Out of all the striking images to emerge last week as Maryland remembered and buried William Donald Schaefer -- dusted-off classics like the dip in the seal pool, new shots of the stately funeral -- Mike Golden could choose but one for his computer screen-saver.

He bestowed that honor on the photo of Bob Douglas, a fellow former Schaefer flak, scooping up the manure a police horse dropped right in front of Old St. Paul's Episcopal Church as the hearse approached.

"It truly is inspirational," said Golden, now director of external affairs at the Maryland State Retirement and Pension System.

"Bob did say, 'That’s what press secretaries do, they clean up after their bosses.' I often likened myself to that guy who walks behind the elephants in the circus parade. It’s an honorable profession. It’s show business.”

Maryland public information officers past and present can commiserate about their clean-up duties June 25, at the first Maryland Public Information Officers Reunion at Chesapeake Bay Foundation. Check out the Facebook page for details.