Post by dcgrava on Nov 7, 2006 14:01:18 GMT -5
Today's posting by Legionnaire of a photo with a General MacArthur look-alike reminds me of an event in the not too distant past involving another of the general's impersonators: Dennis Leslie:
Memorial Day fete has Philippine feel
TRIBUTE TO FALLEN HEROES: An actor playing General Douglas MacArthur descends from a war-era jeep that roared on stage during the Memorial Day program at the Forest Lawn in Hollywood Hills. Right photo shows actor Dennis Leslie, left, with the other members of the reenactment team – Cornell and Elena Iliescu of the Noble Cause Foundation.
LOS ANGELES -- His entrance was preceded by a roll of drums and when the emcee announced his name, a long, loud applause ensued as a World War II era jeep roared into view: “Ladies and gentlemen, General Douglas MacArthur.”
Dennis Leslie is an actor, a member of the Douglas MacArthur Foundation and Museum in Norfolk, Virginia. On May 29 he was into his usual act of portraying the popular military officer during the Memorial Day program at the Forest Lawn Memorial Parks & Mortuaries in Hollywood Hills, Los Angeles. Although somewhat shorter than the giant of a man that was MacArthur, the rest of physical resemblance was uncanny.
“As I was leaving the hotel this morning, a doorman asked me, "Where are you bound for, General?" and when I replied, "West Point," he remarked, "Beautiful place, have you ever been there before?"
Leslie, as MacArthur, started his keynote speech with General MacArthur’s famous Farewell Speech given to the Corps of Cadets at West Point May 12, 1962 and, continuing with a twist of his own, lamented how some people forget so easily the many great things that our soldiers have fought and died for. He recounted to the hundreds of spellbound listeners about the greatness of the man, his continuing quest for excellence, and his sacrifices for the sake of his country and people. There was that episode with the general’s family inside the Malinta Tunnel in Bataan threatened on all sides by the marauding Japanese Imperial Forces and then there was that poignant moment with his son in a Philippine setting praying together: “Our Father, thou art in heaven…”
Leslie later told BALITA that the legendary general loved the Philippines so much that he decided to retire in 1937 from the Army rather than leave the Philippines where he was assigned at that time. However, he was recalled to active duty in 1941 when war with Japan became imminent. Later, he complied with an order from President Franklin Roosevelt to proceed to Australia in order to oversee the marshaling of forces to liberate the Philippines.
The Memorial Day Program started with a prelude by the 562nd Air Force Band with Capt. Eric Patterson conducting followed by a posting of colors by the 2nd Battalion, 23rd Marines, commanded by LTC. Geffrey Cooper; Pledge of Allegiance led by Trooper Lennister Williams of the Buffalo Soldiers; playing of the National Anthem by the Air National Guard Band; and a Memorial Day Tribute by Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante.
Invocation and benediction was by Chaplain Joseph Vainor of the American Legion; wreath presentation by the Union Avenue Drum & Bugle Corps and the Scottish Pipes & Drum; rifle salute by the LA County Sheriff’s Honor Guard; taps by a bugler from the Air National Guard Band; retiring of colors by the marines, and a postlude by the Air National Guard Band. Ceremony host was Wilma Joanis, vice president of Forest Lawn which is also celebrating its centennial year. (Text and photos by DIONESIO C. GRAVA)
From MIDWEEK BALITA
Memorial Day fete has Philippine feel
TRIBUTE TO FALLEN HEROES: An actor playing General Douglas MacArthur descends from a war-era jeep that roared on stage during the Memorial Day program at the Forest Lawn in Hollywood Hills. Right photo shows actor Dennis Leslie, left, with the other members of the reenactment team – Cornell and Elena Iliescu of the Noble Cause Foundation.
LOS ANGELES -- His entrance was preceded by a roll of drums and when the emcee announced his name, a long, loud applause ensued as a World War II era jeep roared into view: “Ladies and gentlemen, General Douglas MacArthur.”
Dennis Leslie is an actor, a member of the Douglas MacArthur Foundation and Museum in Norfolk, Virginia. On May 29 he was into his usual act of portraying the popular military officer during the Memorial Day program at the Forest Lawn Memorial Parks & Mortuaries in Hollywood Hills, Los Angeles. Although somewhat shorter than the giant of a man that was MacArthur, the rest of physical resemblance was uncanny.
“As I was leaving the hotel this morning, a doorman asked me, "Where are you bound for, General?" and when I replied, "West Point," he remarked, "Beautiful place, have you ever been there before?"
Leslie, as MacArthur, started his keynote speech with General MacArthur’s famous Farewell Speech given to the Corps of Cadets at West Point May 12, 1962 and, continuing with a twist of his own, lamented how some people forget so easily the many great things that our soldiers have fought and died for. He recounted to the hundreds of spellbound listeners about the greatness of the man, his continuing quest for excellence, and his sacrifices for the sake of his country and people. There was that episode with the general’s family inside the Malinta Tunnel in Bataan threatened on all sides by the marauding Japanese Imperial Forces and then there was that poignant moment with his son in a Philippine setting praying together: “Our Father, thou art in heaven…”
Leslie later told BALITA that the legendary general loved the Philippines so much that he decided to retire in 1937 from the Army rather than leave the Philippines where he was assigned at that time. However, he was recalled to active duty in 1941 when war with Japan became imminent. Later, he complied with an order from President Franklin Roosevelt to proceed to Australia in order to oversee the marshaling of forces to liberate the Philippines.
The Memorial Day Program started with a prelude by the 562nd Air Force Band with Capt. Eric Patterson conducting followed by a posting of colors by the 2nd Battalion, 23rd Marines, commanded by LTC. Geffrey Cooper; Pledge of Allegiance led by Trooper Lennister Williams of the Buffalo Soldiers; playing of the National Anthem by the Air National Guard Band; and a Memorial Day Tribute by Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante.
Invocation and benediction was by Chaplain Joseph Vainor of the American Legion; wreath presentation by the Union Avenue Drum & Bugle Corps and the Scottish Pipes & Drum; rifle salute by the LA County Sheriff’s Honor Guard; taps by a bugler from the Air National Guard Band; retiring of colors by the marines, and a postlude by the Air National Guard Band. Ceremony host was Wilma Joanis, vice president of Forest Lawn which is also celebrating its centennial year. (Text and photos by DIONESIO C. GRAVA)
From MIDWEEK BALITA