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This website was last updated: July 22, 2010
CLAN LOGAN SOCIETY
Clan Logan Society at the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games
In July 2009 Katie, the girls, and I attended our first ever Highland Games when we took a side trip to the 54th Grandfather Mountain Highland Games in Linville NC. The excitement of the games grabbed us immediately as we walked up to the gate to observe the scale of these games and the picturesque setting. An entire field { MacRae Meadows }, surrounded by clan tents adorned with flags, displays of heritage, and a few characters. My oldest, Logan, named for my father's mother of the Plains GA Logans asked, "why don't the Logan's have a tent? " When your 9 year old daughter becomes interested in her heritage and its culture you do what is necessary! Step one was to join the Clan Logan Society. Step two was to begin the conversation with our President Vernon and Chairman James about just how we pull this thing off? Many thanks to both our President and Chairman as they did the organization work to find the resources we needed to attend the 55th Grandfather Games! There are a few others who are directly responsible for the Logan's having a tent at the games and it being as well done as it was for our first trip to the " most well done games anywhere" [ Ed Logan]. Ed Logan of Missouri and Samuel Logan of Georgia donated resources to the society that if we had not had, we would not have been there! Thanks so much ! Thanks to our Clan Piper Donna Logan for bringing to our tent what we did not see at any other tent, an official Clan Piper! Alex Beaton was most appreciative.... I need to thank one more person but I will save that for the end. Step three, get a skir....I mean Kilt ! I chose the ancient tartan.
We set the tent up on the first day of the games Friday morning. Vernon and his wife Dee, Donna and her husband James, Ed and myself. Getting to know one another was quite easily done. This environment of familiarity and family permeated the entire games. I have never experienced something like this before. We all spent the afternoon sharing our stories and checking out the games, music, vendors, and the food, [ we had a Haggis and Scotch eggs vendor right behind the tent ] more on that later.
Saturday morning brought a tremendous crowd to the games and some new friends who came by the tent with connections to the Logan Clan, or at least, the Logan name. Katie and my daughters joined us in the tent after mountain exploring the day before with friends. Again we spent the day becoming better acquainted, taking pictures, enjoying the games, and admiring Ed's amazing handmade, by himself, beaver sporran. Ellery, my youngest, loved it. Of course there were the professional athletes competing in the heavy games, most impressive and possibly a new world record in the Sheaf Toss, wait and see. The events for the evening were rained out but the hills needed it badly !
When we began this trip I did not think Sunday would be a very big deal, I was very wrong! Sunday might be the most important day if it is your heritage that brings you to this particular games. We had all talked on Saturday about marching in the Parade of Tartans [clans ]. Sunday morning brought some doubt as to just what we had to do to participate. On Vernon's suggestion, I made my way to the area of the field where a clan representative was to report should the clan be participating. Having no tartan flag for our clan, soon to be corrected, I was assigned to the Donald Clan tartan flag to carry since it is very close to our ancient tartan. Under the conditions, this was acceptable, but as I stated before, soon to be corrected. I then found myself representing the Logans in the Kirkin O the Tartan. I was very proud. This was followed by the Parade of Tartans. There were nine of us all together with Ellery leading the way, a new Logan clan member and his friend whose clan was not represented at the games. Not a bad showing for our first trip to the Grandfather Mountain games. I was told later that these games are the largest in North America. I am not sure if this is the case or on what criteria this is based on but, after what we observed over the three days, I would not be surprised. I mentioned earlier the Haggis vendor........yep, tried it.
The biggest event of Sunday for my family was the culmination of several days of being hounded by Logan over the Kilted Quarter Mile. As early as Thursday, Logan asked if she could compete. We did not know because we did not know if we could meet the basic requirement, a kilt ! As I am sure you all know, they are not cheap ! Not to worry ,someone told us, they are only about 70 dollars ! That is a lot of money to run around MacRae Meadows once. Friday morning we found a size 8 children's kilt, MacGregor, reasonable price and NC State red. This is where Logan wants to go to school. Although she did not finish to her satisfaction, her parents were extremely proud!
That brings me to my final thank you. To my daughter Logan. Through her interest and enthusiasm, she started in motion a series of events that culminated in the Clan Logan Society attending the 55th Grandfather Mountain Highland Games! My grandmother, Gladys Mahone Logan [Horne] ,always encouraged me to pursue the history of the Logans. Through her namesake I am reminded- The Valour of my Ancestors can only be preserved through the future of our descendants!
I hope to meet many more Logans, and their children, at future GMH games!
Randy , Katie, Logan and Ellery
Logan
