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.