red, white, and blue - Lynyrd Skynyrd

COL Mikel J. Burroughs, virtually all of the original members of Lynyrd Skynyrd were from Jacksonville, FL and went to Robert E. Lee High School there. I also lived in Jacksonville and went to Lee. Gary Rossington was a sophomore when I was a senior in 1967. The Van Zant brothers had already dropped out of Lee, as best I remember. Larry Junstrom, one of the original members, was in my class. My sister, who was in Rossington's class, actually remembers going to backyard parties when the group still performed as My Backyard!
Everyone knows, of course, that the group took their name from Lee coach Leonard Skinner who disliked their long hair. He was an assistant football coach and was coaching when I played for the Lee High football team. Here's a photo of THE Leonard Skinner from the 1967 Lee High yearbook! SP5 Mark Kuzinski SSgt (Join to see) CPT L S COL Jean (John) F. B.

I still can't hear the name Lynyrd Skynyrd without YELLING:

"FREEBIRD!!"

Thanks for sharing COL Mikel J. Burroughs Red, White and Blue by Lynyrd Skynyrd.
In the spring of 1975 when I was stationed at Fort Campbell, I went on road trip to Evansville with some other soldiers from A Company, 20th Engineer Battalion (Combat) to see Lynyrd Skynyrd perform. On the way up I stuck my arm out the shotgun seat window as we were drying at 110 mph. Some things we learn the hard way. I learned a lot that way before I recognized my need for Christ.
I was toasted during that concert but it was great performance