Monday, January 30, 2012

Paul Says Welcome Home, Too

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Veterans Parade 9 (Paul Pagano - Father Time)

Paul Pagano is a St. Louis institution. He's 88 or 89 now and goes by the nickname Father Time. STL DPB has featured him before (check out the sign on his back in the second photo.) I have memories of Paul driving around downtown at public events, particularly opening day of the baseball season, in an old bus completely covered with red, white and blue patriotic slogans. He had a loudspeaker on top blaring Kate Smith singing God Bless America.

Pagano often walked around at occasions like the German street festival seen in the link above, covered with signs. I never saw the man without a smile on his face. It's been a while since I've spotted him and I wondered how he was doing. He may be a bit more frail now but the attitude is unchanged.

Below, a family welcomes its sailor back.

Veterans Parade 10

8 comments:

  1. l'oncle SAM, un tres beau portrait, assez touchant

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  2. Good to know that some people always smile.

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  3. Nice to be remembered and welcomed.

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  4. This parade got some wonderful coverage in a local Santa Fe newspaper yesterday!

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  5. This is SOOOOOO American - and I mean in the nicest way.

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  6. He looks like a wonderful old character Bob, gosh you'd think at that age he'd be sitting with his fee up!! Good on him.

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