If you're free enough...

...to read this, thank a veteran.



That's a scene I saw played out any number of times today as I gathered with hundreds of old soldiers and new, along with friends and family, at Tahoma National Cemetary. My Shrine Legion unit marched in the parade of colors on a typically cold, wet northwest fall day. Standing among 16,000 graves, though, makes a few hours in the rain a small price to pay for the chance to honor both the fallen and their comrades who came home.

To all my fellow vets, of every service, every era, thanks.