The Worthington Times

Last Saturday was Alfred Livingston's day in Worthington and it was a beauty.  Fluffy white clouds in a deep blue sky and the kind of weather that makes one wish all days could be just like that.  In the story coming up about Alfred in Worthington before he joined the Navy, there will be a little ditty that Alfred sometimes would sing on his way to school when he was a boy.  Look at the pictures below and you'll see why I just can't wait to write these words from Alfred, to go along with these pictures of Navy men and women on his day.....

When I pretend I'm ok, I always feel that way.
I'm only painting the clouds with sunshine.
I hold back a tear, to make a smile appear.
I'm only painting the clouds with sunshine.   

On Alfred's day, the clouds were indeed painted with sunshine.

To make the day perfect, the sunshine painter had a lot of help on the ground - especially from the United States Navy and Reservists from locations around Indiana.  Everything went smoothly and with great dignity.  And the tribute to Alfred would not have been complete without the Navy's traditional military memorials to him.

In the top picture above, one of the three officers is chatting with a Pearl Harbor Survivor who attended the service.  Standing on the right, MCC Hugh C. Laughlin of the Navy Office of Community Outreach out of Indianapolis was the officer in charge of the day's events.  Although he remained in the background through most of the day, he was on the job early checking on every detail and making sure everything was perfect.  

In the second picture, all of the Reservists who traveled to Worthington to honor Alfred are at ease but lined up along the lane, waiting for the family's departure from the cemetery.  When the family left, they stood at attention and gave a salute.

In the third picture, two officers were strolling across the Worthington Cemetery following the service.

And in the last picture, the U.S. Navy official photographer, MC1 Joseph C. Garza, hard at work.  From Alfred's arrival in Indianapolis to the end of the service at the cemetery, he recorded all of the events and left us with classic memorable pictures - from the pallbearers carrying Alfred's casket to the presentation of the flag to Louise Hobbs.  After the service was over, when everyone else was enjoying dinner, he was still working, preparing copies of his pictures to give to the media in time for their evening newscasts and the next day's papers.

Although we don't have a picture of the musician who stood on the hill behind the crowd and played "Taps," we'll never forget it.  Thanks to all for coming to Worthington to honor Alfred Livingston.