It is such a shame that the meaning has been lost over but a few short years. It's nothing more that another day the government shuts for a holiday. I've done two "low pass" flights into the the old Hickham Army Air Corps Field and from there got a clear glimpse of the Arizona. After that there was no cause for burgers or dogs on the grill. A Japanese foot soldier surrendered a few weeks later from a very remote swimming hole (I had just used), out in the "boonies". The irony that I almost lost my life from a soldier of another war, I still have some trouble dealing with that. Few men possess such honor and loyalty. Part of his rifle stock was rotted from the dampness but his "clips" were said to be well tended. Tomorrow, I'll tip back a cup with the aviation mechanics crest on it, a cup of fine sake; right or wrong, your honor is without question!
Ed Millerick
Aside from flames about 3' high, what really burns my tush is an individual who shows up at the Allentown High School Fair. Among his "memorabilia" such as military pictures and pillows are bronze grave markers, when I questioned him him he indicated that they were "scrap" from when they "clean" the veterans graves, When I went to use my wife's cell to call Charles Webster, like Tom, a historian who maintains vet cemeteries and does tours and such, this worm packed his van and was not seen again.
Such items as military grave markers are NEVER SCRAP, THEY ARE STOLEN, period and end of story. Please get a few pictures and the license plate of the car if that is possible, but the minute they see a camera but no sales these dogs will pack and run.
The minimum you can do is to cause a bit of a scene and ruin their day. I forget the statute number but IN THEORY the local PD should contact the Vet Affairs office. Just possession of such an "artifact" is a lower felony in reality perhaps a warrant will be issued which is something such scum want to avoid since there is usually a string of other charges like drug or theft they would like to avoid.
The theft of such "scrap" in now worth hundreds of dollars since the prices have been going up!
Try to get the locals to do the initial contact and get information from the DL or registration, please do not try yourself. Often, if they have outstanding, warrants or citizenship issues or are past child support, they are often wary about the simplest act ..... don't get a black eye. Others "get paid" to do that. ;)
Ed Millerick
