Memorial Day 2015-A Great Race

A couple of thoughts regarding Memorial Day and The Indianapolis 500.

Juan Pablo Montoya is a most deserving champion, earning his second victory and Roger Penske's sixteenth.  After Simona deSilvestro clipped his car under caution, it looked bleak for Montoya, who made the first restart from 30th place.  It shouldn't have even been a restart- 32 drivers drove intelligently, but Takuma Sato had to drive like...Takuma Sato.  Three wide in the first turn of the first lap...really?  Sage Karam, who is the next big star of IndyCar, paid the price.

Montoya threaded his way through the field, landing in the top 5 by the next pit stop.  He stayed somewhere close the rest of the day.  He willed his way in, the most telling moment in the last ten laps, not when he passed Will Power, but held off Charlie Kimball, who had the momentum, the speed, even the track position, but not the guts to press the accelerator the rest of the way to the floor. Had Montoya fallen to fourth, he might have gotten back to second place, but not won.

IndyCar put on great shows.  NASCAR has a fan base, but IndyCar has the technology, great personalities, and the absolute best shows. Make sure you don't show the races somewhere a little more accessible than NBC Sports Network: people will actually enjoy it.

-Memorial Day is the day we remember those who gave their lives in service of our country.  Most people agree that combat is where lives are given.  What about the people who die years, even decades later?

I had a brother who served in Vietnam, even earned the Bronze Star and Silver Star in combat.  While there, he was exposed to Agent Orange, even telling stories of how it was dumped on him in the jungle.

He came home and started a family.  With his wife, they raised two daughters, both college graduates.  He was a solid citizen, doing what had to be done for his family.

Then the nose bleeds started.  Not just nose bleeds, what seemed to be fountains.

The diagnosis was an Esthesioneuroblastoma.  A cancer not directly linked to Agent Orange, but the diagnosis is within the differential.  He survived simultaneous chemo and radiation at Level IV.  Perspective on this: there is no Level V.  He used the instincts that were developed in the jungles of Vietnam.  I must survive.  I am coming out the other side, no matter what.

Eventually, the cancer won.

At his memorial service, a DVD of photos included pictures from Vietnam.  Someone asked my sister in law if any of the servicemen in the pictures were there.  My brother was the only one to make it home.

I was eight years old when he came home.  I am acutely aware of how fortunate I was to have him come home.  I got to grow up knowing he my brother, not just a picture of someone I never met and remembered.  A large number of people my age never got that opportunity.

Say what you want, he gave his life for the United States of America.  He is part of what Memorial Day is all about.

If you have a veteran who walked the same path, Thank you.