THOUGHTS FROM A SEPTUAGENARIAN. Since I showed up on April 30 of 1953 my Dad was my first and only hero. “Big Leo” as he was referred to even though he was 5’6” in stature to distinguish him from me, enlisted the day after he graduated high school in 1943 to fight in World War II. He qualified and was accepted into the Submarine branch of the Navy and after rigorous training along with six months of intensive study at Morehead State University he was commissioned into the Silent Service as an Electricians Mate. That meant he oversaw what submariners refer to as The Christmas Tree which let you know it all the hatches we closed with a completely green board so you could submerge without permanently sinking the boat on the USS Seafox from their maiden patrol in October of 1944 until the last excursion in late July of 1945 just 8 days before the dropping of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima.

I needed to explain his wartime story and why I’m wearing his hat because now it will make sense that I travelled Sunday to the Florida National Cemetery to volunteer with my Knights of Columbus Dr. Gil Ortiz Council #13525 and family along with numerous others to place flags on the graves of the veterans. It is the first time I’ve done this in my 72 years on this planet, but I figured if someone was doing that to where my Dad and Mom were laid to rest in New Jersey at BG William C. Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery in the city of Arneytown it’s the least I could do.

I cannot emphasize how highly I recommend to anyone to doing this next year. It all begins at 9 am with the burglar playing taps and that was riveting to say the least. All graves must be adorned with an American flag and the saying of the name of the serviceman or servicewoman thanking them for their service by 11 am so you cannot dawdle.

Amazingly all 137,000 burial sites for veterans along with spouses that brings the total to around 180,000 laid to rest was accomplished in 45 minutes. A huge thank you to all that participated in this mammoth effort of respect and admiration.

Again, try and make it to the next flag placing on May 24 of 2026 and bring the family. And a huge thank you to the volunteer who placed the flag on the grave site of Leo T. and Nancy L. Haggerty. I was with you in spirit.

Book it Dano.