Date: Wed, 28 May 2003 20:56:23 -0400 Reply-To: Maryland Birds & Birding Sender: Maryland Birds & Birding From: Robert Wasmer Subject: Re: House Sparrows (sorry!) plus birding in cemeteries In-Reply-To: <7C2EE14D.652485B3.0016BA20@aol.com> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="Windows-1252" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit On Monday, I was privileged for the second year in a row to take part in laying a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery on behalf of the American WWII Orphans Network or AWON ( http://www.awon.org/ ), a group made up of sons and daughters whose fathers were killed in WWII. AWON and perhaps 30 other veteran, survivors groups, etc. always lay their wreaths after the President or his representative lay the Presidential Wreath and at the conclusion of the Memorial Day speech. As I was standing among the observers waiting for the arrival of the President, but after all the military units and the band had arrived at the Tomb, I too noticed, during the quiet before the 21 gun salute, the House Sparrows chirping. My mind was diverted for a brief time to wonder if any one but me birded at Arlington National Cemetery? Several times each Spring and Fall my wife, daughter, and I try to get down to Arlington to enjoy several hours walking along the roads, especially on the upper wooded parts of the cemetery away from the more "touristy" areas. I bring my binoculars and keep slowing down the walk by birding. I have never seen anything especially noteworthy or unexpected. Never have I seen other birders during our visits. Are there rules against birding while visiting Arlington and I have just been lucky? Neither have I ever been stopped from doing such. I never leave the paved roads to get out among the graves or monuments. What are your thoughts and comments about birding in cemeteries? I obviously have no problem with it as long as proper decorum and respect are shown. However, I am not sure that it would be an appropriate place to take a field trip. I recall that there is a rather cemetery up in the Boston area that is well known as a "birdy" area, but cannot recall its name. Even though it is belated, and even though I never served, I would like to take this opportunity to thank those of you on this list who have served our nation in the armed forces, and those who have died, to ensure the freedoms we all enjoy. In Their Honor. Bob Wasmer Takoma Park, MD Son of Pvt. Carl Divine Co. F, 8th Infantry, 4th Infantry Division KIA, Battle of the Huertgen Forest, Germany, Nov. 25, 1944 Buried in Henri-Chapelle National Cemetery, Belgium ======================================================================= To leave the MDOsprey list, send e-mail to listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com with the following message in line 1: signoff mdosprey ======================================================================= =========================================================================