Veterans Day

I haven't had the heart to write since the election, nor the time. Life is so very frantic, and wonderful. I'm worried about my brother, but confident in his success. ROTC is enormous and time consuming, and so great.
Yesterday was Veterans Day. It was a hard reminder of many things, it was also a chance to be proud of my achievements and hard work. There was a ceremony dedicated to those who were POWs or MIA... a vigil. The Army, Navy, and Airforce traded out for hour long shifts of guarding a table placed in front of the memorial union. We guarded a table that contained many symbolic objects, the foremost of which being a lit candle. Our orders were to stand guard and maintain the light of the flame, with one of the three cadets standing guard at parade rest by the table.
Each hour was taken care of three cadets from one of the branches. I took the second shift today, expecting twenty minutes... however that stretched into forty when the senior failed to relieve me at my post. It was painful, I had no idea how much your arms burn at parade rest after a while. But it was great, although when the airforce boys appeared out of nowhere and relieved me, I was so used to standing still I fumbled the transfer of the guard... at least my salute was proper, even if my words got a little garbled. That's what they get for leaving a freshman to the transfer. My dad's captain's rank is pinned up on the wall over my desk, it's a daily reminder of why I will succeed.


Brothers, I remember you.