Like those made famous by Elvis’ “Speedway” co-star, Nancy Sinatra, Brown’s boots were made for walking — for walking up the driveway of Graceland to the grave of Elvis Presley in the Meditation Garden, where Brown placed a dozen yellow roses, as she does every year on the anniversary of Elvis Presley’s death Aug.
A retired nurse, Brown and her husband, Bert Brown, 70, haven’t missed a Candlelight Vigil in 22 years.
In addition, many Elvis Week concerts and events — this year’s Graceland-organized celebration of the King began Aug.
“Elvis was connected always with his fans,” said Priscilla, 76, Elvis’ former wife, who made a surprise appearance at the event, just before the candles were lighted at 8:42 p.m.
Priscilla — who pulled her coronavirus-inhibiting face mask down to her chin when she reached the microphone she used to address the fans — called the vigil “a celebration” of her former husband.
The checkpoints opened at 6:30 p.m.
Many sat in the street in folding chairs they had brought to Graceland, and some rode scooters with tiki torches attached like hood ornaments to the front of the vehicles.
The picture presented Elvis in the bent-knee tip-toe pose made famous by a publicity portrait for “Jailhouse Rock,” but Damron had replaced the striped inmate’s uniform the King wore in that movie with the even more famous Elvis ensemble, the gold lamé suit.
“It’s been like a religious experience for me, I’m not kidding,” said Damron’s fiancee, Angela Kees, 51, a first-time vigil attendee.