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For the fourth year in a row, Finland topped the list of the World Happiness Report.

If this is surprising to you —  after all, Finland is known for its brutally cold winters and limited daylight — know that some of the people of Finland are just as amazed.

It's the cool temps like NW Iowa - folks get agitated below the mason dixon slowly roasting

I have a high income but not a ton of wealth...

I'd like to have the reverse in 20+ years...

...but the income taxes sure do make it a hell of a lot harder to build wealth.

We had this problem. then, the kids left. No more problem.

I went with my wife to the park to throw agains the tennis practice wall.  In the sun, it's HOT and MUGGY.  In the shade, it's quite pleasant with the light breeze.  This sun in the south is different.

I'm sure that's why we have these PM thunderstorms routinely this time of year.

We have yet to break 90°F this year in the ATL, which is unusual.  Very.

yes... i'm bragging.

short version of story:  I have an old Platoon Sgt from back when Christ was a corporal, and he makes flags- I make him inserts to dress his flag up- 3d carvings of EGA's or badges, seals from the services, ect...

i made something the other day and sent him a picture.. should be end of story.  its SO not...

he had an old compadre call him to order a flag- he told the guy to order the insert from me, and i would send it to him, and he would incorporate it into his flag... that should be the end of the story, too.. it's not.

this guy makes the purchase and then returns to the old platoon sgt and makes a comment about some other things i made... and the platoon sgt sends him a picture of the thing i sent him a picture of at the beginning of this story. 

the guy really likes it and asks for my contact info which the platoon sgt okays through me via text before giving it to the guy.  he tells me "this is a retired general and history professor and he runs an organization you'll like"...

the guy calls me.

he runs a tour of battlefields through some sort of partnership of the Marine Corps Historical Society.  These guys, as a for instance, travel veterans back to the grounds they fought.. WWII veterans, Korean Veterans, Vietnam Vets... they do a tour of the south pacific in the same order as the island hopping campaign of the war was... they fly three 737's into Iwo Jima- the only ones allowed to do so on that rock, and they walk the hallowed ground they fought on near 80 years ago. 

these guys are dropping like flies as time consumes that generation- the greatest generation this country every delivered and likely ever will. 

this coming November there is a banquet for those remaining from the Frozen Chosen.  There will be one next year too.  They still have a sliver of time.  I'm making something for them too.  but the WWII guys? this February will be the last one.  Both are held in DC.. they are flown with a companion for free by American Airlines to DC and back, are put up in a first class hotel for free, eat at fine restaurants for free, and of course attend the banquet and tour the memorials. 

this group collects things to raffle or auction to pay for these things, and they make gifts for the group they have drawings for.  they're treated like royalty, and they should be.

so... he saw the pic of the thing i made and said "that is really neat, but I need you to make a flag insert".. I offered to make a version of the below image appropriate to the era (not an m-14/m21, but an M1 Garand).  It will be in a shadow box of far better wood selections than that used in the image below.. it'll be enclosed with an acrylic front.. it'll have a plaque with inscription, and a 48 star flag that was flown over Iwo Jima folded inside. 

it gets better...

i mention it to a friend of mine as I'm beside myself with the honor that's been dropped right in my lap, and he makes a suggestion that stops me dead in my tracks.. he asks "how many of these guys remain?" and I answer "I don't know, but not that many as I understand".... he says "I'll provide the material- make one for every single one of them".  Boom.  Done.  I run it past the guy at the organization, and... he is ridiculously happy with the idea. 

so.. I get to make a shadow box with a rifle appropriate to the period carved into a piece of wood, instead of a 48 star flag in each, the rifle will be set atop a waving 48 star flag also carved into the wood.. there will be a plaque with names and dates, units and a simple thanks.  it will read "presented by shop210craftworks" ('my' guild of which drewswoodcraft is a part of) and the Marine Corps Historical Society" and filled 20~25% with sand from Iwo Jima... it'll be the 'parting shot' for these men at the last banquet they'll attend organized by the USMC Historical Society.... I can't begin to explain how honored I am. 





again, that one^ is a m14 'marksmanized' (slightly different than the army's m21) and is representative of the weapon i was issued as a designated marksman in FAST company.. this one isn't even finished yet, but it's getting close.  the one they'll receive is a M1 Garand..

i'm super stoked. 

great story Drew

i can't wait to tell the WHOLE story... i get to attend the banquet in DC in feb... I'll be there, and get to see them receive the gift.. and you can bet i'll take pics. 

That is awesome, Drew. And it's awesome that they're still around to talk about it.

Grandpa GR went ashore on Omaha Beach later in the afternoon and sent arty shells at the Nazis for the next year. Two Bronze Stars. Came back deaf as a post in one ear.  Never told a soul about any of it. The only reason we found out was that we looked at his DD-214 after he died. He's been gone 20 years this week. I still miss him.

i can't wait to tell the WHOLE story... i get to attend the banquet in DC in feb... I'll be there, and get to see them receive the gift.. and you can bet i'll take pics.

Good story and REALLY good work.