Thanks for posting this. I had the chance to visit Arlington several years ago and made it a point to leave a penny.
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Thanks for posting this. I had the chance to visit Arlington several years ago and made it a point to leave a penny.
What's the "coin code" for us who didn't get the chance to serve? The sand in my college mentor's hourglass is starting to run low, and while I'd like to honor the tradition about "throw a nickel on the grass save a fighter pilot's ass" I'm not sure the etiquette for us not part of the "band of brothers."
Thank you, I didn't know any of that.
"Leaving a penny at the grave means simply that you visited. A nickel indicates that you and the deceased trained at boot camp together, while a dime means you served with him or her in some capacity. By leaving a quarter at the grave, you are telling the family that you were with the Soldier when he or she was killed."
I used to look at pennies and wonder what kind of "cheap ass" did that and think, if I came prepared I'd have brought a silver dollar from the year the deceased was lost. Now I understand it would be improper in most cases, wish I knew this stuff 20 years ago. Excellent tradition to show families that their loved ones are not forgotten.
I didn't leave anything. I just told him I missed him and thanked for being there when I needed a friend.
I'm still mind blown by how the time has flown by...doesn't seem that long ago he was posting & taking control of a thread that needed to get back on the rails.
Man, It's been a long time.
Thanks very much, Sam. As always, you are a friend that never forgets.