It’s Memorial Day, which always makes me think of two of the most honorable men I have ever known: my dad and Bill’s grandfather, Gran Bob. Gran Bob served in WWII and as Bill said earlier today, the Navy changed his life. They sent him to an accelerated engineering program at Drexel so he could join the SeaBees and build things. Without the Navy, he might not have gone to college.

I am sure the Army changed my dad’s life. My dad was a “ground pounder” in Vietnam (slang for a member of the infantry) and the term isn’t exactly correct since he was flown everywhere. He enlisted at a time when mean, boys really, were praying not to get drafted.

That leads to an interesting comparison. Bill’s grandfather joined the military at a time when there was great public support for WWII. And my dad joined at a time when public support wasn’t on his side. Either way, both men believed in something strongly enough to put their lives on the line to fight for it. My hope is that however you feel about war, or a specific war, that you respect the courage of the people fighting in it. We take our freedom and rights for granted, and this day reminds us that that freedom is not without sacrifice.

Thank you for your Service.