Went to the cemetery Saturday to see my boy - my only chance before Veterans Day to do so. According to standards set by the government, he didn’t make it to be what is officially determined to be a veteran like his grampa J was or like I am. That’s despite Ryan’s having been a veteran of service in Southwest Asia and more specifically, Iraq where he was KIA. However, he’ll always be, along with all those KIA and unable to return home alive from a combat zone, a U.S. veteran.
#MissMyBoy

Things that go through my brain: on a wall in my bedroom above my dresser is a photo of my oldest son, Ryan, who was KIA in Iraq at the age of 20 in 2006. It dawned on me this morning had he lived and gotten an early start with a family like I did (I was 21 when he was born), I’d have, at 60, a 17 or 18 year old grandkid. Had THAT grandkid gotten an early start, I’d be a great grampa before 65. As it is, my oldest grandkid, named after Ryan, will be 10 on 13 February.
#MissMyBoy
#TimeStandStill