Looking at PF356 brings to mind what a privilege it was to hoist or to strike and fold the flag when I was in school.

My father and my youngest son served beneath those flags and my father made certain that his coffin was draped with one.

My son, USMC, Lima Co. 3/3 San Diego has informed me that he is keeping himself in shape so that he can be buried in his dress blues with the blood stripe, complete with his earned decorations. If you ever were a Marine, you never aren't.

Me? 4f during the Vietnam Conflict. I was attempting to enlist Navy. Did really well on the written exams (98/100 GQT, 194/224 SBTB) and was in extremely good physical condition but was so excited to get in and so eager to take advantage of the educational opportunities that I could not get my pulse down below 104 bpm – and 100 bpm was the ceiling.

I've loved this country pretty much all of my life. I love it still. I've never taken the oath in a group, but I've often repeated it alone. I mean every word of it.