Before I was born, my dad served in the United States Army.  When I was a kid, and both my parents were at work, I used to to rifle through the drawers in their bedroom.  I’d try on my mom’s costume jewelry, wear her high heals around, generally be snoopy.  Did you ever do that? Anyway, in one drawer, my dad had a red, silk bomber jacket with a dragon embroidered on the back.  It was his souvenir from when he was stationed in Korea.

A few years before my dad died he gave me a photo album from his army days.  As I flipped through the black and white photos he was quiet. He never did really talk about his days serving our country.  Today as I drove through our neighborhood and the American flags where flying I felt a great sense of pride. I’m proud to be an American, proud of my nephew currently serving in the US Navy, proud to have a brother who served our country in Vietnam,  proud of my dad.

Thank you, to all veterans, past, present, and those currently in active service.