As a boy, I became aware of this special day in setting off fire crackers. Attending the annual family lobster feed event was Uncle Bert Simpson, a company commander of a USMC

(Marine) unit who fought in the battle of Guadalcanal and Bougainville. I was

in attendance at the Brooklyn Naval Base, NY, where he was awarded a Silver

Star. I was eight years old. He

instilled in me the very distinct moral courage and values of…