LOCOMOTIVE EARNS ITS PAY!

(Submitted by Chef de Gare Norm Covert, VL 155)

Frederick/Carroll Voiture Locale 155 literally pushed its Locomotive from event to event due to a weak battery Memorial Day weekend, but it was a big hit everywhere, even as the rain in Taneytown on Monday May 31st put a crimp in the parade audience.

The Locomotive was a popular exhibit on static display Saturday May 29th at Mount Airys Gold Star Post 191. The Legionnaires hosted a special observance coinciding with the official dedication of the World War II Monument in Washington, D.C. At the conclusion of the Mount Airy ceremony, Veterans and their families came back to post 191 to watch the dedication on the big screen television. Seeing the Locomotive brought back memories of many who remembered seeing such rolling stock representing La Societe in many events in past years.

Chief Engineer Voyageur Bob Browning hauled the Loco on his huge rollback to Woodsboro Sunday morning to take part in the annual Veterans Parade and ceremonies that concluded at the Woodsboro Post 282 Home. The battery technical problems occurred when the smoke machine apparently drained the battery as the Loco waited for the parade to start. Luckily, a farm with his tractor just behind was able to give the Loco a little nudge and it fired up and became one of the stars of the parade.

The Loco carried V. Browning at the controls, V. Mason Wilburn as assistant engineer and crewmembers including V. Manny Quinones, Past National Sous Chef de Chemin de Fer Francis Marino and VL 155 Chef de Gare Norman Covert. The crew fed Tootsie Rolls to the crowds lining the sidewalks.

Despite the steady rain Monday, V. Browning and V. Wilburn collected the Loco at Woodsboro and drove it to Taneytown when Honorary Past Grand chef and Past Chef de Gare of VL 155 Stanley King hopped aboard and weathered the light rain, which stopped before the parade ended, making it another successful day to honor our comrades in Post everlasting.

The crew is considering a plan to take the Locomotive to Ocean City for the Annual Department of Maryland Parade, quite an honor for the Stately Old Loco. Theres lots of life left in the old girl.