Memorial Day

Hello everyone in internet land. I've finally succumbed to the dark side of the internet and begun a blog. Despite the title of this blog, the first entry will have very little to do about music if at all. I just had dinner with some neighbors of mine one of whom was looking at our hostess' commemorative plate of the flag raising at Iwo Jima made famous by Joe Rosenthal (even though it was the replacement flag). I asked him if he had read John Bradley's book "Flags of Our Fathers" about the flag raisers, and he replied that he hadn't had a chance to read it, but it was okay because he was there! As you get to know me, you'll realize one of my passions is US history, and so to eat dinner next to one of the bravest men in our country's history during one of the most terrifying times in history was slightly jaw-dropping. He told me of taking a transport of troops to the beach and watching the large aircraft carrier ships behind blowing huge chunks out of Mount Surabachi and of the 39 men he led onto the beach and the two that survived. I sat enthralled by his stories and it reminds me that you should always get to know your neighbors because you never know what heroes there are a few yards from your doorstep if you take the opportunity and initiative to go meet them. Happy Memorial Day to everyone who reads this and thank all of you who have served, are serving, or will serve our great and glorious nation in the name of freedom!