The Common has long been a place to remember the fallen

That was the style and culture of the era. Even most wedding, family and sports team portraits were unsmiling.

Later during card games and drinks, I'd bet they were a fully animated bunch. Not to say that some weren't haunted by their experiences, but it is hard to tell from a formal portrait photo of that time.

Kind of like when a visiting foreign tourist animatedly stopped myself and a classmate near the Great Dome of MIT, all smiles and friendly, and asked that we take a picture of him. As we set up the shot he struck a severe pose and his face went all stern and serious, morphing back into an excited thankful and animated man once the snap was done.