Memorial Day

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PFCekeoSTwg

But the band plays Waltzing Matilda, and the old men still answer the call,
But as year follows year, more old men disappear. Someday no one will march there at all.
Waltzing Matilda, Waltzing Matilda, who'll come a-waltzing Matilda with me?
And their ghosts may be heard as they march by that billabong, who'll come a-waltzing Matilda with me?

I guess I've a couple more years, anyway. 82 isn't a death spiral yet ;)

This reminds me of a funeral I attended at Fort Rosecrans for another bud of mine who lost his life in 2001 in an F-15C in the Scottish highlands. LtCol Ken "Buster" Hyvonen and his wingman, Capt Kirk Jones were vectored into the side of a mountain in the Cairngorms. Here's a toast to you and a poem well said by a former POW.
Pic

One More Roll

We toast our hearty comrades who have fallen from the skies, and were gently caught by God's own hand to be with him on High.

To dwell among the soaring clouds they`'ve known so well before. From victory roll to tail chase, at heaven's very door.

As we fly among them there, we’re sure to head their plea. To take care my friend, watch your six, and do one more roll for me.

— Commander Jerry Coffee, Hanoi, 1968.

Thanks, Jolly, for paying your respects to Gary.
With both his parents gone and no siblings (or even cousins, if I recall correctly), I can think of only a couple of people (Kirk and I) who visit his grave now. I'm glad to know that there's a third.

I'm living in California but always visit every time I'm back in Minneapolis. I grew up in Minneapolis and knew Gary in Civil Air Patrol; I'm also an AF retiree. Our paths crossed in the Air Force (I got to Osan AB a month before he left Taegu, and was stationed at Edwards when he was stationed at George).

GML