I AM KILTED!!

[Dreadbelly]

While I was not yet born in the Nam era, I have a lot of my own opinions and feelings on the issue based on my readings and studies of it all. And I personally feel that the vets got shafted.

I helped my wife's father get his Agent Orange payoff. He didn't even know it existed. I spent a lot of time, energy, and effort to make sure he had some small compensation. This man is a racist biggot, has done nothing but ridicule me, sling racial slurs at me, and generally make my life miserable for marrying his daughter. But I did it anyway because I feel that as a human being, he got shafted. I did it because I feel like he deserves it.

JohnAllen, and others on this board in that brotherhood, I would like to take a moment to say thanks. And I mean that. I will most likely never fully understand what happened, but my heart goes out to you.

[Muddy]

Man, the first post was great. Fart jokes and all.
But the second one was extroardinary. Thanks for sharing more of the gentlemans' story. What a lucky and blessed individual you are to have run across him. Made me wish very much I had been there to meet him. I sincerely hope you run into him again. I think you should definately wear your Black Watch with pride. Sounds like you got the go-ahead from that guy to me. Keep us posted of any future meetings or developements will you?
Yours aye,
Muddy

[Dreadbelly]

This is going to sound cliche... And stupid. I don't care.

I am sitting at my computer. My kilt is hanging on a chair. I was looking at it. And iTunes starts playing the Beatles. Free As A Bird.

And I started tearing up. I can't help it. All of the changes I have been through lately. Song sums it up nicely. What ever happened to the life I once knew? The dreadlocks have been freeing my mind. The kilt has freed up much as well, far more then physical.

Some times, a song just says something to you.

Chirp chirp.

[Rob Wright]

Doc, the Douglas tartan is associated with the Cameronians(Scottish Rifles), the men wore trews of Douglas tartan and the pipers kilts. Sadly they were disbanded in 1968.
I bet Episcopal can post info concerning other regiments that also wore the Douglas tartan.
Glad to hear your finally kilted brother 8) Enjoy your new lease on life.

Those who toil the hardest and suffer the most receieve the least sadly. Doc, love your story with the vet.

Oh and here's a link for ya.

http://clandouglassociety.org/Cameronians.html

Rob Wright

[macwilkin]

Besides the Cameronians (The Scottish Rifles), the following regiments wear the Douglas tartan:

7th Gurkha Rifles (amalgamated)
The Royal Gurkha Rifles
The Perth Regiment (Canada)
The Witwatersrand Rifles (South Africa)

The majority of these regiments wear the Douglas in trews, although pipers & drummers wear kilts. Rifle Regiments (The Gurkhas are considered Rifles) traditionally wear "rifle green", so the Douglas is a perfect tartan for them. The Wits in South Africa are still around as a militia unit, not sure about the Perth Regiment.

There is a book about the 2nd Battalion Cameronians (The Scottish Rifles) entitled "Morale" by John Laffin which deals with their service in WWI, and it goes briefly into a history of the Regiment.

1st Batt., Cameronians, were raised from the conservative Presbyterian faction known as Cameronians (named after their martyred leader, Richard Cameron), and was the only regiment raised from a religious group in the British Army. The Cameronians would post sentries at the four corners of the church on Sunday morning, and an officer would shout "All Clear!" before the Padre began the service, in reference to the secret Presbyterian meetings on hillsides and in fields called conventicles where armed covenanters protected the flock from government soldiers.

2nd Batt., Cameronians, the Scottish Rifles, had no such religious overtones & referred to themselves as the Scottish Rifles to distinguish themselves from 1st Batt. They were raised in the 1790's during the wars with Revolutionary France.

In 1968, when faced with amalgamation with another regiment, the Cameronians chose to disband, although they are still around as a Territorial Army Battalion.

Cheers,

T.

[Dreadbelly]

**Head explodes**

More later.

The breeze is nice

[Magnus Sporrano]

**Head explodes**

More later.

The breeze is nice

Pics?

[TheFly]

Absolutley! Pics of the kilt AND the dreads, man!

[Rob Wright]

Thanks for the info T. I'm definately going to bee looking up that book.

Rob Wright

[bikercelt1]

Dr. D, I'm so glad you're finally kilted and enjoying it so much. I too feel that your story is very "on Topic" and extremely well told. I hope you run into this fellow again and tell him how moved we all are. Congratulations and thank you for such a moving testimonial.

Jamie

p.s. lest this get too sentimental, just wait until you get to experience the reverbration of "kilt farts" on a shiney hard floor like in a Library!