Today David gave me a tour of the JAG Law School on UVA campus. I was mightily impressed. I wish I could include photos here, but I'm on my STR computer (work) and think it best that I download when I return home. Something for everyone to look forward to!

But maybe in this case it's just as well - that just maybe a thousand words (or less) are worth more than a picture.

Charlottesville is a university town through and through. So, being with David who was dressed appropriately in Army regulation and sporting a scalp revealing haircut, it was quite clear he wasn't a student.

With great restraint, today I refrained from becoming a blubbering fool because of the people who approached my son and expressed gratitude and then more gratitude and then pride and then extended beefy hands for beefy handshakes.

You see... the men who approached him were veterans - Vietnam. Both men have sons currently serving - one also in the Army, the other in the Air Force. In addition to thanking my son, they were eager to talk about their own service as well as their son's.

One man was with his family. Unbeknownst to me, but David understood what had happened, our lunch was paid by him. I had no clue, but had noted David's extreme gratitude for the man's gratitude. (Hope that made sense.) I'd thought it had been nothing more than an exchange of kind words. I can't recall how it came up in conversation, but toward the end of our lunch I realized the veteran with his family had paid for our lunch. I looked at David and he nodded his head as I hobbled over to this man's table to thank him. I explained my befuddlement, but that I was so touched and so appreciative of his generosity... and then he topped the story - the people behind his family observed what had happened and paid it forward - and bought their lunch.


Hooah!