A solemn reminder. Memorial Day used to be about a three-day weekend. Cookouts. The unofficial start of summer. Beaches. Vacation. Then my son got an appointment to the Naval Academy. Now it's different. There is no "Happy Memorial Day." There is no "thank you for your service" to those in uniform. I remind others (and … Continue reading Memorial Day: Not about the cookout or the beach

Sometimes I find that I get so wrapped up in my day-to-day life that I lose sight of how many experiences I've been blessed with that many people will never exprience. I've hiked into the Grand Canyon, traveled to more than 40 states and a dozen countries, interviewed countless celebrities and professional athletes, attended amazing … Continue reading Had a chance to talk about Mid Sib’s backstory

The fifth Herndon Playlist is live and I'm excited that it will precede an actual climb. No disrespect to the Supe and the Dant - they did the best they could last year - but knowing that the Plebes will actually climb the monument this year is proof that we are definitely closer to normal. … Continue reading The Class of 2024 Herndon Playlist is LIVE

As a kid, I loved May because it's my birthday month. As a teen, it signaled the beginning of the serious part of the baseball and softball schedules, which as an umpire, meant increased income. In college, May marked the welcome end of a semester. As a Naval Academy parent, I learned a whole new … Continue reading May on The Yard: Here come the winds of change

The parents of some members of the USNA Class of 2025 are making themselves known on some of the Academy-related Facebook pages. Combined with the announcement that there will be a modified, in-person commissioning for the Class of 2021, we have clear signs we are emerging from the cloud of the COVID-19 pandemic and the … Continue reading Unsolicited advice for the USNA Class of 2025