July 21-22, 2009

Days 123-124 on the Road in 2009

Tuesday morning Jan and I were back at the Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport for yet another Delta flight through Atlanta to Washington's Reagan National Airport. The impetus for this trip was an invitation from Brigadier General Jim Walker, the Staff Judge Advocate to the Commandant of the Marine Corps, to be the guest of honor at the weekly Marine Corps Sunset Parade at the Iwo Jima Memorial in Arlington, Virginia, on Tuesday night. Our flight up was on time, indeed, even a bit early.

That afternoon we were met in the lobby of the Sheraton National Hotel in Arlington by a Marine Corps Captain, Jason Foscolo, who escorted us over to the Woman's Memorial in Arlington National Cemetery, where a reception was held. There we met members of the Marine Corps legal community. Also present was Chair of the House William Hubbard who had come to town for the event. William and General Walker attended law school together at the University of South Carolina.

It was a wonderful reception, and good to meet so many of the officers in the JAG Corps, as well as their supporting personnel. General Walker gave some brief remarks in introducing me, heaping praise on our military pro bono project, which provides pro bono civilian legal assistance to active duty military who may need representation in civilian court at their duty location.

I gave some brief remarks also, commenting upon my active duty of service stationed at the Pentagon from 1975 to 1977. Afterwards, General Walker presented me with a beautiful replica of the Marine Corps Memorial.

Then we moved over near Arlington Cemetery for the actual Sunset Parade. We were first given an overview of the ceremony, and briefed on our "duties." Then we were seated for the parade.

To call it a "parade" is really a misnomer. It is certainly a review of the troops, beginning with a performance by the Marine Corps Drum and Bugle Corps, followed by a precision drill by the Marine Corps Silent Drill Platoon. Following that the brigades marched in review. It was quite an event, culminated by a lone female bugler atop the Iwo Jima Memorial playing taps in honor of all who had fallen. Further information on the Parade can be seen at www.mbw.usmc.mil/parade_sunsetdefault.asp.

Since I was necessarily spending the night, the D.C. staff had set up two media interviews, and a visit to FTC Commissioner Rosch to discuss the Red Flags Rule for Wednesday. (No telling what they will schedule for incoming President Carolyn Lamm, who lives in D.C.)

First, I met with David Ingram, a staff reporter for The Legal Times/National Law Journal to discuss Red Flags and financial regulatory proposals. This resulted in the story noting that the ABA was preparing to file suit against the FTC.

After lunch it was back over to the FTC to visit with FTC Commissioner Rosch, along with Tom Susman and Ann Carmichael of the D.C. staff. This meeting was quite short, since it was our sixth meeting with the FTC staff and/or Commissioners. I kidded Tom Susman afterwards that we could have walked in and said "usual questions" and Commissioner Rosch could have said "usual answers" and we could have then left. In any event, it was worthwhile to make sure we had seen all of the FTC Commissioners prior to the enforcement date of the Rule, now set for August 1.

Later that afternoon, before I got off on the 7:00 p.m. flight to Birmingham through Atlanta, I met with Bill McMichael of Military Times. Here we discussed the various issues on which the ABA supports our troops and military, pointing out the seven primary committees that we have on military law, as well as our work with the TJAGs. We had a very good discussion which ranged from military child custody to repeal to the Feres Doctrine. Bill had conveniently agreed to meet with us near a Metro stop in Pentagon City, since it would put me close to Reagan National Airport and the ability to get there in time to catch my flight back to Birmingham. It was a short, two-stop Metro ride to Reagan National to make my flight.

The flight was on time, and uneventful, getting me back to Birmingham around 11:00 p.m. The Sunset Parade had been quite an event to attend.