Bikers on Parade

A slightly unconventional blip of the Veterans' Day Parade in the center of Northampton, Mass.; the motorcycles are bringing up the rear. LARGE shows more detail.

The imposing building in the background is the Old Courthouse. It was built in 1887 [initially I wrote 1[u]9[/u]87], but a newer building (visible as the blank wall in the left rear) largely superseded it in 1975. On the right is the main crossroad in downtown Northampton; from it I took my "Abbey Road Wedding" blip (not the original title), shooting toward where the bikers are; the wedding party was heading toward the Old Courthouse lawn for more photos.

A bit of history (for the United States): Veterans' Day was originally commemorated as Armistice Day in the aftermath of World War I. November 11th became Veterans' Day by law in 1954. But in 1968 the day of observance was changed to the 4th Monday in October. After much protest, Congress changed it back to November 11th in 1978.

In the U.K. it is commemorated on November 11th, as Remembrance Day (as many blippers are reminding us).