Happy Veteran's Day!

Hoorah! To all the men and women in uniform. I am so grateful for their services of past and present. I can't imagine our world if no one stood up for freedom and was willing to fight for it. If we ALL just sat around and no one volunteered - we'd either be drafted or dead. To all of you brave military professionals... THANK YOU!

My grandpa's Navy Plane Crew in Galapagos during WW2

My dad is a baby-boomer born just after WWII. His father, my Grandpa Len, was a sailor in the Navy during WWII. He was honorably discharged in Sept 1945 when the war ended. I am so proud of him. I only wish he'd lived longer so I could have realized to talk to him about it. He died from alzheimers when I was about 14 years old - around the time of the Gulf War. Some of his last memories he recalled were from his time in the service, from what I've been told.

Leonard with his navy buddies. He is on the far right.

My dad - Bruce, Navy Veteran

A special THANK YOU to my dad who signed up and served in the US Navy for 8 years during the Vietnam War. Following in the footsteps of his father. My dad may not have had to run through the muck of Vietnam jungles as some brave military did, or suffer the damaging mental effects that so many veterans endured. But he trained and schooled, manned his post where he was stationed, stayed honorable and obedient to his Commanders, and was ready and willing to fight if the call came. He learned a lot about pride in our nation, justice for all, and about standing up for what you believe in. There is certainly guts and glory in that. I am so proud of him for MANY things, including his service to our nation.

Fortunately I have time to talk to my dad about his service in the Navy. I can talk to him about his feelings about war - and how lessons of wars past can be taken note of during the current war. It's still the same fight - the fight for freedom. Have you talked about this with a veteran or soldier lately?

Thank you to all who serve us so bravely.

NAVY PRIDE


The NAVY song by Billy Talent

GOD BLESS AMERICA!

A Proud American,

Melissa