dadasgradVeteran’s Day is always a difficult one for me. I know most people mean well, but I have a hard time with all the platitudes in a time when veterans benefits seem to be first on the chopping block, the GI Bill is being gutted, a horrifying number of Vets are disabled, homeless, seeing their families need foodstamps to put food on the table even while on active duty, and falling through an increasingly frayed safety net. So, may I ask those who of you who are posting Support Our Troops memes on Facebook, to take an extra step and write or email your Congressperson and demand we honor our heroes with more than words.

Otherwise, I’ll hold the rant and just introduce you to my late father — West Point graduate (Class of ’51), veteran of two wars (Korea and several tours in Viet Nam), Bronze Star recipient, career Army man and, by act of Congress, an officer and a gentleman.

Oh, and in the last years of his life, he helped his beloved Boston Red Sox break the Curse of the Bambino and win their first World Series in 86 years.

That’s a hell of a lot of service to country.

dadwithpipe