This is such a local diary, I almost wasn't going to cross-post it.
But, I wanted to send out a special thank you to llbear (aka Dick Pierce; that's us beaming below, top left) for arranging for me to speak at the Dixon [IL] Elks Lodge Veteran's Dinner last night.
It was an incredible evening.
Please see more pics, my thanks to llbear and the leaders of Dixon Elks Lodge #779, along with transcript of my remarks. I wanted to stay away from the PTSD stuff for one evening, and talk about how I feel about America, about being an American, and how I feel about our country's veterans.
More below the fold...