Memorial Day Weekend Activities

Yesterday there was a Patriot Guard mission to place flags on all the graves at the two state veterans cemeteries. Since my father in law is a Vietnam veteran and spending the summer with us from Florida, I asked him to come along. Our plan was to go to the larger cemetery in Middletown. Since we would have to leave around 8 AM for the hour drive down, I suggested coffee brewed at home and breakfast sandwiches with hash browns from Cumberland Farms. My wife had a dog agility event Saturday, so we were all up to get out early. While watching the 7 AM news on Fox 61 CT they reported about the flag placing event, and encouraged viewers to be in Middletown at 9 AM. There are 13,000 graves that needed flags so come and help. We grabbed our breakfast and hit the highway. 

While traveling down I-91 south through Wethersfield, I had a thought. Everyone always focuses on the big cemetery in Middletown, forgetting about the smaller one in Rocky Hill across from the veterans home and hospital. I told my father in law there was a change in plan, that we were going to Rocky Hill instead and why. He was fine with that. The graves in that cemetery are mostly veterans that died at the veterans home or hospital.

We got there to initially find a lone cemetery worker and two other Patriot Guard members. By 9 o'clock about another dozen volunteers showed up, including a couple of families with kids. Promptly at 9 AM we started placing flags and were done by 09:35. All 1,713 graves were adorned with a small American flag. The kids all did a good job and were respectful and quiet, no running around and being obnoxious.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I was happy that my father in law and I got to do something directly related to the true meaning of Memorial Day. After we were done in Rocky Hill we did go down to Middletown to see if maybe they needed more help. Nope, they were done too. My father in law drove through that area of Middletown for 35 years while working at Pratt & Whitney and never knew the cemetery was there. I took him on a drive through the whole cemetery and he agreed it was a beautiful place. 

To most people they need this little reminder to at least stop and think about what the day means.

I wish I had thought of doing this for the ride to and from the cemetery, but it was too late and I didn't have time before we left. But I did it when I got home and have been driving it around since yesterday. I had one guy come up to me and tell me he had Stephen's dad as a baseball coach (so did I) and about playing on the athletic fields named in his honor at Ellington High School. I told the guy I knew Stephen well and his family well.

As a refresher about PFC Tingley, read this post from last fall. He was a child hood friend that was killed in the Beirut barracks bombing on October 23, 1983

Amazingly, he made the November 1983 cover of Soldier of Fortune magazine that came out right after he was killed. That's him right on front holding his M16 and M203 in full ruck. This is a photo of my copy I got off eBay.

This is my tribute patch on my biker vest

The other person I think about on this day died in Vietnam when I was in second grade, Whitney T. Ferguson, III. I wrote about him recently in this page about visiting "The Wall" in Washington, DC. He was killed in action in Tay Ninh Province on 03/11/1969. Older friends of mine went to school with him. He was the only person from Vernon to die in Vietnam.

Whitney T. Ferguson, III

Tomorrow morning at dawn, in accordance with USC 4 Section 7 Paragraph (m) my flag will be lowered to half-staff until noon, when it will be raised back to full staff with the POW/MIA flag below it. My telescoping flagpole requires the second flag to be removed, and the US Flag placed on the second spot to accommodate half-staff display. I will fly the POW/MIA flag until next weekend and then again in November for Veterans Day.

Doctor Visit Today

Unfortunately not for my knee injury. It was my annual physical with my PCP. A couple of items of interest.

The doctor's office I go to is located in a small office park a couple of towns over. It is a desigated *GFDZ, complete with the signage stating as such and offering the false sense of safety to the employees and patients. I on the other hand, completely ignore such stupidity and waltz right in carrying my concealed firearm. Do you know what? There was no mass murder! Not a surprise really since I am not a violent murderer. As much as I would love to school those people about how useless their policy and ghey little sign in the door is; especially if the enraged jealous ex-husband of one of the girls in the office shows up to kill her and anyone that gets in his way, I just keep my mouth shut. I'm secure in my knowledge of my concealed firearm and ability to use it should the need arise. When I stripped off my clothes I carefully laid my pants on the chair keeping my firearm holstered, safe, and concealed. 

The good thing is they have finally gotten rid of their stupid mask mandate. There wasn't a face diaper to be seen on anyone.

When I checked in, the girl behind the desk handed me a clipboard with several forms on it. She told me they were verifying and updating information. The first sheet was demographics, contact, and insurance info. There... below my name, address, birthday, and SSN were two empty blanks to fill in. My gender assignment and my preferred pronouns. Uh... FUCK NO!! Since there was just a space to write in your answer, I wrote the following:

Your Gender Identity: NO MENTAL ILLNESS!

Your Preferred Pronouns: I'M NOT PLAYING!

I filled out the rest of the papers and put that top one in the middle and handed the clipboard in. I did not stick around for a reaction. Perhaps that will earn me a visit from law enforcement for engaging in thought crime and hate speech.

 

 

*GFDZ = Gun Free Death Zone

Chicken Hospice

I pride myself on being a tough old bastard that does not put up with anyone's bullshit. That said, I do have a caring and compassionate side as demonstrated by my career in EMS and the care of my animals.

This morning I found one of my elderly French Black Maran hens lying on her side in the pen when I went down to the coop this morning. The other birds were stomping all over her in excitement to my approach. I sent the other birds out to get their morning mealworm treat and picked her up. At first I thought she was dead, but she opened her eyes and lifted her head. I carried her into the house to my wife's dog grooming area of the basement. I set her on a towel on her grooming table while I went to get a spare dog crate. After the crate was assembled I placed the hen on the towel inside, put the crate on the table, and raised the table to its maximum level. She is sitting in a tripod position which makes breathing easier with her eyes closed and it is just a matter of time before she expires. At least she has a quiet space to go. I had her since she was a 4 month old pullet, laid hundreds of eggs while productive, and has lived out her long life as a matron of the younger ones.

When I find a chicken dead in the morning, I place their body in an empty feed bag and place it in the trash.

Lite On The Blogging

Forgive me readers, for I have sinned. It has been 8 days since my last blog post.

 

For a couple of reasons. First, being out of work means I am not spending the hours of down time at the firehouse sitting in front of the boob tube or a computer and blogging from my phone really sucks. I have been keeping busy doing other things. The other is when I do have idle time, I am on Gab.com and reading blogs which is easy to do on the phone. The following is a few of my "gabs" (their version of a tweet). This first one I have pinned to my profile.

 

 

The following are a couple of comments to gabs of others that don't require much context.

 

As a FAFO message to those that visit my profile page, this is my header. Yes, that could actually be me at an undisclosed location with any identifiers blacked out firing a one of a kind built precision rifle.

 

An update on my workplace injury; I finally have an appointment for an MRI next Wednesday. Then I have to have another appointment at the orthopedic office to see what treatment will be required. At this point I am getting around really well, and hope it is nothing more than some strengthening and rehab without surgery. I have lost 2 weeks of 108 hours pay so far. Between Workman's Comp and 2 supplementals I should not lose a dime in pay.

Fabulous Weather

It is sunny, 82 with low humidity, and a light breeze. The leaves have finally popped on the trees providing shade on the house. I have every window open and it is a comfortable 72 on the first floor and 74 on the second. I am spending a quiet afternoon alone on the porch listening to the WTIC AM 1080 stream on Audacy through my ROKU with the birds and squirrels to keep me company. 

Nothing else to do until after I get my knee fixed and go back to "fightin' fires and savin' lives!"

If this were a normal day off I'd definitely be out on "The Beast." I hear some guys out on the main road rippin' it up on sportbikes in the distance.