My Dad

My Dad has always been a very patriotic American. He has the tallest flag pole in my hometown. He was in both Korea and Vietnam. He is a retired military man. I have always wanted to get a photo of my Dad showing his patriotism. I love him. Now for the story that goes with this photo:

One day last week a friend commented on facebook that the float for the parade from my hometown was finished. It had a hometown hero theme. There was going to be 4 vets on the float. I did not think anything of it at that time. Two days during the week, H went to help Grandpa with some yard work. Sunday we were sitting around the dinner table talking about what we wanted to do on the 4Th. I really wanted to go to the parade in a town just south of us. But I could not justify going 45 minutes away to see the float from my little town. I commented to my family, there is a float from (my hometown) It has a hero theme to it and they have 4 vets on it. It is kind of funny they did not ask Grandpa to be on it. With that H pipped up and said maybe that is why Grandpa went to the store and bought some military clothing. I got on the phone and called Dad. I told him "H says you bought some military clothes yesterday." he replied with a simple ya. "Oh what did you get them for?" He said "I guess I am in the parade tomorrow." "What! And you were not going to tell me?" So we made our plans to the parade 45 minutes away.

We showed up at the parade about 1 hour and 15 minutes before it started. I tried to call Dad to find out what side of the float he was on but he did not answer his cell phone. So we had no idea till he got to us that we were sitting on the wrong side of the road. L, H, and I ran in front of another float and got to the other side of the road. I stood there and took about 5 photos of the float as it came towards us. Most of them have evidence that he was eating a doughnut, even though he has sugar diabetes! I took the camera down and screamed "WAHOO" and Dad turned and saw us. He then stood up and saluted us. I saluted back and The whole crowd around us started cheering for him. My heart started swelling. and I teared up. I am so proud of him and it was really cool to hear the crowd cheer for "My Dad"! Then after he got past I looked at my hand and thought great! I did not get a photo of him! So L ran down the road and caught up with him and told him I wanted a redo. I got my camera ready, he stood and I got the photo. The crowd once again, cheered but this time I was able to keep my composure! I got the photo even if it was staged. Like I said, I love my Dad!

There is a P.S to this post. I talked to Dad yesterday and he said anytime someone stood out of respect of the flag that was on the float, he would stand and salute them. If anyone cheered for the vets on the float he would stand and salute them. It was good for him to see the respect servicemen are getting. When he came home from vietnam there was no respect. I hope you were one of the lucky ones that got a salute from my Father.