Memorial Day redux

Howdy, howdy, howdy! Well, yesterday's ceremony went a little different than expected. I showed up in uniform expecting to stand in the audience, but got asked to help raise the national colors - nice! It was hot, and despite wearing my khakis, it was like standing in an oven (not quite like the Middle East, but pretty good for May in the American mid-west). I was paired with a Captain from the Civil Air Patrol (CAP), and met a Marine who was a veteran of the Korean War (He was wearing his original issued dress green uniform - the short-lived "Vandegrift-style" short waist-length jacket, and his sergeant cheverons were the 1950s style without the crossed rifles underneath). He had a Purple Heart (among other awards), and he was very nice to a Navy J.O. - I look forward to speaking with him again in the near future! There was a Marine Corps Color guard, VFW and American Legion color guard, Fire Department and Police department Color guard and the CAP color guard to boot. We had current active duty folks and reserve and National Guard (many of whom have served in the Sandbox). A local school band played (they did a really nice job), and we had a lot of folks from the community who turned out. We had veterans from all the services there (including the Coast Guard - go Coasties!). I am constantly impressed by the events and the support by such a small village as this for their veterans and the folks who have made the ultimate sacrifice.

Memorial Day - 2012

Hey there, loyal readers! It is Memorial Day weekend, and the weather has been especially kind to those of us here in the western-most suburb of the great mid-western metropolis where I call home. What can I say? We missed a hellacious rain storm which just hit north of us, and the temps have been bordering between cool and summerish hot. A very nice blend indeed! Went to an art street fair in a community just north of us (that is where we learned how close we dodged the weather bullet - apparently they endured a rain storm of epic proportions - and the further north you went, the worse it got - basketball-sized hail et al!). Tonight the local village is having an all-night vigil at the veterans park (outside the village hall) - I will make an appearance later on to offer support. Tomorrow at 1100hrs there will be a ceremony (going in uniform), and it will be a good time to relect on all the folks I have met over the years (some still here, some not). This will be my 14th year of military service, and honestly it never occured to me that I have served this long until someone asked me about it recently. I hope they will let me stay on a little bit longer, but if not, that's cool - it has been an honor and a heck of a ride to be able to have served. Anyhow, got some cookouts planned, and some beer chilling in the fridge. Life is good! Have yourselves an awesome weekend - here is to a great summer - Cheers!

P.S. if you want an idea what I do in the Navy, the cartoon above gives a fair idea (minus the conga line, though).