Veterans Day is upon us. I am a proud Veteran. When I originally joined the U.S. Air Force, it was not out of patriotism. It was rooted in my desire and passion for electronics and desire to see more of the world than the state of Texas. The Air Force accommodated me on both parts. My contribution was mostly in supporting the infrastructure of gathering intelligence. I maintained, modified and installed electronic equipment and electro-mechanical equipment used in gathering and analyzing intelligence. The piece I played and the contribution I made is something I am proud of. It helped people make better decisions by providing them with information. I hope on this Veterans Day, all veterans feel proud of their service and the part they played, as I am regarding mine. I was not combat veteran, I served during the days of the cold war when no open conflicts happened (except that very minor matter in Grenada). I have never been fired upon or had to fire. So, perhaps some could think of me a veteran lite so to speak. I dont know. I do know that I honorably served, I did what was asked of me with competence, passion and feel I was lucky to be able to do what I was most suited for. It has become an important part of my life and I feel I have unequivocally earned my right to have the political opinions I have (Progressive, Liberal, Democrat) and I have earned the right to vote (and I routinely exercise that right). On this Veterans Day, I gives thanks to ALL Veterans out there. Regardless of whether you served in combat or not, in one branch or another and even those in countries other than the United States. If you honorably and proudly served, it is something you should be proud of. I hope we all have a grateful day and that the Veterans who paid the ultimate price are given our sincere gratitude and solemn remembrance. Happy Veterans Day!!!
Posted on: Mon, 11 Nov 2013 07:47:09 +0000