We recently lost a fellow official (retired), who was also a Marine veteran, awarded the Bronze Star for his gallantry in the Vietnam War. He once related to me the events that led to that award. Very intense. Not at all glamorous. But, he did what he had to do to save his fellow Marines, and he did.
The service brought me to tears. Two active duty Marines ceremoniously unfurled our national flag and held it aloft while taps was played. Then they ceremoniously folded the flag back into the triangle, and one of them presented the flag to his widow, on behalf of the President (and all true Americans), and with the slow, dignified salute due such a real and true American hero.
A really good, decent family man. A friend.
Thank you, to each and every veteran, past, present and future.