Yours is a nice story, and yes, that is a very emotional poem to anyone with an old Bill. My old Bill was a dogface soldier in the 44th Inf Div in WW2 who came back with a Purple Heart, 3 Battle Stars and the Combat Infantryman's Badge. As Div A-1 scout he claimed to be the first GI in Heidelberg. Was in the Natl Guard for awhile after WW2 and thanks to his 24 months of OJT, his machine gun squad always won the beer in the training competitions.

Yes, it's very emotional when they present the flag and do the 21-gun salute. Very solemn, and it really makes you appreciate what all the old Bills out there did for us. It's moments like that that really bring it home and make you very proud to have your life intersect with that of a true, bona fide hero.