Just because of who they are

I had the usual line up coming as one would expect by "CDR Salamander" in mid-week, but ... no; that will have to wait, I'm just not in the mood.

When the news of the shooting at the Navy Yard came out yesterday, I thought about some good people I know who work there. 

Good people like our friend CAPT Jerry Hendrix & CAPT Mark Vandroff. The various folks at NAVSEA who I have friendly exchanges with, some for years, who I don't know in 3D, but after the years feel like I do. Some my spies, but most just great public servants in and out of uniform; some AD, some retired, some civilian employees. 

What we share is one thing; a big United Stats Navy somewhere on a card, an ID, a resume, or just soaked in as ones tribe. We all share a love for our Navy and, in our own ways, each try to make it better.

The Washington Navy Yard was attacked on Monday for one reason; it was Navy. The building 197 was attacked because it was Navy. Those people were shot because they represented the Navy.

They each died because they served the Navy. The method does not matter. The location does not matter. In that light, at least we can remember their names. Many people on the front porch know some of these names.

For now we know seven.

Michael Arnold, 59
Sylvia Frasier, 53
Kathy Gaarde, 62
John Roger Johnson, 73
Frank Kohler, 50
Kenneth Bernard Proctor, 46
Vishnu Pandit, 61

Decades of service.

I'm out of pocket for much of the day, but I'll try to add others in as they come available. I think that is enough for now.