Memorial Day Weekend...
In 2013, I was at Arlington Cemetery to visit a couple of graves from 9/11...
I hope y'all are enjoying your Memorial Day Weekend. Stay safe, and remember why we have this holiday please...
Yes, I blurred it so you can't see the names...
Each headstone with it's on flag, those who didn't have headstones yet STILL got a flag... and families everywhere, remembering their loved ones...
My grandfather is there.
Back about 30 years ago I attended a federal courtroom session in Pensacola where Bud Day was bringing a class action lawsuit against the government for reneging on a promise of "Free Healthcare for Life" to all servicemen for as far back as anyone can remember. I, and a hundred other recent retirees had a dog in that fight because when CHAMPUS became TRICARE we all got the option to take out a payroll deduction to pay for TRICARE Prime or go find some other healthcare. Yeah, they forced us into an HMO. Sure, it was a modest amount to pay but it wasn't free.
About 3 years ago one of friends died, a retired CDR LDO who I'd served with 3 times. He was buried at Barrancas National Cemetery. After the funeral, when I was driving away I saw this:
https://www.af.mil/News/Photos/igphoto/2000698875/
https://www.startpage.com/av/proxy-image?piurl=https%3A%2F%2Ftse2.mm.bing.net%2Fth%2Fid%2FOIP.drUEZ4PXm88Kssmgx8r75AHaKX%3Fpid%3DApi&sp=1748190100Taa7ea6fe467647fec197ef21c7a63d27f9b15102c8bccf25dfc473177edcf416
I was reminded of what servicemen are made of...that many of them serve long after their military service as an asset to this country and humanity.