Here it is Memorial Day weekend already. We think of this weekend as the unofficial start of the summer and BBQ season, but we also take time to honor our fallen service men and women. Today, I am thinking of some soldiers and
classmates who died in Vietnam. I was fortunate not to lose any of my platoon, although, we did have some wounded. I survived without a scratch.
I am also thinking of family members like my father who served in WWII, Korea, and twice in Vietnam. I was born soon after he returned from the South Pacific. My father named me after my uncle who was killed in the South Pacific and whose body was not recovered. My uncle's name was Marlin, but he did not like the name. He went by the name Monte, and that is the name my father chose for me. There is a VFW post in Wyoming named for my uncle.
I have always liked my name-better than being called "Andy". I named my first-born Monte and he named his first-born Monte. I guess that makes us self-centered, but I like to think, in a small way, we honor my uncle who gave his life for his country. Not many of the veterans from WWII are still alive and we Vietnam vets are now the old guys. I think it is nice to know that, at least for two more generations, there will still be a Monte Anderson.
Happy Memorial Day!
classmates who died in Vietnam. I was fortunate not to lose any of my platoon, although, we did have some wounded. I survived without a scratch.
I am also thinking of family members like my father who served in WWII, Korea, and twice in Vietnam. I was born soon after he returned from the South Pacific. My father named me after my uncle who was killed in the South Pacific and whose body was not recovered. My uncle's name was Marlin, but he did not like the name. He went by the name Monte, and that is the name my father chose for me. There is a VFW post in Wyoming named for my uncle.
I have always liked my name-better than being called "Andy". I named my first-born Monte and he named his first-born Monte. I guess that makes us self-centered, but I like to think, in a small way, we honor my uncle who gave his life for his country. Not many of the veterans from WWII are still alive and we Vietnam vets are now the old guys. I think it is nice to know that, at least for two more generations, there will still be a Monte Anderson.
Happy Memorial Day!
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