Today is Veteran’s Day.

I grew up in the shadow of the Vietnam War. I remember the nightly news reports of troop deployments, “body counts” and – yes – the protests. The war ended while I was in High School. So did the draft. Long before the end of the war, the respect for those who served, fought and died in that war ended as well.

The weekend of the Marine Corps Marathon, at the Team Chris pasta dinner, we were honored to hear from a Vietnam Veteran who (along with his comrades) returned from the war to be cursed at and doused with “blood.”

He was lucky to return. He was a member of the 1st Battalion, 9th Marines, known as “The Walking Dead,” for its high casualty rate through the Vietnam War.

So today’s post is for those who served, those who fought and returned from all wars.

Thank a Veteran Today.

The shot is from CPL Christopher G Scherer’s childhood room. Chris was one who didn’t return. He fought and died in Iraq in 2007.