A Veteran myself and retiree, Senior Chief Petty Officer/E8, USNR-Ret. Serving 1985 to 2006. Entered the Naval Reserve under the Exceptionally Honorable Ronald Reagan, 40th President of the United States of America. I come from a long line of US Army, US Navy, US Air Force, US Marine Corps, and even CSA Veterans (Virginia 40th Volunteer Infantry Regiment). Freedom isn't free and high prices have been paid by millions of our Veterans, and also, their families. Lest we forget....

My personal passion is performing music as both a singer and instrumentalist since an early age. Singing as early as 9, and playing guitar by 10.5. Learned drums at 13, electric bass at 15, and became a hack keyboardist by age 17, ha. I have performed all these specialities in bands, starting gigs at the age 14, and I am still gigging today.

Educationally, I have a MBA, a BS in Management/Computer Information Systems, and an Associate Degree in General Studies.

Nonetheless, death is the leveler of all mankind, great and small. I find the gravesites particularly poignant, and a reminder to walk humbly before God, and remember those who made us the people we are today, with the utmost love and respect for them and their memories.

Upon retirement, I have become more active in researching the history of my Dawson, Haydon/Hayden, O'Donnell, Crossingham, Witkowsky, Lopez and other associated clans. I do my best to create memorials, or improve existing ones. I see a lot of miscellaneous items along the way that I help out with, even if I am not directly related to the person, researching, adding and/or fixing anything I can augment or correct. For example, one item in particular that is easy to fix, is many folks' bios indicate military service, so I recommend an edit to Veteran status by adding the little V to the right of their names (an easy slider switch under Edit), an important aspect in my mind. Occasionally, I research and solve some fairly heavy duty mysteries, and/or link up people who are relatives here, but not yet associated.

I enjoy all these victories to honor these folks, whether large or small, with the intent of blessing their survivors, relatives and descendants. I feel a lot of satisfaction, joy, and closure when I populate or link up a thread bare or otherwise incomplete memorial with that person's bio, history, obit, pix, and/or link them to their other family members. I think folks having a better understanding of their ancestors and relatives is important, no doubt, and for all beholders to realize that person was someone who had a life of consequence, was somebody important in their own right, meant a lot to others, etc. It is the least we can do. May the Good Lord Jesus help me in all of these endeavors.