Armed Forces Day
Today was Armed Forces Day. It is a day where we honor those in all branches of the service. Blips and I went to a special program at Fort Snelling National Cemetary. It included a new thing called EchoTaps. That is where places in all 50 states (including all the National Cemetaries) as well as in some foreign countries, play taps at the same time. There are multiple players, one after another. It is a wonderful military salute to those passed as well as living who serve America.
We got there early. While Blips was taking pictures, I sat down doing a little people watching. I noticed this one woman in particular. Her name is Judi. She was obviously so proud of any service person and all the military families. She was wearing a shirt that said, My son is a pilot in Iraq. She had a full size poster cutout of her son….on a stick. Yes, really! I thought that it was brilliant. That life size *hero on a stick* made him very real and very appreciated. Judi’s son is Chief Warrant Officer Thomas Hamilton. He pilots a blackhawk helicopter for Air Evac. He is temporarily in Germany. His wife and daughter are able to be with him for now. He has been deployed to Iraq but the date is only known to him. He evacuates those who need medical attention. So, to Thomas, we say thankyou. Thankyou for placing yourself in harms way for your fellow Americans. Thankyou to your family for the sacrifice they make for all the time spent away from you.
And Thomas, if you are wondering why you are crooked…..that is my fault. Your mom held you nice and straight but I wanted the wording on her shirt to show, so I moved you. I got you a bit crooked. Better straighten up and fly right…..heehehehehhe. Your mom is just oozing with love and bursting with pride. We are also grateful for your service. God be with you each and every moment until you are once again back home, sitting down to your mom’s good cooking with your wife and daughter at your side.
Blips in my husband and a dual citizen. His blog is in Dutch but I think you may enjoy a few more pictures from today.
majong said,
May 20, 2007 at 2:05 pm
Looks like an impressing day! And those Americans…I learnd that at some holiday’s they have all kinds of food on a stick, but even hero’s on a stick??? *eyes rolling*. No seriously now: so great that she is so proud of her son!