Sunday, January 3, 2016

'Nostalgia' from AdamC - Porte Drapue Rembered

Let me tell you about my friend Frank Marini who for many years was Porte Drapue for the Regiment Saingonte reenacting group.  Frank was a great guy he always greeted me with a "Hey Adam how do doing!" that had a tone that said he really really wanted to know.  And when you asked him how he was he always said "I'm Maaarvellous" (yes he drew out the a) and he meant it always.  Frank had served with the USMC in Korea and won a Naval Cross (I have been told it was for holding his position during a surprise attack despite being wounded early in the exchange).  After the war he left the Marines and later enlisted in the National guard and rose to the rank of Sergeant Major.  He was a perfect Port Draupe for a French regiment where soldier of long experience were preferred for their coolness under fire.  We lost Frank in 2015 and it seemed proper to memorialize him for the Nostalgia.


That's Frank the nearest man of the color guard during ceremony marking the 225th Anniversary of the arrival of the French in Rhode Island during the American Revolution(I'm in the first line of musketeers 4 in from the right. For this project I put Frank in the Older uniform the regiment would have worn in the mid 18th century (War of Austrian Succession of Seven Years War) I did this because I had the figures in 25mm scale and as the his time with the regiment now seems like it comes from a different era.


 The Figure is from Old Glory's French and Indian War line


This the Saintonge Uniform as it appeared in the middle of the 18th century reformers just prior to the American Revolution changed it radically in both cut and color as you can see in the photo above.


The Flag is from Warflag simple but adequate when you change you plan for the bonus round. This is the second time I have commemorated Frank in miniature as I gave his Wife a Revolution War era version of this miniature at a memorial service in 2011 but to my regret I have not picture of this figure to share.  


32 comments:

  1. This is a beautiful way of paying homage to your lost friend.

    A very touching entry and well done!

    ReplyDelete
  2. A wonderful tribute to remember your friend, Adam. Thanks for sharing that story.

    ReplyDelete
  3. What a wonderful memorial, nice work.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Excellent story and the figure really does justice to what sounds like a great guy

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I like to think Frank would have been pleased.

      Delete
  5. a very fitting tribute. One can only hope for some gracious gesture like this when one leaves for the great parade ground in the sky.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I am sure he's sinstructing the heavely host in modern and historical close order drill.

      Delete
  6. Old friends and great memories.

    ReplyDelete
  7. As a former re-enactor, I can vouch for the camaraderie within the movement.

    Losing a comrade is always hard, but we remember them and maintain the hope that we will once more raise a glass together in Valhalla. A loving tribute to a departed friend, carried out with dignity and honour. Well done!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Well said brother. Nailed it.

      Delete
    2. Renacting is about as close to Valhalla as we can get in this life. Battle were every one lives or back after the fight, then nights of talking, singing and drinking to all hours of the night.

      Delete
  8. Superb Adam, just wonderful. Frank would have been thrilled I'm sure.

    ReplyDelete
  9. A fitting tribute to your friend :)

    ReplyDelete
  10. That's brilliant Adam, in so many ways.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Thank you all and I just realize it should read that we lost Frank in 2010. It was a facebook reminder of the 5th aniversery of his death that promted this. I must have writen 2015 on auto piolot.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Superb, Adam.....well done Sir. A worthy memorial.

    ReplyDelete
  13. A wonderful piece of nostalgia and a great commemorative figure as well. Well done Adam.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Very touching and a fitting memorial.

    ReplyDelete
  15. A wonderful story behind a great entry. Well done!

    ReplyDelete
  16. A lovely tribute to your friend.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Nice Standard bearer, and a great way to remember a fallen friend. The white french uniforms may be a bit boring, but they do help the Colors pop, and those are vibrant Colors!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. They do indead make the colors pop and the Saintonge flage is indead vibrent.

      Delete