THIS IS THE TIME WHEN WE HONOR OUR VETERANS, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN BATTLE FOR OUR COUNTRY.  EVERY VETERAN WHEN HE OR SHE TAKES THE OATH, GIVES THE COUNTRY A BLANK CHECK, PAYABLE IN ANY AMOUNT, UP TO LIFE ITSELF.  THINK ABOUT THAT WHEN YOU WATCH THE PARADES AND WAVE THE FLAG.  

I SERVED WITH THE SIXTH INFANTRY DIVISION. WE HAD A MAN IN OUR COMPANY NAMED HOMER, WHO WAS VERY CLOSE TO HAVING ENOUGH POINTS TO GO HOME AND BE MUSTERED OUT OF THE SERVICE.  WHILE I WAS SERVING AS A COMPANY RUNNER, TAKING GROUPS OF NATIVES LOADED WITH AMMUNITION FROM BATTALION HEADQUARTERS TO MY COMPANY ON THE FRONT LINE.  THE COMPANY HAD JUST HAD A MORTAR ATTACK BY THE JAPS WHEN I GOT TO THEM.  THERE ON THE ROADSIDE WAS HOMER, ON A LITTER WITH THE MEDICS WORKING OVER HIM.  HE HAD A BAD BELLY WOUND--I COULD SEE HIS INTESTINES.  HOMER DIED WITHIN AN HOUR.  HOMER DID NOT GET TO SEE AMERICA AGAIN.  EVERY MEMORIAL DAY, I THINK OF HOMER, AND THERE WERE THOUSANDS LIKE HIM.  LETS REMEMBER THEM THIS MEMORIAL DAY.