Prelude to Memorial Day

**Rex_Tremende** · 12th May 08, 04:20 PM

It was a pretty day today in Cincinnati, a mix of sun and clouds, a bit on the cool side, with a slight breeze. It was also one of those rare days that I actually had time to myself at lunchtime, so I decided to head off to Macy's across the block in search of a couple more shirts for the office wardrobe. Passing along the north end of the Fountain Square, I could see that the common area was unusually brimming with people - mostly officers in uniform.

Just as I came up on the entryway to Rock Bottom restaurant and brewery, two good looking gents in uniforms bounded out, heading straight for me. I picked up my pace a bit to avoid a head-on collision, then dropped back enough to admire their kilts and regalia. I wondered for a second whether they saw mine, but then, disappointed, I remembered I'm wearing my office drag as usual (but got two compliments on the tie today

). How will they know how much I appreciated nearly running into them?, I wondered.

"Pardon me," I blurted out just before they got too far beyond me, "what tartan are you wearing?"

"Hamilton," the one closest to me said, "for Hamilton County." He smiled. I tried not to swoon.

It turns out they were part of the Pipe & Drum Corps of the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office and were there along with all the other men in blue to kick off Cincinnati's observance of National Police Memorial Week.

Photo by Cincinnati Enquirer

I heard someone say this weekend that we don't celebrate milestones with meatloaf, we celebrate with desserts. In a similar vein, we honor the fallen with pipers in kilts, not pedestrians in sportswear. In wearing the kilt, I don't think of myself as a walking memorial, but I do like to think that I'm stepping it up a notch from the average Joe, even when I'm dressing it down. How marvelous that when a special tribute is called for, you call for the men in kilts.

Regards,
Rex.