The Eclectic Veteran

[Riverkilt]

Wanted to honor my father's service in our little town's Veteran's Day parade today. Got a replica Royal Air Force battlejacket from What Price Glory and found sergeant's stripes and USA flashes on line. My dad was a Montana boy who volunteered for the RAF and flew Hurricanes and Spitfires as an RAF Flying Sergeant until the Army Air Corps arrived in England in September 1942. He was on many combat missions, including the Dieppe Raid.

So wore that battlejacket and his old Army Air Corps hat.

Not wanting to wear pants went with my 16 oz Strome Macdonald of Kingsburgh from Kathy's Kilts. Sort of our home boy gang colors and a key reason he went to England to fight (US forces wouldn't have him since he was already discharged from the Navy back in 1937 for some mysterious adventure).

Wore a USMC t-shirt under the jacket and the USMC Ka Bar skien dubh for my service.

Added a poppy for the local VFW guys.

And, I tightened up the sporran strap before I went out in public.

Anyway, if you dare there's a pic on page 7 of my gallery.

Marched in the parade, was given the USAF flag to carry...was okay, this was about my father's service. Yes, I know, its more Memorial Day stuff but they don't have a Memorial Day parade in our town, just Memorial Day beer sales for the tourists headed up lake.

Sorry about the deer in the headlights look of the self-portrait. My lady had to work today so took the pic myself....kinda like the Off to Work pics on the previous page...checking out my expressions when the flash goes off is almost as much fun as checking the latest fashion insult I've devised.

Ron