Four score and seven years ago today...

At the 11th hour, of the 11th day, the warring powers signed an armistice that ended The War to End All Wars. My grandfather was in the Canadian army during WW1. He spent his entire war building airplanes a short train ride away from his home. He had wanted to enlist in "The horse cavalry", but they found out he knew what a mortise and tendon joint was. He was discharged the day after the armistice was signed. His brother, who enlisted the same day he did, with the same desire, ended up in the horse cavalry. Got deployed to russia to fight there, and spent his time fighting both the germans and the communists. He didn't get back home until two years after the armistice was signed. My other grandfather, I don't know if he served during WW1, but I think he must have. He was a bugler for the US army in the 1920s and 30s, retired from the army in the late 30s. He spent WW2 working in a mine in Idaho. One of my uncles was a pilot in the dambuster's squadron during WW2. No doubt I had other relatives in, but I don't know of any more. My dad was a bit young for WW2, but ended up serving in the US navy for the Korean unpleasantness. My uncle was in the US air force, and spent nearly his entire career building air force bases in Greenland. I spent not quite eight years in the US navy. Was just about to get my discharge when the first gulf war started. Got involuntarily extended on active duty for the duration. I spent my wartime service running a videotape library in Bethesda, MD. I salute all the guys and gals who are serving now, wherever they are, and hope that they all make it home safely.