I am a Vietnam era Veteran. That is not the same as a Vietnam Veteran. Not remotely.
I spent four years keeping Hampton, Virginia safe from the Red Menace. Went to the beach. Ate a lot of seafood.
Today a friend sent me this link to the "Virtual Wall" from the Vietnam Memorial.
Names of Vietnam War casualties by city and state Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall - The Virtual Wall (TM)
I looked up a kid I went to HS with. His name was Joe Rees.
I didn't know him well. He wasn't athletic and he was not a good student.
He was 19 when he died.
I am 60 years old. I have four grand kids. I am retired and living comfortably. I play golf once or twice a week and winter in Florida.
I have visited 28 of the National Parks in the lower 48 with a goal of hitting all 44. Most of that I have done since retirement.
I am typing this on my wireless home network. I have a cell phone. I have HDTV and a blu ray player.
When I was 19 I had done none of these things and could not have imagined any of these conveniences.
The difference between Joe Rees and me.
That is what Memorial Day is all about.
I spent four years keeping Hampton, Virginia safe from the Red Menace. Went to the beach. Ate a lot of seafood.
Today a friend sent me this link to the "Virtual Wall" from the Vietnam Memorial.
Names of Vietnam War casualties by city and state Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall - The Virtual Wall (TM)
I looked up a kid I went to HS with. His name was Joe Rees.
I didn't know him well. He wasn't athletic and he was not a good student.
He was 19 when he died.
I am 60 years old. I have four grand kids. I am retired and living comfortably. I play golf once or twice a week and winter in Florida.
I have visited 28 of the National Parks in the lower 48 with a goal of hitting all 44. Most of that I have done since retirement.
I am typing this on my wireless home network. I have a cell phone. I have HDTV and a blu ray player.
When I was 19 I had done none of these things and could not have imagined any of these conveniences.
The difference between Joe Rees and me.
That is what Memorial Day is all about.
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