today marks veteran's day. there are many folks in my life to recognize for their service to our country, but today i will lift up my own family folks. i am the odd man out (myself & my sister) who has not joined in with the service. i think i'm too wimpy for it.

my little brother shawn richardson. many might remember his first tour through Iraq where he kept a running blog. he is still in the army national guard for tennessee. he has been serving in the army reserves, active duty, or national guard (as an officer) since he was a junior in high school. last i knew he was a 2nd LT but was looking to move up in rank at some point (not sure if that point has come around yet). he is slated to return to Iraq at some point in the future, but no definite plans are set as of now.

my older brother david richardson. he broke from tradition and gave his service to the marine corps. he participated in the first gulf war. he was stationed on the tripoli, i believe, which hit a sea mine during the war. i like to play with him & insist that he did very little during that time. all his pictures that i saw were of him and his buddies playing volleyball on the beach in kuwait. i know that isn't true, but its fun to tease him.

my dad, william richardson jr. his service is more of a mystery to me. not something he talks about much, and believe me, he tells enough stories that if he cared he would have told them by now. dad was in the army, and as i know it was inbetween major wars. i think that is a good thing, dad is way to peaceful in my eyes to be a soldier. sidenote: he also claims to have been golden gloves, i don't see that one either, but it did take a number of years before i could get the upper hand on him in the dad/son wrestling air boxing match. dad had a number of friends who were a part of Vietnam & i remember visiting the veterans memorial and sketching in a few names. 

to the men folk in my fam, i salute you! please shawn, don't critique me on my salute, i know by now that i don't do it right. love, -gav