!
WOW! OKAY, I'M STILL IN THE SADDLE. SURPRISE!
I DIDN'T GET THROWN!
WE'RE MOVING ALONG SLOWLY . . . BOTH SIDES OF
PENNSYLVANIA AVE. ARE TEN DEEP WITH CHEERING, PARADE WATCHERS . . .
THE HORSES BEGIN TO CALM DOWN . . . GETTING INTO THE RHYTHM . . .
THE RIDERS RELAX . . . THE CAPITOL . . . OUR NATION'S CAPITOL
BUILDING GLEAMS IN THE BACKGROUND!
THIS IS FUN!
WHAT A BEAUTIFUL, SUMMER DAY TO CELEBRATE THE
FOUNDING OF OUR COUNTRY!
THE PARADE IS OVER WAY TOO SOON . . . HEATED HORSES ARE WATERED
AT THE BASE OF THE LINCOLN MONUMENT.
WE ALL BREATHE A SIGH OF RELIEF . . . THEN LAUGH TOGETHER
REMEMBERING THIS SPECIAL, SURREAL DAY!
WE MADE IT AND ALL IN ONE PIECE . . .
WHAT A PEACEFUL PLACE TO REST . . . . AT LINCOLN'S FEET . . .
BEFORE THE TRIP HOME.
IT'S BEEN 35 YEARS SINCE I RODE IN THAT VERY SPECIAL PARADE!
IT WAS AN HONOR AND A MEMORY I'LL NEVER FORGET!
WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE 4th OF JULY MEMORY
OR MAYBE YOU'RE MAKING A NEW ONE THIS YEAR.
HAVE A WONDERFUL HOLIDAY!
HONOR OUR TROOPS!
ENJOY YOUR FREEDOM!
JUNE NOLEN/ copyright July 2nd, 2011
