Happy Memorial Day

On this Memorial Day I would like to dedicate this post to all who serve or served in the U.S. military. I wish to include sincere remembrances and prayers for my late grandfather, Richard F. Hilverding, who served in the U.S. Army Air Corps (which became the U.S. Air Force) until his retirement and death from colon cancer in 1972; to my cousin Connie O. Yeats, whom I never knew, lived little and died in WWII at the age of 19. I would also like to remember my uncle Johnny Hilverding (my grandfather's son) who served in the U.S. Army, survived Vietnam, overcame the post trauma then became a high school councilor to Native American students only to be killed by a drunk teen in Albuquerque, New Mexico. I would also like to extend wishes for a happy Memorial Day to everyone and their families. Finally, I have a couple of friends in the military to which I'd also like to offer my sincerest thanks, Lee (U.S. Army) and Johnathan (U.S. Air Force). I'm grateful for their service.

I've been watching specials on the wars in both Iraq and Afghanistan in an effort to gain some semblance of understanding about what's going on over there because I don't think the press is actually telling us. I recommend this one as it is representative, demonstrating the brotherhood of soldiers and the wastes of war. We spend a lot of time in combat in playing roleplaying games and while fantasy fighting is a ton of fun, the truth of the matter is that real war irrevocably costs lives and it's a genuine hell on Earth none can understand until they been in it (myself included). While war is sometimes necessary, sometimes not, we cannot deny, whatever our feelings about it, that our military serves (or should serve) the people (i.e. humanity, mankind), not the back end commanders, not the politicians, not disparate agendas, ideologies or religions. We should always show our appreciation and support at times like these and remember those who've fallen for our freedom.

I invite you to post in reply your wishes, remembrances and prayers as well. I also invite you to give to one of my favorite charities if the spirit moves you.