Happy Thanksgiving! This is always a time for families to get together to reminisce, enjoy each other    and eat until they can’t eat no more. Last night Evelyn, Rachel and my nephew Nick spent a nice evening relaxing by playing cards and laughing a lot.

Being the last of 11 kids, I am used to having large Turkey Day Festivities. It was typical to have 50 to 60 people at our house for dinner. Between the kids, their spouses and kids, friends, not to mention the Aunts, Uncles and cousins. It could only be described as a zoo.

Even now Thanksgiving isn’t just a day, it is a weekend. Tonight we are having dinner with family friends that are going to be moving to Canada the beginning of next year. Friday we will have dinner with my two sisters and their families. Saturday we will have another dinner with my brother and sister-in-law along with their kids and their families.

Turkey for dinner tonight. Lasagna for dinner tomorrow and a standing rib roast on Saturday. I will have had my fill of meat for the next several weeks all in three days. I think I already have a stomach ache just thinking about it. But really I wouldn’t have it any other way…

Evelyn, Rachel and I wish you nothing but the best for this weekend. Hope you have enough to eat in a relaxed and family atmosphere. Be careful on Black Friday; don’t spend all of your shopping money in one day. There are always more ways to spend money than you can imagine. I always have to check my list twice because I am always forgetting someone.

Be safe and share the love with your family and friends.

Of all the National Holidays throughout the year, Veterans Day is one I hold dearest to my heart. It is the one day every year that everyone thinks about those people that have sacrificed in so many ways for each and every one of us.

It is no secret that I am proud to have served my country in the U.S. Navy. I spent 7 years, 10 months and 23 days as a sailor serving proudly. I spent a total of 1016 days stationed overseas. That does not include the 487 days out at sea, of those, we spent 103 & 89 consecutive days without stepping a foot on dry land during 2 tours in the Persian Gulf.

In 1987 we supported a battle group that included the USS Stark, which was hit be an Iraqi Exocet anti-ship missile killing 37 crewmen including 2 friends, Kelly Quick and Chris DeAngelis who went to electronics school with me just a couple years before.

During my next deployment our ship was just off the coast of Iran when the Ayatollah Khomeini died in 1989. We then rushed to position our battle group off the coast of China shortly after the Tiananmen Square Massacre. We were on our way back to the United States when we were sent back to the Persian Gulf because the Hezbollah Terrorists in Lebanon has shown pictures and a video of Col. William R. Higgins being hung and his body desecrated.

Those were just some of the horrors of the 1980s. Now we are in the midst of a two front war in Iraq and Afghanistan. Our brave Soldiers, Sailors, Marines and Airmen are putting their life on the line for us yet again. It has been a horrific 6 years, but quite frankly it has been over 30years that we have been fighting this war. Our Fathers, Mothers, Brothers, Sisters, Sons, Daughters, Nephews, Nieces, Cousins and Friends are putting their lives and lively hood on the line for us. We need to support and appreciate them all.

My favorite memory of serving my country was when my father was able to fly to Pearl Harbor Hawaii and ride our ship back to our home port in Bremerton. It was a “Tiger” Cruise, were family members were able to spend time with us while we returned from our 7 month deployment. We were 5 days into our 7 day trip when we split off from our battle group. We had just completed our last underway replenishment and were “Breaking Away” from the USS Ranger.

Over the loud speaker they plays Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the USA” ballad. I was standing next to my Father who had last been on a ship as a young Marine climbing down into a landing craft to take him to the Battle of Okinawa during World War II. I could see the memories flooding through his tear filled eyes. I could tell that he was remembering everything that he had gone through more than 40 years before.

Around us were thousands of Sailors who were lost in their own thoughts. There was not a dry eye to be seen anywhere. It was a powerful moment for me. Seeing the young and the old, Sailors and their “Tigers” filled with thoughts of the past, present and future.

So with those memories I would like to take the time to thank all Veterans and their families for their sacrifice that they made for us here at home. For our future and our children’s future.

Specifically I would like to thank those in my family who have served and are still serving:

John A. Galasso, US Marine Corps, Corporal, WWII & Korea (1925-2002), Father
Steve G. Galasso, US Army, Lieutenant, Vietnam (1948-1980), Brother
Thomas A. Galasso, US Marine Corps, Staff Sergeant, Brother
Charlene T. Galasso, US Navy, Petty Officer 3^rd Class, Sister-in-Law
Daniel D. Galasso, US Navy, Petty Officer 1^st Class, Gulf War, Brother
Laura J. Galasso, US Navy, Seaman, Sister
Brian R. Galasso, US Air Force, Airman 1^st Class, Nephew
Chris Chopp, US Air Force, Master Sergeant, Iraq, Afghanistan, Nephew

Dedicated To Multiplying Your Successes!

Paul

P.S. Most people don’t realize but the hardest job in the military is that of the spouse and dependants. They are the true unsung heroes. We who were deployed at least knew what was going on. We had our training to fall back on. We were not waiting for word. We were not worried for our loved ones, not knowing when or if they would return home. We were not forced to shoulder the burden of living day to day on our own without the emotional and constant support of our partner to make it through the day. To them, we owe everything.

Quote

~The story of America’s quest for freedom is inscribed on her history in the blood of her patriots. ~ Randy Vader

I saw this on the Seattle Times Website and thought it was a fitting thought on Veterans Day.