Thoughts on Memorial Day and Dad and Colors

It has been an interesting weekend.   Seems like  while driving, I have been cut off a lot more than normal.   What seems to be a strange and funny phenomenon is that I have noticed that the drivers of these cars are sporting some sort of baseball cap in their rear window with an insignia of some sort identifying them as a veteran.  What the heck, it has made me smile.   It's Memorial Day weekend.

I am fortunate to have my Dad this Memorial day.    Dad is a Marine Corps veteran of WWII and the Korean conflict and a survivor of the battle of Iwo Jima.   Growing up we, like many others of our generation, did not hear stories of their loss.    Having said that, we always knew it existed.     

Even as children, we instinctively knew that the  lack of conversation was a survival mechanism.    Memorial Day means so much more because of that silence.   

When I joined the Marine Corps, I learned the custom of "Colors".     At the beginning and the end of each day when the flag was being raised or taken down,  one would stop in their tracks, face the flag and salute.  

I haven't thought of that custom for awhile, but today brings it to mind.   Today is a day that flags fly proudly and silently in rememberance of those that have passed.   

I salute all those that have lost their lives in service for this country.