Eisenhower Road.

My dad has a picture from my brother's year at NAPS (Naval Academy Prep School. Newport, RI for those who don't know) from the annual NAPS/MAPS (West Point's prep school) game.  The picture is of my brother, Brendan Looney, who were at NAPS, and Anthony Miller who attended MAPS. The three of them played football at DeMatha together and dad captured the 'together again' moment of Brendan and Tony in their jersey's while David was still in his whites, he wasn't playing football anymore.

It's amazing the milliseconds in time that pictures can capture. Who would have imagined so many years ago that my brother would be the only one to reach 30? Tony died of a heart attack on February 1, 2002. A heart attack and hadn't even reached his 21st birthday. http://theantmillproject.com/index.html

I usually spend Memorial day at Arlington Cemetery, this year I was out of town so I went the Sunday before. The normal crowds were there; with tourist season in full swing, there were plenty of tour groups on the grounds. But when you go to Arlington, you'll notice as the larger crowds head up the tourist route to see JFK's grave, the Tomb of the Unknowns and Arlington House, there are a few of us who break off from the crowds and head left down Eisenhower Rd where not many people walk. If you happen to pass someone, you give them a nod of your head, knowing where they came from; it's those who pass you in their cars that gives you the knot in your throat. After about 10 or so minutes I make a left onto York Road.

Section 60. I wish I had no one to visit here. But where I once had one person to visit, I now have three. I drop a stone whenever I go by.

60-8564: Christopher John-Lee West.  I met his sister on one of my cruises. We had lots to bond about; both of our brothers were in the military, CJ in the Army. In 2007/2008 both of them were in Iraq. CJ was killed by a IED 4 Feb 2008.

60-9179: Travis L. Manion. I didn't know him. He graduated from the Academy with my brother and he was Brendan's roommate and friend and that is enough. http://www.travismanion.com/

60-9180: Brendan John Looney. I don't think I've ever felt the physical impact of emotions as I did when I heard of Brendan's death. It literally hurt. His family and mine had wandered the DeMatha/NAPS/USNA path together and having him gone still seems wrong.

I hope because the President mentioned Travis and Brendan in his Memorial day speech hoards of people don't descend on Section 60 for a photo op. There are families everyday still grieving, they deserve the same respect and privacy due anyone at any cemetery.