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We were also required to perform ceremonial duties from time to time. On one such occasion HQMC notified us that we were to provide a ‘Flag detail’ for the Prime Minister and Princess Grace of Monaco. Apparently, our U. S. Ambassador had arranged for a ceremony at one of Richmond’s Malls wherein the Monaco Flag and the U. S. Flag would be given —each to the other Country
—then raised on two flagpoles at the mall. We learned as much as we could about the layout—what was expected—did an early rehearsal and prepared to adapt to whatever they expected us to do. This turned out to be a bigger operation than I expected since the U.S. Ambassador didn’t show up and they asked me to do the actual presentation of colors to the Prime Minister. This we carried out as smoothly as we could have imagined with the news media all around it went off without a hitch. Each day as the ‘Officer in Charge’ was pretty much like this—we never knew what was coming next—we had a small unit so
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