110 years ago, July 25, 1915, my father, Clyde Daniel Cooksey was born to a Tuckers Crossroads, TN, farmer named John James Cooksey and his wife Notie Cooksey. We called him Pop.

He grew up during the Great Depression and talked of taking onion sandwiches to school for lunch. It was a hard life. Toward the end of the Depression he married my mom, Dorothy Virginia Erwin on May 12, 1939.

During World War II, he worked at a dairy so his job was considered essential. He and mom also brought my sister, Jane, into this world on January 6, 1942, almost one month after the Pearl Harbor attack. I came into this world on August 16, 1945, exactly one month after the first detonation of the atomic bomb on July 16, 1945 at the Trinity site in New Mexico.

So you could say my sister started the war and I ended it. (Just kidding, Sis.)

I wanted to remember my father on this day to remember what I learned from him – the importance of hard work. My father was not an emotional man. I never heard him tell my mother he loved her. I don’t remember him saying he loved Jane or me.

But, I know he loved us and his hard work was his way of showing that love. I believe he wanted to be sure we didn’t go through what he experienced during the depression.

I know Fathers and Mothers Days are not great for everyone, but I was blessed. I had a father and mother who loved Jane and me.

I hope and pray I am a good father to our two sons, our two lovely daughters-in-law, and our grandchildren. If I am in any way, it’s by God’s grace.

The one thing I do know on this Fathers Day is my father in heaven loves me even though I don’t deserve it.

PS: The picture shows my mom and dad holding our two cats, Sylvester and Silas. They kept them for us while I was in graduate school. My dad reluctantly agreed as he felt cats were only good for catching things, not living indoors.

He changed his mind when they started catching moles and bringing them to his door. They were earning their keep and he was satisfied.

I use an image like this one every year on Flag Day. It reminds me of our flag flying at the top of a mast on my ship, USS WILLIAM H. STANDLEY (DLG-32).

Whether it was flying when we were in the safety of the Caribbean, or patrolling off North Vietnam or North Korea, it always reminded me of home, Betty, and our boys, each of whom were born while I was on a Vietnam deployment.

Our flag is important to me and it is flying in front of our home here in New Mexico.

Our flag also represents the innumerable number of men and women who have served in the Army, Navy and Marines for 250 years, which we celebrate this year – the Army today in June, the Navy next October, and the Marines in November.

1775 was a critical year for our Republic.

This is not meant to be political, but a fun example of AI.

Our friends from Ohio, Bob and Molly, visited us this past week. On Saturday, we drove to Cerrilos, New Mexico. It’s an old mining town and it’s where the movie ‘Young Guns’ was filmed.

We visited the Casa Grande Trading Post that was built 55 years ago by the current owners, Todd and Patricia. Besides a lot of various relics from the mining days and various gem stones, they own their own turquoise mine and have jewelry made with their turquoise.

We had lunch at the Black Bird Saloon. It opened about nine years ago in an old hotel, the Wortley House, built in the mid-1800s. The current saloon was the original hotel bar. The menu is very eclectic, including unique burgers, elk, and trout dishes. What we had to eat was delicious.

Yesterday, Monday, was their last day before heading home today. We went to Old Town Albuquerque to do a little sight-seeing and shopping.

It was a great visit.