Thursday, June 21st was a HOT... MUGGY... HOT, (Did I mention HOT?) one in the Capital of the Confederacy! Thermometer read 98 and the weather man said the heat index was sitting at 105! Still, 14 Va Flaggers made their way to the Boulevard to forward the Colors and protest the VMFA.
Traffic was light, but conversations were plentiful and for the most part, very positive
Despite the heat and humidity, Jimmy Creech fired up the grill and served up rotisserie chicken, squash and taters, and had fresh, ice cold watermelon to keep the Flaggers cool, hydrated, and very well fed.
The highlight of the night was a visit from Ronnie Ragland.
October 1st, 2011, my very first day Flagging the VMFA, I met Mr. Ragland, a Vietnam Vet and homeless man who makes his living playing guitar around Richmond. I walked and talked with him for 1/2 hour that day, and he has visited us frequently ever since. One day in November, he stopped by and we teamed up for an abbreviated version of The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down. I posted the video on youtube:
Not bad for impromptu on the boulevard
Since then, Mr. Ragland has been a frequent visitor on the Boulevard, and is well known to the Flaggers. Here he is at Christmas...we called him "Confederate Santa". :
Yesterday evening, June 21st, I was sitting on the Chapel portico, writing my notes for the evening, when he stopped to tell me a most amazing story. It seems that 25 years ago, Mr. Ragland fathered a child just before he and his wife divorced. He knew nothing of the child and she knew nothing of him. A few years ago, the child's Grandmother told her a little about her father, including his name and the young woman began to search for him. A few months ago, the same young woman was looking through YouTube videos, came across our video, and recognized the name as being that of the father she had been searching for.
She contacted the VMFA and asked about him and was told that he often played in the Carytown area. For the next few days, she and her friends searched during the day and night, and finally found him.
Mr. Ragland told us it was an incredible reunion, shocking in its revelation, but sweet in the instant bond that was formed. Since that time, they have formed a relationship and are getting to know one another. He considers what happened nothing short of a miracle, and we agree.
We have often said that Flagging serves to accomplish MANY things in our ongoing fight to preserve our heritage and honor our ancestors, but having a part in bringing a long lost father and daughter together is a bonus we never expected! :)
We will be back on the Boulevard tomorrow, June 23rd, 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
RETURN the flags!
RESTORE the honor!
See you on the Boulevard!
She's a sweetie, and he seems a decent sort, but...
ReplyDeleteSomeone should really teach him to tune his guitar!
Especially the beginning is difficult to listen to.
ReplyDelete