Veterans

“Memorial Day, which is observed on the last Monday of May, commemorates the men and women who died while in the military service. In observance of the holiday, many people visit cemeteries and memorials, and volunteers often place American flags on each grave site at national cemeteries. A national moment of remembrance takes place at 3:00 p.m. local time.””
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
[Read more…] about Memorial Day 2021

OFF TOPIC

I was stationed at Kriegsfeld Army Depot (aka North Point), 1985-1987. My unit was the 558TH Military Police Company and we were “Tower Rats”. A Tower Rat’s main duty was to spend 24 hour shifts on a “special weapons” site guarding those weapons. In our case this included two, four hour shifts alone in a steel box 20 to 40 feet in the air. If you think this sounds a lot like solitary confinement, you’re correct.
[Read more…] about Nicholas J. Bernelis

Happy Veterans Day brothers and sisters. Had I the ability, I would buy you all a beer today.

Excellent article by a fellow Virginian (yeah, I choked up when I read it):
What Does It mean to be a Veteran – David Reavis
“Being a veteran is being part of a brother/sister hood, it is something that you carry with you for the rest of your life. The experience’s that you live through which you are very thankful that you did are life-altering events and can change a person within a split second.
Being a veteran means learning that the measure of a person is WHO they are not WHAT they are. Learning that the person who is a little different from you, is really just like you. They love, they fear, they care, they laugh and they cry…”

According to the Census Bureau there are 17,418,351 veterans that make up 6.9% of the adults in this country.
Period of Service
Gulf War (9/2001 or later) – 3,772,708 21.7%
Gulf War (8/1990 to 8/2001)- 3,834,993 22.0%
Vietnam era veterans – 6,192,877 35.6%
Korean War veterans – 1,156,096 6.6%
World War II veterans – 380,327 2.2%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau – Veterans Day 2020: Nov. 11 and the spreadsheet below I made was from https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=veterans&t=Veterans&tid=ACSST1Y2019.S2101&hidePreview=true
My spreadsheet: https://www.tweakhound.com//files/usvetstats2019.xlsx

This Veterans Day I wanted to say thanks to some of the people I crossed paths with in the Army way back when. These are folks that weren’t in my unit. They are just little memories that stuck with me. I know I’m leaving stuff out. It was along time ago. Faded memories…
[Read more…] about Happy Veterans Day

Brothers and Sisters, thank you for your service.
This is not an exhaustive list and does not include “local” restaurants and stores. Wanna add something? Please post in comments section.
Everyone, please remember to thank these restaurants and staff.
If you can and where appropriate, remember to tip on what the price would have been before the discount or freebie.

Rules for this list.
– Must apply to ALL U.S. Military Veterans. (It’s Veteran’s Day not Armed Forces Day and not just “retired” vets.)
– Must be 20% off or better or free item (Step up to the plate people.)
– Not require the use of an app or “membership” card. (You only honor Vets if you can track and pester them?)
[Read more…] about Veterans Day Discounts 2019

Battle of Midway Veterans React To MIDWAY Feature Film
“In the wake of Japan’s 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor, Sgt. 1st Class Edgar Fox, USMC (Ret.), FE, Jack Holder, USN (Ret.), PO3, Robert Taylor USN (Ret.), CPO, Henry Kudzick, USN (Ret.) fought in the World War II Battle of Midway, the greatest naval battle of all time.
With no promise of survival, they confronted the physical and mental cost of warfare to fight for our freedom. These four surviving veterans were among the first to watch the film MIDWAY.
Based on the real-life events at the Battle of Midway, starring Ed Skrein, Patrick Wilson, Luke Evans, Aaron Eckhart and Nick Jonas, with Mandy Moore, Dennis Quiad and Woody Harrelson, MIDWAY is in theaters on Friday.”
***UPDATE / “REVIEW” 13NOV2019
I went to see the movie today. Here’s what I told my buddy Ed:
“Save your money. Not good. Feels like they tried too hard not to be like the original and left too much on the cutting room floor.”

I don’t think most people know this. The U.S. flag code changed in 2008. Veterans can keep their hats on and render a salute during the National Anthem. I do.

4 U.S. Code § 9 – Conduct during hoisting, lowering or passing of flag
During the ceremony of hoisting or lowering the flag or when the flag is passing in a parade or in review, all persons present in uniform should render the military salute. Members of the Armed Forces and veterans who are present but not in uniform may render the military salute. All other persons present should face the flag and stand at attention with their right hand over the heart, or if applicable, remove their headdress with their right hand and hold it at the left shoulder, the hand being over the heart. Citizens of other countries present should stand at attention. All such conduct toward the flag in a moving column should be rendered at the moment the flag passes.