Poking around the Cambridge (Mass.) Common, before the start of the Memorial Day parade,  I came across the Cambridge Militia, polishing their full-scale reproduction of a cannon just like the rebels used in 1775.  Commander Ted Connolly explained that lighting the powder in the touchhole ignites the cannon's charge.

I noted that the edges of the touchhole, a small depression on the top of the cannon, formed a heart.  "They did have a sense of humor 200 years ago," remarked Mr. Connolly. 

Today, his militia fires big blasts on Memorial Day, Independence Day and Veterans Day.  The 'People's Republic of Cambridge' allocates $275 for the powder, chuckled the commander, from its "defense" budget.

I was photographing Army Reservists who marched in the parade for a story gauging the nation's wartime attitude towards troops. I got a nice little workout, since after stopping to take shots of onlookers, I had to run to catch up with the soldiers.

Members of the Reserve distributed little flags to spectators along the route.  Nine-month-old Joshua Hamilton tasted one.  Asked about his attire, his mom said:  "His dad is very patriotic. We're very patriotic."