From: dmaguire@mchsi.com
Date: Sat May 21 2005 - 21:32:55 PDT
Greetings,
The email from FLYN3NVT describes my views. I enjoy history and am proud that
I am a person who has the desire and ability to maintain vehicles that can make
military history come alive for others. My joy is related to the number of
vets and kids I can get into my vehicles or have see them in parades.
I do not wish to wear a uniform of any kind because I cannot shake the thought
that, if I did, I would be convincing others that I am something that I am not,
intentionally or unintentionally. My belief only. I am a history buff, a
military vehicle enthusiast, and a weekend mechanic - nothing more.
I am not that far from the Missouri event and own a WWII halftrack and ammo
trailer that are more than able to make the run if I trailered them there.
When I saw that I would need to wear a period uniform to participate, I was
disappointed and maybe felt a bit left out. Not because I was "scared the
hobby was changing" - but because it looked like a fun event that I could not
be a part of unless I suspended my beliefs. I hope everyone in it has fun and
wish all of them a great time. It just isn't the event for me.
And David Doyle is right... Tim signed up for this when he complained about the
rules of another event whose rules, to some, are no more arbitrary than his
own. Ouch. I wouldn't recommend doing that again.
Cheers,
Dan
Auburn, IN
PS - In response to Tim's earlier dissertation/rant... My hobby isn't
changing. I am a military vehicle preservationist and I, for one, have no idea
why re-enactors are even acknowledged by the MVPA. There should be an MRA
(mil. re-en. assoc.) or MUPA (mil. uniform preserv. assoc.) that exists as a
sister organization, maybe. That "V" is there for a reason.
> I too feel the same way. Feels awkward when doing the parades, people start
> clapping and cheering and salute. I wear no uniforms in parades because I
> never did serve. My honor of driving the truck and preserving some history, is
> good enough for me.
>
> ---- mark fisher <fishmeok@worldnet.att.net> wrote:
> > That's a tough question- I used to wear period uniforms when doing WW2
> > living history displays for the Kalamazoo Aviation History Museum and
> > recieved nothing but complements from vets (and startled reactions from some
> > people who thought I was another museum mannequin.) But I've havn't been
> > driving the M715 much this year (partially because I broke one of the spring
> > shackles) as I get a lot of people treating me like I'm active duty- I've
> > even had people ask what unit I'm from. I do my best to explain, but most
> > people have no idea what the difference is between 1967 Era markings and
> > current. I just feel there are too many real heros driving around out there
> > who have returned from or on the way overseas, and I don't want people
> > confusing me with someone who is currently serving. I'd feel different if it
> > was a WW2 vehicle, but in a lot of ways the M715 is almost too modern...
> >
> > Just my 2 cents
> > Cheers
> > Mark
> >
> >
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>
>
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> To reach a human, contact <ack@mil-veh.org>
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.1.4 : Fri Oct 28 2005 - 22:42:54 PDT