...To Absent Friends

Michael Davidson at the 2002 Grandfather Mountain Highland Games Parade Of Tartans:

Michael Davidson, US president of Clan Davidson for nine years, died February 13, 2009. He was only 55. Michael had been president for 9 years. Most of us in the Southeastern Scottish community have known Michael and Elaine for a lot longer than that and were greatly saddened by his passing.
One of the reasons I wanted to make the unplanned trip to Rural Hill was Clan Davidson has their annual meeting there. A young piper from the Loch Norman Pipe Band played the Davidson March at the meeting.
Clan members listening to the piper. Eleanor on the right, who I met just by chance in the campground Saturday morning, works at the games. She gave me a helpful lift in her golf cart to the Colquhoun tent that morning.
After the meeting Richard Halliley, past president of Clan Davidson and interim president now, pours a salute to Michael in a large quaich which was offered to the clan members present.
The quaich used was actually mine, with a Colquhoun crest stamped in the center. This was originally Harry Avery's quaich which I bought from his estate after Harry passed.
Clan Davidson's crest is similar to ours:

A resolution was passed at the meeting that Clan Davidson would purchase a similar quaich and silver tray to be displayed at festivals and meeting. The tray will be engraved with past president's names and other Davidson notables.