Attended the flag raising and casket service this morning here in the desert. Always get emotional, especially when the bugler plays "Taps."
Many in my family have served, with casualties going back at least to the Civil War, but the last I know who died of his wounds was my Great Uncle Earl Traylor, Co. A, 342nd Machine Gun Battalion, 89th Division, AEF, who was gassed by the Germans in France in August of 1918, then wounded by shrapnel in November. He was dead of pulmonary failure in 18 months.
It hurts my heart that Memorial/Decoration Day has become an excuse for retail sales and water skiing, but that's just me.
Another way to look at it is that life splashes on thanks to the supreme sacrifices of those willing to die for "our noble experiment." God bless them all -- and all the men and women everywhere who have been sent to their deaths by politicians, kings, czars, führers and ambitious madmen.
Thank you Don and Saeed for the banner. Please God let us learn at last not to kill each other.

You can see large gas blisters on my very somber Uncle Earl's cheek and neck. He is buried in Denver.

Bill - thanks for posting. May we all be more grateful for the sacrifices made. Great photo of your uncle.