Memorial Day

Today was a coming out... It was the first event that I attended since the Pandemic hit with its full fury. Appropriately, it was a Memorial Day Ceremony hosted by a coalition of military veterans organizations of Escondido, California.

I was honored to meet this gentleman, Fred Shipman. Fred is a veteran of World War Two and served with the Fourth Infantry Division from the D-Day Normandy Landing through the Battle of the Bulge.

https://photos.smugmug.com/Landscape...condido-X3.jpg

There are not many veterans of that War left - especially veterans who saw as much combat as Fred Shipman...

The thing about veterans events like this is that many memories (both good and bad) return to me as I talk to other veterans...

Agreed, not many of these veterans of WWII left now. Fred must be well into his 90's I should think. We owe them a debt of gratitude.

I did not ask him his age but, considering that he was probably at least 18 on D-Day. 6 June 1944, he would be about 95+ years old. He seems in unbelievably good shape.

Speaking about age, when I first wore this hat, people would say, "My brother was in Vietnam also!"

https://photos.smugmug.com/GENEALOGY...n%20hat-X2.jpg

Then it was, "My father was in Vietnam!"

Now people say, "My grandfather was in Vietnam!":D