Took me a while to get that in there, but I missed the initial post and found it in the ALR while I had some free time at work, and needless to say, some feathers were ruffled. On my way to Arlington to bury another hero: my grandfather who passed away on Monday. A WWII veteran combat pilot with 26 years service. Next to my father who passed away in March after 33 years of service as an Army helicopter pilot (warrant officer) during the Vietnam era and a veteran of Bosnia. And next to my grandmother, an Army nurse and veteran of WWII. Braden could never understand what it means to serve another human being. The true heroes of this country are the ones with simple white gravestones who have died in defense of freedom and in the service of those that are unable or unwilling to protect their dignity at home, not the ones with certificates and degrees on their walls.

No, really, I'm done now