As Memorial Day draws to a close...

...I remember classmates who died in training, flying single-pilot jets at 400 mph down narrow valleys on moonless nights--in training.  Young men I teamed with to train incoming freshmen at the Academy who died in plane crashes in Vietnam.  

Those men were the best men I've ever known--the best on the planet.  And those who fought in our other wars knew that feeling.  My father commanded a B-17 for 35 missions...at age 24.

Too many memories of good men lost.  Sadly, it's beginning to look as if it may all have been for nothing: the thugs and morons and druggies and grifters and corrupt pols are throwing it all away, as fast as they can.  As long as they get theirs, they don't care.

Ah well...it was a great, wild ride.  I wish you luck.