For those who have been fortunate enough to witness in person the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknowns in Arlington National Cemetery, it is a scene that lingers in the recesses of the mind forever.

When the girls were children, we took them to witness this solemn ceremony. They were so impressed that for months afterward, they would get a broom or whatever they could find, marching throughout the house pretending to be soldiers in the mold of those of the Old Guard at Arlington.

The following summer they continued their stiff parading throughout the neighborhood, carrying their brooms with all the dignity one can muster wearing shorts, a halter top and carrying a $5 broom.

Kenneth would follow them along as they would meet in the middle of the street to change their weapons of choice; do their "about faces" and proceed with their ritualistic game.

It was during one of these play sessions that he came up with one of his "less-than-brilliant" ideas to teach them some Army marching songs. Before I knew it, they not only were marching; they also were singing risque marching tunes at the top of their voices.

That's when I stepped in to put a halt to the little game. The girls got a "mother-daughter" chat about why such songs were not appropriate. Kenneth, in the meantime, got a piece of my mind.

In the logic only another father might understand, he said, "Well, I didn't teach them the REALLY BAD ONES!"

At any rate, the songs and marching seemed to have run their course. Then one night our minister and his wife dropped by for a visit. They were a young couple who had no children. The minister's wife, however, was so taken with Holly, who was about four at the time. She sought her out every Sunday at church, repeatedly telling us what a beautiful child she was.

That evening, the girls were back in their rooms. She almost immediately decided to go see Holly. As she started down the hall looking for her, out came Holly, her broom stiffly on her shoulder, singing LOUD AND CLEAR!  Needless to say, she was NOT warbling "I'm in The Lord's Army!!

Both of us got around the minister's wife in our hallway in two seconds flat to grab Holly.  Kenneth quickly ushered her back to the bedroom, leaving me with a red face to try as best I could to explain how our sweet little angel was singing an "off-color" Army marching tune!