Honoring All Who Served...Thank You

As a fellow veteran, thanks to all who have and are serving. 

In the fall of 2009, my wonderful wife and I visited Bastogne, and the Normandy region of France for 3 weeks. Very moving to walk the woods outside of Foy, the beaches of Normandy, and the cliffs at Pont du Hoc, and think about the sacrifices made by those young men. 

We visited as many of the American cemeteries as we could, but the one at Omaha Beach (opening scene of Saving Private Ryan) was beyond compare. A relatively new museum was built underground so as not to detract from the solemness of the grounds - incredible to see battlefield video, the kit/equipment each man was loaded out with, and think about what they faced. 

By far the highlight of our trip was visiting St. Mere Eglise (Red Buttons hanging from the church steeple in The Longest Day. There we met a man from Tn who came ashore in the 3rd wave at Omaha. His neighbor was a freelance writer who paid for the mans trip to retrace his steps and tell his story. We spent most of an afternoon talking with him. Very humble man, who like most just felt he was doing his duty and nothing more. 

If you get the chance, I highly recommend visiting that part of the world, makes you grateful for what we have. 

I want to thank my son, 13 years USMC 1st LT Chuck, When he returned from deployment in August he bought himself a LBGE. A couple days later he calls me to tell me where to pick up a LBGE that he bought for me.