GOD BLESS OUR VETERANS and their families

ALL veterans give some; some veterans gave ALL. It makes no differance what your political beliefs are - left or right; republican or democrat; conservative or liberal - but your right to have and VOICE an opinion on just about anything exists today because of the proud service of our veterans.

If there is one good thing to come of the Vietnam Conflict (we never did 'declare' war) it is the un-mitigated support for our troops regardless of the situation. We may not agree with the decision that places them wherever they may be but these young men and women have taken an oath to defend our country and have made great personal sacrifice for us. Never forget. So on this Memorial Day be sure to thank a vet.

I am a veteran. I served in the Air Force from 1972-76. I will admit, I did not enlist because I was motivated by nationalistic pride. Truth be known, my draft number was eight! There wasn't much doubt in my mind that the Army was anxiously waiting for my 2-S deferment to be recinded due to my grade point falling below 2.0 the prior semester. Four years in a guaranteed job with the Air Force seemed like a better alternative to the Armys putting a rifle in my hand and sending me to some rice field in SE Asia.

But with-out a doubt, I am a better person today for it. Military service teaches you a whole lot; not just about yourself but other people, regardless of race. In some respects, I wish I had stayed more active in the reserves after I got out of active duty. But then my life today would be extrememly differant too and I'm not sure it could be much better, so life is fine as it is. But what if......

I am in Belleville again. I ended up getting a car out of FL that took me with-in 80 miles of where Jareds HS Graduation was last Thusday night. I was going over to my friends 50th birthday party Saturday afternoon (500 miles away) but it didn't work out. I did have a car to pick-up coming into STL and grabbed that over in MS Saturday morning. I spend that night in Memphis.

I just wasn't in that big a hurry to get to Blvl. Most folks I know are out of town. So I parked the truck, rolled the bike off and headed down to the gambling boats in Tunica, 25 miles south of Memphis. After dropping $30 (ya, I know, last of the big spenders!) I rode back up to Beale St. - home to some of the best blues bars in the world. I will withhold printed comment on the rest of the evening. And it has nothing to do with the law, just personal opinion. Ask me about it face-to-face.

I got on in here Sunday and went out and properly celebrated our veterans sacrifice to maintain this way of life. Thank you -- thank you! Today I deliverd the car (they were closed yesterday). Tomorrow I have three places to load in STL going to two stops in central IL. Relatively short trip but the load is heavy and the rate is first class.

I plan to be around here for a week or so. Maybe short trips out but then back within a day or two. I'm hoping the contract my mother has on her house here goes thru. That should be resolved - one way or the other - by the end of the week.