I witnessed something beautiful tonight.

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
1

This evening I attended a ceremony at the Stewart Air National Guard Base in New York State. The ceremony is a part of Operation Recognition.

There were some laughs, and a lot of moist eyes- mine included. If the state you live in does not actively participate in this program, I would heartily encourage you to contact your State Veterans Affairs people and ask why not.

This is an excerpt from a speech made by the local NYS Assemblywoman.

These older gentlemen were kids when they made this choice. It was so heartwarming to see them surrounded by friends, family and community ( not to mention a fair smattering of Air Force officers on hand ), to get their diplomas.

I’m no big fan of the Military Machine, as many of my posts have shown. Tonight reminded me that behind the machine are guys living in my town, my county. Guys who as teenagers, made a choice and gave up a hell of a lot.

I admire each of them, more tonight than ever.

Cartooniverse

2

Last year, the high school I teach at awarded diplomas to the men who would have graduated from there if they hadn’t missed their senior year to go to fight in the war. It was incredibly touching, and I could tell it meant an enormous amount to the men and their families.

3

In my hometown Maastricht, Netherlands, liberated by Allied forces in 1944, every five years or so we have a veterans’ tickertape parade.

All the remaining veterans, and their spouses, many in their 20’s in '44, so now well in their 80’s, are celebrated by a bus tour around the city.

Although, like you, I am wary of the use of military force, I make a point of going to cheer those veterans.

Theirs was a kind of idealism that did not use a lot of words, but that has had great and important effect on many lives.