A Flash Mob Story of 1947

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When I see the commercial of the fellow at the station that breaks into a cheer only to find out the the Flash Mob has been rescheduled, (*And who can forget the trouble between the gay couple on Modern Family when one joins a flash mob?) I am reminded of a story my Dad tells.

He and at least 8 other WWII vets returned home to Mississippi to attend Southwest Junior College in Summit, MS, during the summer of 1947. They called themselves The Plowshare Boys. My dad Paul Smith and Jerry Clower, renowned comedian and pundit, were members. 

 

The Plowshare Boys had a pact. Anytime the song "I Saw the Light" by Hank Williams was heard, they would all stand and sing along. *Imagine these vets rising with military precision, standing at attention, and returning to their seats with military precision.

At least 9 of the men had an English Lit class during the noon hour in a classroom directly above the Student Union. In the Student Union was a jukebox with the Hank Williams record "I Saw the Light." And most days, someone would drop money in the jukebox to play this song. When this happened, these proud vets would all stand and sing. (*YouTube video)

  

Luckily for them, their teacher Ms. Brown never objected. When the song ended, all sat down and class resumed as if nothing had happened.

Through the years, my dad has sung this song as he walks through the house. We usually joined in. Today he plays Hank Williams on his CD player and tells us often of his days at Southwest. My mother met him when he was a Plowshare Boy, and they married within the year. They raised 5 daughters who can all sing along to a Hank Williams song.

We recently lost my mother. We played and sang "I Saw the Light" at her memorial service. (Originally published 5/20/11)

*added in 2020.

2020 Addendum. We lost my father 2017. Born 1927, he was a vet of 3 wars and a US Navy retiree, and a physician's assistant for TDC when he retired the second time.  His ashes are interred, along with a portion of Mom's, in the Houston National Cemetery. All of his daughters now live in Texas.