Amen.

While I was out gardening, four WWII era fighters made a flyover in the missing man formation. I paused my work, put my hat over my heart, and remembered the sacrifice of all those who lost loved ones in the service of our country. Those planes helped defeat Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan and saved western civilization.

In a month I retire from Raytheon, formerly part of Hughes Aircraft. I have been associated with IR and night vision technology development for 39 years. What has been deployed from our facility on the ground, in the air, and in space has enabled our brave men and women to make it home alive. My coworkers over the years, ranging from PhD solid state physicists to high school graduate assembling our complex devices have done their part to make sure there are fewer Gold Star families in our current operations.

Those who have an empty place at the table today, actually everyday, my prayers are for you.

I had the good fortune to visit Omaha Beach and the American Cemetery a week ago. It was a beautiful and solemn day, with the National Anthem being sung and Taps played.

A wreath was presented to the vets in our group, and there was not a dry eye in the crowd. We owe so much to those brave boys, who gave their all for us.

I then watched The Longest Day yesterday and was doubly moved, having been on that beach and felt the spirits of those who went before us. God bless them, and God Bless us all.