D-Day

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Happy Memorial Day

While the weather leaves much to be desired this weekend, getting three days is always a welcome treat. So in between enjoying your barbecues, parades and time off over the next few days, be sure to remember the reason for the holiday.

As a senior sitting in the Gold Star Mass at Chaminade (my beloved alma mater), I never imagined that we'd ever add another name to the list of alumni killed during their service to our country. The concept seemed so foreign, so impossible. Incredibly, three young men sitting in that very Mass would end up adding their names to that role of honor within the next decade. Simply stunning.

Fast forward a few years when I had the honor of serving alongside a terrific NCO in my public affairs office. This was a guy I went to the field with numerous times and would have gone to war with in a heartbeat. Unfortunately, his life was cut way too short during his service in Iraq, leaving behind two young children.

The realities of war and wearing the uniform provided some eye-opening life lessons for me, lessons I'll never forget. So during my day off Monday, I'll be thinking of the names Frost, Winchester, Regan and LiCalzi and how honored I am to have served alongside these fellas and the nearly 5,000 men and women who have committed the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.

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Ways to contribute:

Wounded Warrior Project
The Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund
VFW
American Legion

For the second consecutive year, Major League Baseball and Welcome Back Veterans are raising money through the sale of Stars and Stripes caps All teams will wear red, white and blue-themed caps on Memorial Day, July 4 and Sept. 11. While the percentage of proceeds that make it to the troops remains a little murky, the spirit of the program is pretty cool.

Last year they were blue and this year they're red. It'll be interesting to see how that color clashes with the pinstripes Monday.

IAVA-Ad Council "Thank a Veteran" Commercial

I just really dig this commercial:

4-star General, Ann Dunwoody

Congratulations to New Yorker (and fellow ROTC Grad!) Ann E. Dunwoody (Wikipedia bio, because the Army hasn't quite figured out how to organize flag officer bios), who smashed the "brass" ceiling to become the first female to earn the rank of full general (four stars) in the history of the greatest fighting forces that have graced this planet:

Dunwoody becomes first female four-star general

Nov 14 01:48 PM US/Eastern
By ROBERT BURNS
AP Military Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) - Call it breaking the brass ceiling. Ann E. Dunwoody, after 33 years in the Army, ascended Friday to a peak never before reached by a woman in the U.S. military: four-star general.

At an emotional promotion ceremony, Dunwoody looked back on her years in uniform, said it was a credit to the Army—and a great surprise to her—that she would make history in a male-dominated military.

"Thirty-three years after I took the oath as a second lieutenant, I have to tell you this is not exactly how I envisioned my life unfolding," she told a standing-room-only auditorium. "Even as a young kid, all I ever wanted to do was teach physical education and raise a family. (link)

In a male-dominated military that still makes things incredibly tough on women (and where I was often shocked to see that women are often the biggest hurdles faced by other women), today's a banner day. We all must accept that the armed forces will always be as imperfect as the people that comprise them. That said, for all the flaws of the military, it is great to see the military lead the way in yet another barrier shattered.

This week on Imus, CBS News anchor Bob Schieffer spoke of race relations in America and mentioned that having grown up in the segregated South, he hadn't so much as shaken hands with a black person (for lack of opportunity, not for lack of character) until he was in the Air Force. While this was a secondary point as he was trying to explain how far we've come as a nation, I couldn't help but take great pride in the fact that it was the egalitarian world of Air Force that exposed generations of Americans like Schieffer to the fact that we're all equal.

On this note, kudos to the Air Force on this recent Roll Call piece regarding the importance of diversity in uniform: (Link).

Happy Veterans Day!

Me and Homer

Had the terrific honor of seeing our commander-in-chief rechristen the Intrepid today in New York Harbor. It was a fitting tribute to our nation's heroes.



Happy Veterans Day to all those who served. And in honor of the day, here's one of my favorite reflections:

It is the VETERAN, not the preacher,

who has given us freedom of religion.
It is the VETERAN, not the reporter,

who has given us freedom of the press.
It is the VETERAN, not the poet,

who has given us freedom of speech.
It is the VETERAN, not the campus organizer,

who has given us freedom to assemble.
It is the VETERAN, not the lawyer,

who has given us the right to a fair trial.
It is the VETERAN, not the politician,

who has given us the right to vote.

It is the VETERAN,
who salutes the Flag,
who serves under the Flag.

God Bless our Veterans.

Congrats, Sen. McCain

While we should all take great pride and hope in President-elect Obama, here's hoping that history is kind to John McCain, a true American hero who embodies honor and integrity. He campaigned as well as could be expected considering the circumstances and his own personal strengths (he outperformed the generic Republican by wide margins).

It will be interesting to see the details of the infighting in the McCain campaign as they'll surely come out. I'm not so interested in the back-biting--finger pointing at this point is so useless--but more about the strategy and focus on harnessing McCain's 'maverickness'.

As I've long maintained, when it came to choosing this year's candidates, we got it right. Either way, next January's inauguration was going to install a patriot and great American story as our chief executive.

That said, this Onion story was a little real...Happy Veterans Day, Capt. McCain.

McCain Gets Hammered At Local VFW
November 5, 2008 | Issue 44•45

PHOENIX—After conceding defeat in the 2008 presidential election, former Republican candidate John McCain reportedly got completely hammered Tuesday night at the Veterans of Foreign Wars bar in Phoenix. "I saw this old guy just kind of slumped over his drink for a couple hours before I realized who it was," bartender Rob Dubbin said of the former Navy officer, who sources confirmed arrived at the VFW community tavern around 9 p.m. wearing his lieutenant commander's jacket and cap. "He must have had about eight or nine boilermakers in all. I heard him muttering something about 'Pennsylvania,' I think, but other than that he was pretty quiet." Sources said McCain continued to drink alone until well after 3 a.m., at which point fellow patrons had to carry the sleeping senator to a couch in the back office. LINK

New Rules for Veterans and Saluting

Over the next week, I'll pepper these pages with important information about veterans. Don't forget that next Tuesday is the 11th day of the 11th month.

(Ed's Note:This Veterans Day, I'm registered at Amazon.com and Neiman Marcus, for those of you keeping score at home.)

Here's some interesting news on new rules for saluting, which you might find handy at Yankee games...

10/31/2008 - WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- Veterans and servicemembers not in uniform can now render the military-style hand salute during the playing of the national anthem, thanks to changes in federal law that took effect in October.

"The military salute is a unique gesture of respect that marks those who have served in our nation's armed forces," said Dr. James B. Peake, secretary of Veterans Affairs. "This provision allows the application of that honor in all events involving our nation's flag." (link here)

Warning: Do not confuse these new regulations with how you're supposed to act during God Bless America at Yankee games:

The Sack Lunches

Got this story in an email today. I have to admit that I wanted to hate this, and still doubt the authenticity of this story. That said, I found myself getting choked up reading it.

There are many of us in uniform that have been the beneficiary of a free lunch or free drink. As vets, there's little more rewarding than paying that back. Being the both the donor and beneficiary of these random acts of kindness are terrific feelings.

Veterans Day is fast approaching. Remember those who served.

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I put my carry-on in the luggage compartment and sat down in my assigned seat. It was going to be a long flight. 'I'm glad I have a good book to read Perhaps I will get a short nap,' I thought.

Just before take-off, a line of soldiers came down the aisle and filled all the vacant seats, totally surrounding me. I decided to start a conversation. 'Where are you headed?' I asked the soldier seated nearest to me.

' Chicago - to Great Lakes Base. We'll be there for two weeks for special training, and then we're being deployed to Iraq '

After flying for about an hour, an announcement was made that sack lunches were available for five dollars. It would be several hours before we reached Chicago, and I quickly decided a lunch would help pass the time.

As I reached for my wallet, I overheard soldier ask his buddy if he planned to buy lunch. 'No, that seems like a lot of money for just a sack lunch. Probably wouldn't be worth five bucks. I'll wait till we get to Chicago '

His friend agreed.

I looked around at the other soldiers. None were buying lunch. I walked to the back of the plane and handed the flight attendant a fifty dollar bill. 'Take a lunch to all those soldiers.' She grabbed my arms and squeezed tightly. Her eyes wet with tears, she thanked me. 'My son was a soldier in Iraq ; it's almost like you are doing it for him.'

Picking up ten sacks, she headed up the aisle to where the soldiers were seated. She stopped at my seat and asked, 'Which do you like best - beef or chicken?'

'Chicken,' I replied, wondering why she asked. She turned and went to the front of plane, returning a minute later with a dinner plate from first class. 'This is your thanks.'

After we finished eating, I went again to the back of the plane, heading for the rest room. A man stopped me. 'I saw what you did. I want to be part of it. Here, take this.' He handed me twenty-five dollars.

Soon after I returned to my seat, I saw the Flight Captain coming down the aisle, looking at the aisle numbers as he walked, I hoped he was not looking for me, but noticed he was looking at the numbers only on my side of the plane. When he got to my row he stopped, smiled, held out his hand, an
said, 'I want to shake your hand.'

Quickly unfastening my seatbelt I stood and took the Captain's hand. With a booming voice he said, 'I was a soldier and I was a military pilot. Once, someone bought me a lunch. It was an act of kindness I never forgot.'

I was embarrassed when applause was heard from all of the passengers.

Later I walked to the front of the plane so I could stretch my legs. A man who was seated about six rows in front of me reached out his hand, wanting to shake mine. He left another twenty-five dollars in my palm.

When we landed in Chicago I gathered my belongings and started to deplane. Waiting just inside the airplane door was a man who stopped me, put something in my shirt pocket, turned, and walked away without saying a word. Another twenty-five dollars!

Upon entering the terminal, I saw the soldiers gathering for their trip to the base. I walked over to them and handed them seventy-five dollars. 'It will take you some time to reach the base. It will be about
time for a sandwich. God Bless You.'

Ten young men left that flight feeling the love and respect of their fellow travelers. As I walked briskly to my car, I whispered a prayer for their safe return. These soldiers were giving their all for our country. I could only give them a couple of meals.

It seemed so little...
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And with that, here's a freaking awesome commercial: