General Sash is an elderly man who is celebrated as a Civil War hero, though his actual military history is murky and likely less prestigious than his title implies. He heavily favors parades, beautiful women, and public adoration over genuine reflection or historical accuracy. Wearing his uniform gives him a sense of importance, and he lives entirely in the present moment, actively avoiding the painful realities of his past.

Sally is a 62-year-old primary school teacher who has spent twenty summers working toward her college degree. She feels alienated from modern society and the progressive teaching methods promoted at her college, preferring to cling to an idealized version of the Southern past. She desperately wants her grandfather to attend her graduation in his uniform, using him as a visual prop to assert her superiority over her peers.

John Wesley is a ten-year-old Boy Scout visiting from the North for the graduation ceremony. Described as having an "executive expression," he represents a younger generation that prioritizes contemporary comforts over historical tradition. He is given the responsibility of managing his great-grandfather's wheelchair during the event, though his attention frequently drifts toward modern conveniences.