I spent Thursday and Friday in Washington, D.C., attending ceremonies for the retirement of a close friend from his Pentagon position of overseeing the Reserve forces. I had dinner aboard the DSS Barry, a decommisioned destroyer docked at the Wash. Navy Yard. I asat with some generals, some of whom were at my house on the 4th of July as guests of my friend. These are guys in their 50s and 60s, who could decapitate you in 4 seconds, but are the nicest people you'd want to meet. We followed with drinks at the hotel Thursday night.
The ceremony in the Pentagon at the Hall of Heroes was impressive. I met the Secretary of Defense, and Senator Webb, who was the first person to hold the position that my friend wasleaving. The ceremony included a brass quintet and a recitation from an Executive Order, prepared by the President. I got a VIP tour of the Pentagon. My jaw dropped many times as I was amazed by the technology and pace of the office.
