I'll put out a rosette of red, white, and blue. Not that I don't like the country, but there are too danged many folks who are Summer soldiers and Sunshine patriots, who talk of their love of country but who, when the hand is called, show that it was only talk.

One study I saw showed that those who served in Vietnam were, on the average, seven years behind their contemporaries who never served in the military at all, career-wise.

Eight years in the Infantry for me...21 years in the Army (including VN combat) for one brother...125 awards of the Air Medal over VN for my other brother...a nephew currently in the Marines...another who served his five years in the Corps...a father and six uncles in combat in WW2...cousins currently in both Iraq and Afghanistan...and an aunt who served in the Army Nurse corps in the South Pacific....

I just don't care for those who are all bluff and bluster. Too many who fly flags around here are just that. I don't have to prove anything to anyone.