Col. Mel Rosen laid to rest

[av8tor]

On this beautiful morning the 18th of October 2007, the body of Col. Melvin Rosen was laid to rest at the Arlington National Cemetery. A lot of people attended the ceremony, Col. Rosen was given full military honor by the 3rd Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard). There was a ceremonial marching band that followed the caisson pulled by seven white horses, the caisson platoon, A firing party of seven that fired three volleys, a bugler, color guards, and a company of soldiers. The Norwegian military and embassy personnel and their families paid their last respect (Col. Rosen was an attache in Norway). Greg Baltazar Timbol from LA and I represented the pinoys, Senator Paterson from Rhode Island represented the Philippine Scouts Heritage Society. Kinue Tokudome of the US-Japan Dialogue on POW's also came from LA.

Mrs. Olive Rosen was seated with her son and daughter and the ceremony officiated by a Jewish Rabbi. A Brigidaire General presented Mrs. Rosen the Flag in behalf of a grateful nation. Everything went well, the honor was fitting for the man who served his country well.

Pictures to follow.

[VeeVee]

In Memory
Col. Melvin H. Rosen

October 18, 2007, 11:00 A.M. Arlington National Cemetery



History of the Philippine Scouts Field Artillery
Written by Col. Melvin H. Rosen

Fall in! Fall in! Attention! You red legged mountaineers;
With your gun and your pack and your box of tack,
Non-come and cannoneers.
Baptized in Mindanao-beside the Sulu Sea;

With a tow and a tow and a tow row row,
From a Mountain Battery;
With a tow and a tow and a tow row row,
From a Mountain Battery!

Oh, I’d rather be a soldier with a mule and a mountain gun,
Than a knight of old with spurs of gold,
Than Roman, Greek, or Hun.
For when there’s trouble brewing, they always send for me,
To start the fun with a mountain gun,
From a Mountain Battery.
To start the fun with a mountain gun.
From a Mountain Battery!

For when we are commanded to open up with ball,
We slap our guns together and beside them stand or fall,
To right and left before us our shrapnel bursts we see.

With a how, and a how, and a how row row
From a Mountain Battery.
With a how, and a how, and row row
From a Mountain Battery!

Here’s to pack and aparejo, to cradle, gun, and trail,
And that d**ned old fool, the artillery mule,
Who ne’er was known to fail.
So fill your glasses, fellows, and drink this toast with me.

Here’s a how, and a how, and a how row row
To a Mountain Battery.
Here’s a how, and a how, and a how row row
To a Mountain Battery

Words: Col. Gerald E. Griffin

Tune: “The British Grenadiers”, traditional British march of unknown origin and composer.

In the spirit of Col. Melvin H. Rosen’s Artillery Unit:
“No hill too steep; no sand too deep;
No trail too rough; no job too tough.”

[av8tor]

As promised, here are some of the pictures from Arlington National Cemetery.


The Band and soldiers of the 3rd Infantry Old Guard.


Mrs. Rosen with son David and his wife, followed by daughter Barbara with her husband Greg.


The caisson platoon carried the Colonel to his final resting place.




The firing party.



Brigidaire General Bartell presented Mrs. Rosen the flag on behalf of a gratefull nation.


Daughter Barbara.


Senator John Patterson came in from Rhode Island, me (I'm local here) and Ms. Kinue Tokudome of the US-Japan Dialogue on POWs flew in from Los Angeles.


Mrs. Rosen with Greg Baltazar Timbol who flew in from Los Angeles. Col. Rosen's 88th Field Artillery PS supported Greg's Grandfather's 45th Infantry PS at the battle of the points in 1942.


With an officer and a gentleman of the Norwegian Navy who have a lot of respect for the Colonel... we also did talk about maritime patrol aircraft.




Farewell to the Colonel, our very own Philippine Scout Officer.

[VeeVee]

Hi Donald,
Thanks for posting the pictures and for attending with Greg and senator Patterson to represent the PSHS. -victor