Bison ..t·ennial . t:'" • to depict J;;iih20~ America's past · A realistic glimp~l!'l into America's past will be enacted Saturday, November ~. at Harding College's "B.ison– tennial" Homecoming pre-game show at 1:40 p.m., by the four– roan 122nd U.S. Army Reserve Command's Bicentennial Color Guard, dressed in uniforms copied from the Revolutionary era. Through the efforts of Dr. G. E. Baggett, associate professor of music at Harding and director of the Bison Band, Dr. James Carr, Homecoming chairman, and Bill Harris, Director of the pre-game show, the Guard will perform a series of precision drills in a seven-minute presentation which 'will include performance by tb; Bison Band and TAG social club. "Saturday's pre-game show should be one of the most spec– tacular shows to come out of Alumni Field," Baggett said. "We would like to encourage Homecoming game attendants to be here early enough to view this remarkable event." The Guard is commanded by Major Gary W. Weir of the 122nd ARCOM Headquarters, who is from Searcy. He and members of the Commanders-in-Chief "Life Guard" are assisting Arkansas communities observe the Bicentennial by appearing at various citizen functions ·throughout the state. "Our purpose," Major Weir said, "is to do what we can to help America relive its past history and perhaps make our fellow citizens more conscious of our nation's heritage." To help the nation relieve its nast, the Army has issued to Army Reserve commands replicas of the uniforms v;orn'{ General George Washingtor. personal body guard in 1776. Mu.-;kets. which are replicas of lhe English-made Brown Bess War of Independence period, also were issued. Members of the Color Guard to appear at Harding are Major Gary W. Weir, Captain Terry D. Bradley, Chief Warrant Officer Alvin Hiner and Master Sergeant Carrol Tucker. On March 11, 1776, General Washington issued the order in which he put down the qualifications for personnel . to constitute his personal Ltfe Guard. The order was as follows: "The Gtmeral is desirious of selecting a_ pa,:rticular number of men as a guard for himself and his baggage. The Colonel or commanding officers of each of the established regiments, the artillery and rifleman expected, will furnish him with four, that the number wanted may be ·chosen out of them. His ex– cellency depends upon the Colonels' for good men, such as they can recommend sobriety, honest and good behavior. He wishes them to be from five feet eight inches to five feet ten in– ches, handsomely and well made, and, as there is nothing in his eyes more desirable that cleanliness in a soldier, he desires that pa~ticular attention may be made in the choice of such men as are clean and spruce. They are all to be at headquarters tomorrow at 12 o'clock noon, when the number wanted will be fixed upon. The General neither wants them with uniforms nor arms, nor do{'s he desire that any man to be sent to him that is not perfectly desirious of this Guard - they should be drilled men." Of such replica should the' performance be at Saturday's nre-12'amP During the 1975 Homecoming football game, a Bicentennial feature salute included a 20-yard long United States flag, the 122nd Army Reserve Bicentennial Color Guard (in Revolutionary period uniforms), a patriotic musical theme and an antique automobile caravan.
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