I thought I'd take a moment to salute those members of my family who served in the Military in honor of Veterans day. I find it strange that really only the Federal Government recognizes today as a holiday (my kids are in school and my wife is at work. Since I work for the Department of the Army, I am off today). For most of the country, this is just another day in November, but I think it's an important day to remember - especially when we have people in harms way in two different theaters. According to Woodrow Wilson as quoted on the VA's Veterans Day History page:
"To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations…"
I think his sentiment was appropriate just after World War 1, and it's appropriate now.
Sidney Cone (1847-1934) Seated front row middle
7th Kansas Cavalry (1864-1865)
US Navy (1918-1919)
Domenic Agazio (1915-2001)
5th Platoon (Radar), 562 Signal Air Warning Company, US Army (1941-1945)
799th Military Police Battalion, US Army (1942-1945)
US Navy (1944-1946)
Various units in the US Army (1984-2004)
The bottom photo I took of the first President Bush in early January 1993. He deployed us to Somalia after he lost the election to Clinton and made the effort to come visit us before he left office. He gave a short speech and then waded into the crowd of Soldiers, Marines, Sailors and Airmen to sign autographs, pose for photos and shake hands. Unfortunately, I wasn't close enough to shake his hand or get a photo taken with him, so I had to settle for holding my camera above my head and snapping a few photos and this was the best one. A friend of mine got his autograph and gave me a photo copy of it. I've always admired the first President Bush for coming to visit us when he was a lame duck, and he really didn't have to.

