The Last Patrol
"There's people like us all across
this land... thinkin' the way we do... Believin' in a Dream...
a Plan... a Call we can't refuse... It ain't for the Glory.
It ain't for the Gold. It's a Journey to Remember...and
we are the Last Patrol! Walkin' Man... doin' what he can...
Walkin' to remember the Forgotten Man..." ["Walkin'Man"
(c) 1985 M.J.Martin]
I. "Journey to Remember" Dallas, Texas
to the Alamo in San Antonio
II. Inspirations
III. "1987 Last Patrol" Alamo to the Wall
And walk, they did. In 1985, they conceived,
organized, and led The Last Patrol... a group of "pot-bellied,
middle-aged warriors" and other caring individuals... on
a march, a three week, 300 mile "Journey to Remember" from
Dallas, Texas to the Alamo in San Antonio. The message was
simple: "Hell, yes... Remember the Alamo! And quit telling
us to forget about Vietnam. Remember those who died. Remember
those who were left behind. Remember the survivors and the
price they continue to pay."
The group walked about 15 to 25 miles
a day, with usually that same number of people participating...
some walking all day... some in and out. Those who were
unable to walk involved themselves by providing food, shelter,
water... driving "support" vehicles, etc... all part of
the team ... just like the 'Nam. The ranks swelled to company
size as The Last Patrol passed through larger cities. Ultimately,
the effort consolidated an entire army of veterans and citizens,
young and old, men and women. The only criteria for being
in the The Last Patrol was to "give a damn."
At night the group stayed in gyms and
National Guard armories... or often in a large G.P. tent
near the highway. A vigil fire burned to help the seekers
find them.
"I heard the word... it's in the air...
it's ridin' on the wind... They say a fire's burnin' there...
to help us find our way back in... They say they're called
The Last Patrol... come to set us free... And the ranks
are filled with a lot of souls... that feel a lot like me...
I'm lookin' for the light... I'm tryin' to find the fire...
I hope I make it home tonight... It's all that I desire..."
["Lookin' for the Light" (c) 1985 M.J.Martin/T.Holiday]
Along the way Michael and Tim would
perform concerts or, late at night, they would sing some
songs around the fire. Their music gave the endeavor a context...
gave voice to the purpose. Ironically, old roles from military
days came back into play. "I was always up to my ears in
toe-jam," says "Doc" Holiday. His many years in Navy medicine
were evident in the skillful, confident manner with which
he tended blisters and sprains etc... and the way he kept
a watchful eye for stress and strain as "proud old grunts
and jarheads" pressed themselves harder than they had done
in many years.
"I guess they needed a little pain...
some kind of pay-back," says Doc. I'd let them go as long
as they could and when I finally had to pull someone out,
they felt like they had to apologize. I'd just say to them,
'It's not your fault. It's not my fault. It's the asphalt.'
"
|
