Drove down to Beaufort, SC Sunday. Decided to go out to Parris Island and visit the museum first thing. We really enjoyed it - having the whole place to ourselves almost! I'm not a Marine and have never been one - my family line is all Army, so I am sure some of my ancestors are rolling in their graves - but you can't help but be proud as all get-out when visiting such a place. We saw many young men (and a few women) around the base, and the museum just speaks to centuries of honor, pride and tradition. Semper Fi all you leathernecks out there - you have a lot to be proud of!!!
Monday morning we visited the National Cementary in Beaufort - another amazing place. 13,000+ service men and women and some spouses laid to rest there, most from the unCivil War. I have some pictures which I will post when I get them downloaded from the camera. We came back home that same day - with a 3 hour delay due to a blow tire on the way (sucker was so low I couldn't safely use the piddly-little jack from the car and I had to call AAA. Nothing like waiting outside the car [for safety], on the side of I-95 in 100 degree heat!!!) Wife lost an earring, and I lost my watch on the trip as well - but it was still a ton of fun just being with the family and seeing the great history in this country. My blood pressure even came down quite a bit while on the trip (which has me thinking that work has more to do with this than I thought). Shame gas is so darn high - so many other trips to make and history to see!
Emptied the suitcase last night, re-packed it, and off on a business trip again today. Such is life.
Again, to all those who did some training time on Parris Island - and elsewhere in the service of our country - Thank You!!!
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)