Tartan Day is officially April 6, However, to use church language, the observance was translated to today. As with last year, mia_mcdavid and I were participating with colgaffneyis. Our contingent was a little smaller than a year ago, but I think we looked good. I was the only one of the men properly wearing a great kilt, with my knees bared to the wind. The others all wore wool breeches, though two of them wore plaids as well.

We were near the end of the parade as it marched to the Capitol steps. The tartan clan banners waving in front of us were a fine sight. We had three banners–our ensign and two Scottish flags (St. Andrew’s cross), one carried by mia_mcdavid. The captain (twolodge) and I followed them, with our four musketeers behind us and rillaspins behind them. I carried a halberd, which was easy after all the times I have carried a pike.

It was a good ceremony, though a long time to be standing still. Afterwards we marched back to the other end of the mall, this time near the front of the parade. The bagpipe bands played at the memorial there, then the event concluded with two ceremonial volleys from our musketeers.