My father was a "lifer" in the Marine Corps for 24 years. The
first 13 years of my life was spent being a military brat. Being
the child of an officer definitely had its perks, and my brother,
sisters, and I all took advantage of them.
Dad served in Viet Nam in 1967-68, flying bombing missions out
of Da Nang. He decided to retire in 1970 so that he could watch his
five kids grow up, instead of returning to Nam where he would very
likely have become a name on The Wall. I was always proud of my
dad, and when he received the Silver Star in 1969 for heroics
during one of his missions in VietNam, I was amazed at the parade
and ceremony that was held in his honor at Cherry Point, NC, where
we were stationed before and after his tour of duty.
I placed this cache on what would have been my dad's 77th
birthday. He "slipped the surly bonds of earth" in October of 2004,
but I will always respect how my father served his country with
unwavering and quiet dedication.
Take a little extra time to think about the reason behind this
park and pay homage to all of the men and women who have served our
country over the years, in all branches of the Armed Forces. After
that, go get your smiley!!!
Please be stealthy, as the residents across the street may be
watching while you hunt.
Happy Birthday and Semper Fi, Dad!