The Old Capitol

[rurallib]

As we joined in the vigil yesterday and we were mostly silent, I began to think how the Old Capitol seems to keep popping up throughout my life.
As a child in Iowa City in the 1950s, the Old Capitol was the backdrop for some of those joyous days for kids. The homecoming parades followed by the big bonfire behind(?) the Old Cap. Christmases with one of the most beautiful civic displays of lights that stretched from Santa Claus' House on the Old Capitol grounds down the boulevards of Iowa Avenue.
As a tween and teen the Old Cap was the short cut to the stadium on Saturday afternoons in the fall. As a junior in HS on through college it was the rally point against the Viet Nam War.
As a parent, it was the perfect place to take the kids to talk about our democracy and our form of government.
And now as we approach a bit of gold, we come back to our rallying point of youth to yet again call out the insanity of our government's policy. And the Old Cap stands quietly resplendent and restored in the background to continue to remind us that she will be there as a shining symbol of what democracy can be.
I have no doubt that nigh onto the day I die I will pass by the Old Cap and consider all the history, all of our history, that has happened there.

[cyberswede]

1. Chet and Patty

I loved that Culver and Judge had an event there around inauguration time. It was fitting.

[rurallib]

2. Yeah - that too. With Mike Mauro

A really good event.

[Counciltucky]

3. I was there!

The Old Cap was really looking good inside that day.

[Hardrada]

4. Did they let you up on the steps?

They used to let us protest on the front steps in the Sixties but lately have banned us doing so or the group in Iowa City doing the antiwar activity. I went up there on my own with my peace sign a year ago and stood for awhile in protest and memory.

[rurallib]

5. No - we were on the corner of Clinton & Iowa Avenue

I did hear from a friend today that the crowd swelled to @ 100 in the evening. That is good to hear.

[rurallib]

6. Forgot to mention the day I got drafted as Sen Hughes bodyguard

A slick talking friend of mine volunteered me as a bodyguard for the Hughes speech. The day was on or very close to the day of the Kent State shootings.