Memorial Day
I want to share some thoughts about Memorial Day.
When I was a kid, we went as a family to the cemetery every Memorial Day. There would be a presentation and rifle salute to honor those who had fallen in battle.
My Dad was 12 when World War II started. However, he had five older brothers who all joined the military. Fortunately, all five returned alive from the war.
On my mother’s side, my Uncle Mike was a true Vietnam War hero. He was a helicopter pilot in Vietnam and earned a chest full of medals, including 32 air medals. Thirty-two air medals is a shocking number, considering most pilots who flew during wartime earned a few.
Uncle Mike swore me in as a 2nd Lieutenant when I graduated from the Air Force Academy.
I didn’t come from a family with a deep military service tradition, but I do have family members who served when the country needed them. These are the thoughts I focus on every Memorial Day.
Awesome story Tim, and looking forward to seeing you next week!
Thank you for your service, Tim. Great picture! There were 8 brothers in my Dads family, 7 of whom were old enough to enlist during WWII. 6 of the boys enlisted, and the 7th joined the FBI when the military wouldn’t accept him due to an old leg injury. Dad joined the Army Air Corps, others joined the Calvary, the Army, the Navy, and my uncle Francis joined the Marines. Unfortunately, Francis perished during a naval battle in the South Pacific. The others all made it home , only to lose their youngest brother in a car accident several years after the war ended. My oldest brother then served in the Vietnam War. Days like today make me really appreciate the sacrifices of our military and their families. God Bless all of the Gold Star families.