I was at that gathering in which Lt. Col. Long spoke. After her speech a number of us went up to shake her hand. I was second in line with a prepared comment but the person in front of me took so long that I totally forgot what I was going to say. Suddenly I was confronted with her outstretched hand and has I reached forward to shake her hand this is what I spontaneously said: "My dad bragged about shaking the hand of Buffalo Bill and I bragged about shaking the hand of Johnny Cash and Johnny Carson but now I get to shake the hand of a real hero."
She stepped forward and gave me a hug and said, "How sweet..." I'll never forget that moment.
(By the way, my comment was authentic.)
