seticat

I really thought I'd posted this a couple of days ago, but I looked back over my entires and see that I hadn't. So this is late, but still applicable.

On Veteran's Day several companies, restaurants, etc. offer specials for military members both active and retired. You can find the entire list here:Veteran's Day Freebies.

Please call ahead and make sure the business in your area is taking part in this special offer. In my immediate area, based on last year, Applebee's [free meal today during business hours] and Golden Corral [Monday, 11/55 5-9pm] are offering free meals to military members and veterans. Applebee's website says the following:

Simply show some proof of military service:
* U.S. Uniform Services Identification Card
* U.S. Uniform Services Retired Identification Card
* Current Leave and Earnings Statement (LES)
* Photograph in uniform
* Wearing uniform
* Veterans Organization Card (i.e. American Legion and VFW)
* DD214

Now I'm not sure if non-military members who are members of the various Veterans Auxiliary organizations such as the DAV Auxiliary are included. You folks will have to call and check. But it would be the safest if you figure that only the vet them self dines free.

With honor and regards to all on this 92nd celebration honoring the ending of 'The War to End All Wars'.

Just got an email from a friend back in Tacoma, WA.

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A little breaking news from back here: Some asshole apparently walked into a coffee shop over at the backside of McChord* this morning and killed four Lakewood PD officers. Here's the Trib's story: "Four police officers shot dead at coffee shop near Parkland"

This less than a month after the murder of a Seattle PD officer on Halloween.

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(* McChord Air Force Base - just south of Tacoma, WA]

The article makes no bones that this was an execution killing. None of the employees or other customers were injured in any way. And as he mentions, back last month, someone drove by a Seattle PD car, stopped and purposely aimed at the two officers in the car, killing one officer and wounding the ride-along trainee. Two some weeks before that, there was a deliberate arson of a police car in Seattle.

Yes, sometimes the LEOs do something stupid, exceed their authority, whatever. Everyone is human and does stupid things. Folks like LEOs, EMS, Fire, etc *are* held to a higher standard because of their interaction with people when their are having one worst day of their lives, are particularly vulnerable or just being total ass-hats and all you want to do is drop to their level and have at it. But you have to keep that professional layer between you and your emotions and the person/persons you are dealing with.

A part of me wishes I could say that the sort of behavior that happened today should be considered above the law. But it isn't. And that will be the hardest challenge to all of those in Lakewood PD, the Pierce County Sheriffs Dept and Tacoma PD. To keep their professional behavior intact, clean and above board. Not because the perp deserves it, but the community and society as a whole does.

My heart goes out to the families and friends of the four officers killed today, the officers involved in the shooting last months and all members of the Law Enforcement community no matter where they are.