JohnK wins the prize! My dad is indeed a Marine and no matter where he is I do my best to get a happy birthday message to him on Nov 10. Many years ago he was at a sales meeting in New York (We lived in California at the time) and I sent a fax to his hotel with the largest font I could get on one page. His manager intercepted it and made a bit of a spectacle in front 200 other reps. "Just how old does your son think you are?" My dad pulled a $100 bill out of his wallet and said it was theirs if they explain the significance of Nov 10th. No one could.

To all the other Vets out there, Thank You, too!

There are a few Marines at my Air Guard unit and we make a point of wishing each other a happy birthday (I wrote it on the whiteboard in their break room since it’s the weekend and I’ll be gone next week to Guam). We do it because we’re Marines but I also get a kick out of how it pisses off the other people. Since I’ve been in this unit I’ve probably asked a few dozen people when the Air Force birthday is and not one has been able to name it though a few got the month right. No eprit de corps whatsoever.

A belated thanks from me to all those here who serve and to all those who have. A family crisis kept me away from Remembrance Day services this year on Sunday but I do not forget.