Thank You, RAP.
It looks as if it may rain this afternoon, so I made my annual pilgrimage out to Golden Gate National Cemetery to pay my respects to my parents, both WWII vets and to my other family veterans, also buried there, as well as some of they guys that I served with.
It may be that I will be the last of my family to have served in the military. None of next generation even gave it thought. They all have this sense of entitlement that the world owes them a good job with a big salary now that they have graduated from college. None of them, it seems, considers at what cost these opportunities are available to them.
I have a friend, a Marine combat veteran who served three tours in Iraq and Afghanistan who has started a winery that employs vets only. Many of his crew are disabled in one way or another and have a difficult time finding and holding jobs. Valor Winery offers employment, connection to the VA and other counseling services, and a judgement free supportive environment in which to develop the skills for successful lives after their service. We should all endeavor to do the same for our vets if the opportunity presents itself.
