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I would agree...I never served. Growing up under the Jimmy Carter failure there was no way I considered serving under his leadership, and now I wish I had.

In many ways I think it makes me appreciate our veterans much more; knowing they were willing to sacrifice what I never did.

In a strange sort of irony I try and make up for it now as best I can(going to the same Memorial Day ceremony in my hometown every Memorial Day, saying "F-U" to Paris in July of 2000 on the last day of my honeymoon and instead of sightseeing in the city on what was our only day in that God-forsaken nation, touring the D-Day Beaches to pay homage to our boys), standing on Broadway in NYC May of 1986 watching a belated ticker tape parade for our Vietnam Vets and as a 22-year about to graduat college doing my best not to cry out loud.

One of the most profound experiences ever was spending Memorial Day weekend back in 1998 in our Nation's capital. It was so emotional for me and my girlfriend (now my wife). Seeing, hearing and feeling Rolling Thunder, taking in the sights, visiting Arlington Cementary on Memorial Day morining and going to the Vietnam Wall on three different occasions.

The highlight, and I knew it would be, was sitting on the lawn of the Capitol for the National Memorial Day Concert. It's on PBS tomorrow at 8PM and highly reccomended; I've yet to miss one but being there live was really special!

... appreciate our veterans much more; knowing they were willing to sacrifice what I never did. ...

sometimes I find myself feeling guilty about some of the missions I was supposed to be on, but was replaced at the last minute by someone else, it seems like those were the missions where my replacement usually got killed or hurt, then I wake up and realize that God had a different job for me in the future

well my friend, if you truly want to be a hero, as commander of the local DAV chapter here in my hometown, i can offer these words of advice.

What will truly make you a hero, go thru your library and gather all the books you either didn't like or don't want to ever read again.....all your reader's digest condensed volumes and any magazines you don't need in your "throne room" any more and take them all to the nearest V.A. hospital. They will gladly accept them with an adoration of you that even you haven't see from your wife since your honeymoon.

If you have an extra few minutes, just ride the elevator up to the room floors and go room to room and shake hands with a few of the guys and say "thank you"....you will see faces light up brighter than the north star on Christmas eve....you dont have to be a "hero" to be a hero.