Dear Friends,
Happy Memorial Day
Having had a dad who was a retired colonel in the army, and having
grown up in Watertown, NY, only 10 miles from Fort Drum, the home of 40,000 men
and women and dependents, who are stationed there as a part of the
10th Mountain Division, I have a great appreciation for those serving in
our military. A good number of my high
school and college friends fought in Viet Nam, and while I opposed, and
even campaigned against that war, I have always respected those who served.
While in the military my dad was in charge of security for the Oak
Ridge, Tenn. project where the atomic bomb was being built. Like a lot of those
who worked there he probably had little idea of the magnitude of
destruction that this bomb would cause.
At the time of the Viet Nam War, my dad and I became estranged.
I was opposed to the war and even campaigned against it, and I am sure as a
military veteran it was hard, and even embarrassing for him to have a son
who was actively engaged in opposing the Viet Nam war. I loved and respected
my dad for his military service, but unfortunately my opposition to the Viet
Nam war significantly impacted our relationship, and following it our time
together was very limited. As a result I never got to know much about my
dad and his past and in particular his time at Oak Ridge where he got to
personally know men like Robert Oppenheimer and many of the other scientists
and physicists who were instrumental in the creation of the bomb. This is one
of my life's greatest regrets.
On this Memorial Day I share these thoughts out of respect for my
dad and for all of those military veterans who have fought and served to
help preserve peace both at home and around the world. I am sad that my dad and
I never had a chance to reconcile our military differences before he died, and
I live with the great regret of never having known some of the very
significant accomplishments of his life, both in and after his military
service. Dad, I love you, and I am grateful for your love for your country and
your service to our nation.
The video below is shared as a tribute to you and to others like
you who have served our country so faithfully.
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