I rode my bike to Richmond today on an errand... stopped at 'Applebees' cause I heard they were giving free food to Veterans... the lady ask me for my military ID... I told her "I had lost it in 1967"... she hesitated, asked her manager if they would take my word... the manager looked me over, smiled and actually said to my face... "Sir, you certainly look old enough to have been in the service in the 60's... I can look at you and tell you wouldn't tell me a lie about this... so we are going to honor your service."
Do I actually look like an honest old man?????????????
I hobbled over to the salad bar and had a great salad, soup and a big cheeseburger... but they made me pay for the Bud Light w/lime...
Luckily, I had five dollars Gail had given me earlier....
I gave that to the waitress and put my $2.50 beer on my debit card...
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I hope all Veterans had a good day... we owe them so, so much... I always mention that I am a former Marine but I never saw a shot fired in anger... I spent my tour sitting around Camp Lejeune and a few other quiet places just marking time... I always feel so proud to see the guys and gals that did so much and gave so much and I very often wonder how it would have been if I had been called upon to serve in harms way.
I recently visited the Marine Museum near Quantico, Virginia. There was a very old former Marine who was guiding visitors through the exhibit for Guadalcanal. He had hit the beach at age 17... on that fateful day way back in August, 1942... there were about 10 or so visitors in the group and he told us of how it was and how he had been in the first wave on the beach... no one spoke, there was an air of silence and reverence as he told his story... a couple of us actually got a tear in our eye... you could see the pain in his face as he relived his action... he had told that story so many times but it was the first time for us and he looked like it was the first time he had told it... we looked at the pictures, listened to the recording of the battle... listened to his story and when we walked away from him we all felt like we had witnessed something extraordinary... this old Marine was reliving his story every time a new group came in and it was like the first time each time.
If any of you ever get a chance to visit not just the Marine Museum but any Military Museums across this great country... make it a point to look closely at all the exhibits and talk to some of the older members that are always around... you can see the look in their faces as they walk slowly around the museum, remembering... listen to them and their stories and maybe you will come away with a better understanding of what we really do owe these men and women. We all talk about how much we owe but I don't think you can truly understand without having been there... the military museums really help you get a handle on it. Honor these men and women not just today, but always... and always keep them in your thoughts.
And if you really want to feel it... visit "The Wall" in Washington DC... it will shake you to the core.
Sorry, I got a bit carried away here..........................
