Armed Forces Day

How many millions of Americans this past weekend just went about life as normal never realizing the 20th was Armed Forces Day? Probably millions did, tuned into their iPods while they fretted over their normal worries. Meanwhile in Iraq, soldiers and allies continue to search for their three missing comrades with families back home worried sick.

This past Friday, some of the wounded soldiers from Walter Reed were honored by their comrades in the Pentagon. This has become a Friday tradition at the Pentagon.

Twenty-four minutes of steady applause. My hands hurt, and I laugh to myself at how stupid that sounds in my own head. “My hands hurt.” Christ. Shut up and clap.

And another soldier, Bill Thomas, who was wounded on the muddy humid field of battle called VietNam while assigned to the 173rd Airborne Brigade has presented President Bush with one of his three Pruple Hearts.

"We feel like emotional wounds and scars are as hard to carry as physical wounds," Thomas said.

If you missed Armed Forces Day then give a moment of quiet thanks now to those soldiers whos service and sacrifice has granted you a busy weekend to pursue your concept of happiness.

Update 1100Z24052007 - Body found floating in the Euphrates River has been identified as one of the three missing soldiers. The deceased is identified as 20 year old Pfc Joseph Anzack of California. No word on the other two soldiers as the search continues.