THE TRILOGY
Quite simply, a Trilogy as performed at Country, and Western venues, is a salute in honour of all war dead.
There are a number of different Trilogies and varying ways of performing them, and most clubs or societies have developed special rituals of their own. Throughout, the meaning is the same. To salute those souls of all Flags and Nations who have given their lives in war – both civilian and military.
Because we look towards America for our musical, dress and dance influences, we also look toward there for the acts of war that occurred on the soil of that country as a basis to salute the dead.
The tribute performed at this club is The American Trilogy based on the events that happened during The American Civil War.
In 1861 The American Civil War began and raged through the land for four years. All war is folly but this one set family against family, brother against brother and American against American.
An estimated 620,000 people lost their lives during that torturous time. That equates to two percent of the total population of the country. No conflict before, or since, has taken such a high toll of a single population. Most of the casualties were not on the battlefields but were either in hospitals, POW camps or civilians.
In memory of all those lost souls we dedicate the American Trilogy.
Both armies in that conflict had battle hymns. Both hymns, as well as a general prayer for all war dead, are represented in the tune “American Trilogy” made famous by Elvis Presley. It is because of this that this tune is used for the American Trilogy.
This Trilogy takes the form of a more traditional salute that can encompass both a flag folding ceremony and a number of shots fired in tribute. Although military in style, this is not a funeral.
It is the flag that is recognised as the South’s flag which is folded. In fact the flag is actually the battle flag of Tennessee. How this has come to be regarded as the South’s flag is not clear. The Southern States never surrendered although their armies capitulated at Appomattox Courthouse. At that time the company Colours were folded and laid on top of the piles of Southern weapons.
The whole country remembers the War Dead on 11 November at 11am, we try to remember every time wee meet. I hope you will join us.
Prepared by Eddie Cairns (aka TATANKA & Doc Holliday) January 2007