Thousands Remember Elvis on Anniversary of Death

Saturday is the 26th anniversary of the death of singer Elvis Presley, and thousands of people gathered at his Graceland home in Memphis, Tennessee, to remember the music legend.

About 5,000 Elvis fans were lined up when Graceland's gates opened Friday night for the annual overnight candlelight vigil past the singer's grave. Thousands more later joined the procession which continued until early Saturday.

AP Beverly Swain, from Lexington, Tenn., attends a candlelight vigil to Elvis Presley's grave at Graceland in Memphis, Tenn. Officials in Memphis estimate about 35,000 people took part in this year's Elvis Tribute Week. Some came many hundreds - even thousands - of kilometers to attend. One man from Ohio said he has been at Graceland on this day every year since Elvis died on August 16, 1977.

The event comes with a full week of activities, including concerts, Elvis look-alike contests, special tours of his Graceland home, screenings of his movies, and if you give $35 to an animal charity, a chance to swim in the swimming pool at the home in Memphis where Elvis lived before he moved to Graceland.

Maybe he hasn’t left the building after all

Earlier this year he had the No. 1 song in the United Kingdom. A few months ago he was inducted into the Gospel Hall of Fame. He sells five million albums a year. In a poll taken last week, 42 percent of Americans say they’re his fans.

All in all, his career seems right on target. The only problem, of course, is that Elvis – there’s no need to use his last name - has been dead for the past 25 years. It may seem strange, but the King has been famous longer as a dead person than he was as a living one.

And there can be no doubt that Elvis is indeed departed. What father would have learned his only daughter was going to marry Michael Jackson and not prevented it from happening? Especially a father such as Elvis, a man known for his personal arsenal and a willingness to use it when something, even a TV show, annoyed him.

We can guess what Mr. Presley’s reaction to Michael, his Diana Ross/Elizabeth Taylor infatuation, and the myriad other "issues" faced by the lad would have been. I’m pretty sure, "Welcome to the family, son" would not have been part of that reaction.

One can only imagine how Elvis would look if he were still alive. Probably, he’d be tipping the scales at about 400 pounds. It difficult to think of him still performing. White jumpsuits and capes generally don’t do all that much for 67-year-olds, no matter how cool they are. Ideally, Elvis’ friends, family and fans would have protected him from suffering the same fate as Mick Jagger and Keith Richard. They have become grotesque caricatures of their former selves. They and their Metamucil musicians should tour, if they must, with the more accurate name of The Strolling Bones.

At one time, the National Archives reported its most requested item was the famous picture of President Richard Nixon and Citizen Presley shaking hands. Perhaps it still is. Elvis had written to the president and asked Mr. Nixon to make him "a Federal Agent at Large" to fight against the drug culture. He delivered his letter to the White House personally.

Staffer Dwight Chapin quickly knocked off a memo to top Nixon aide H.R. Haldeman, explaining why it was a good idea for the president of the United States to meet with the king of rock and roll. The memo concluded with, "if the President wants to meet with some bright young people outside of the Government, Presley might be a perfect one to start with." Haldeman wrote, "You must be kidding" next to that, but approved the request anyway.

So that’s how Elvis met Richard Nixon. One story is probably apocryphal, but I really like it. Purportedly, Nixon stared at the cape, the gold chains, and the huge belt buckle Presley was sporting that day and said, "Wow, Elvis, that outfit of yours is pretty wild." Elvis’ reply was, "Mr. President, you’ve got your act and I’ve got mine."

The idea that Elvis, tossing down dozens, maybe hundreds, of pills a day, volunteered in the war against drugs is preposterous. No doubt, because a licensed physician prescribed his pills, he didn’t see himself as a junkie.

Still, I think his offer was earnestly made, an intended act of patriotism by an underprivileged boy grateful for all America had given him. In his letter he explained "the drug culture, the hippie elements, the SDS (Students for a Democratic Society), Black Panthers, etc. do not consider me as their enemy or as they call it the establishment. I call it American and I love it. Sir, I can and will be of any service that I can to help the country out."

Elvis didn’t dodge the draft. He went in like a man, served his time and got an honorable discharge. Can you see any of today’s artistic heroes doing that? He was also a caring and dutiful son who treated his parents with respect and never tired of sharing with them his good fortune.

So on this anniversary of his death, let’s focus on his love for our country, the great music he gave us, and his many acts of kindness. Best wishes to you, Elvis. Whatever building you might be in.

From the 8/15/02 Oak Lawn (IL) Reporter.

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