COMMUNISTS TAKING CONTROL OF THE DEM PARTY

As always, the contents of this blog constitute a compendium of multiple media reports supplemented by my personal opinion, where indicated.

I don’t know whether to be shocked, ashamed, horrified, angry or scared sh**less by the results of the 2026 Dem primaries, especially in NY. Upon reflection, I am all of the above and so should you be. As recently as a few years ago, this result would have been unthinkable. In my opinion the results were not a big surprise; as I have opined in previous blogs the foreshadowing signs have been obvious for some time if one cared to look. What do these results portend for NYC, NYS, the Dem Party, and the country as a whole? Read on for my opinion.

Below please find the most significant takeaways from these elections:

  1. Comrade Zoh was the big winner. He backed a slate of far-far-left candidates. By the way, these people are NOT, progressives, nor liberals, nor even run of the mill socialists as they like to portray themselves. Many of the policies they espouse such as state-owned grocery stores, universal childcare, fare-free public transit, wealth redistribution, and increased taxes on wealthy earners and corporations to fund city services, among others, foster government control over people’s lives and are right out of the old USSR playbook. They are COMMUNISTS who hate America. Wikipedia defines communism as “an economic theory that says society should take from citizens according to each one’s ability and distribute to each according to need.” Comports with Zoh’s policies quite nicely. These people not only want to change America; they want to tear it down and resurrect it as a communist country a la Cuba, Venezuela, and various others. More on this later.
  2. Another big winner was Bernie Sanders. For years he was the lone advocate of socialist policies. Mainstream Dems relegated him to the fringes. He was characterized as the crazy uncle whom you hid in the basement when company came over. He has mentored and supported many of these extremists. Now, with their success he has been vindicated.
  3. Zoh endorsed eight candidates for nomination for local and statewide offices. Seven won, many decisively. Remember in deep-blue NYS winning the Dem Party nomination is tantamount to winning the election. Most of you are not familiar with them, but trust me, you will be, and you won’t like it. They and others like them will exert a strong influence on local, statewide and eventually even national politics.
  4. Three of them, Claire Valdez, Avila Chevalier and Brad Lauer, defeated more mainstream Dem incumbents who were endorsed by House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and much of the Democrat establishment. Valdez and Chevalier are affiliated with the ultraleft, ultraradical, anti-American Democratic Socialists of America. Be advised, as I said, the moniker “Socialist” is a misnomer. In addition, each of them has accused Israel of genocide and has advocated terminating American support for it. These elections make it clear that Zoh controls the Dem Party in NY.
  5. Even Governor Kathy Hochul, who is running for re-election this fall, is afraid of Zoh and his allies. Even though she has acquiesced to many of his policies she is still vulnerable. In their eyes, regardless of how far “left” she leans it is not far enough. The one demand she has resisted so far is to raise taxes, but don’t be surprised if she does that after the election.
  6. They and others like them have openly and repeatedly espoused two primary goals: (1) to “end America,” and (2) to annihilate Israel and Jews in general. Even if you are not Jewish and not a supporter of Israel this should appall you. History tells us that if they were to succeed, they would not stop there. In accordance with the history of extreme radicals, next they would target Christians and all other “non-believers.”
  7. Chevalier, a convert to Islam has boasted of having “wiped my hand on the American flag.” Furthermore, she has advocated for the abolishment of police, prisons, and borders. She has argued that illegal aliens shouldn’t be deported under any circumstances even if they have committed violent crimes. Can you imagine? If those policies were ever adopted, we would no longer have a country. She attended Columbia University where she spent much of her time organizing against the political establishment. She helped found a group called Columbia University Apartheid Divest (CUAD), which later caused a firestorm when it posted “Death to America” in Farsi on X. The university, which leans strongly left, nevertheless has since disavowed the organization.
  8. In 2024, the group faced widespread condemnation when it declared that it was “fighting for the total eradication of Western civilization.” Is this the voice of a socialist? Is this the voice of someone you would want to represent you in Congress? Or is it the voice of someone who is wildly unhinged and should not be allowed anywhere the levers of power?
  9. Lander, a Jew, has groveled before Zoh and his allies and toed the party line by criticizing Israel. He is a prime example of a politician who will say and do most anything to get elected.
  10. Valdez is an assemblywoman who “has fought to tax the rich, protect tenants, empower working people,” and “free Palestine.” Furthermore, she has characterized Israel’s military action in Gaza as “genocide.”
  11. Currently, the movement is concentrated primarily in the NY area. However, there are candidates scattered around the country, such as Graham Plattner, the antisemitic candidate for Senate in Maine who sports a hidden Nazi tattoo that he loves to show off. Does anyone else see the irony? The Dems have been calling Trump a Nazi for years, which he most assuredly is not, and here they go nominating a real live Nazi for the Senate.
  12. For now, and in the immediate future I can’t see this movement taking hold in “red” states, but “blue” cities and states, particularly those with longtime one-party rule, are vulnerable.
  13. In my opinion, the genesis of this movement can be traced back to the presidency of Barack Obama. Obama was an obscure but charismatic community organizer who was elected twice. He promised “hope and change.” With both black and white ancestry, he was uniquely positioned to do so. He delivered neither. Instead, of being a “great unifier” he was a great divider. His policies and attitudes fostered division among the people, primarily white vs. black. In addition, I believe he was a “closet antisemite.” Many of his policies favored Muslims over Israel and the Jews. In eight years, his only significant achievements were killing Osama bin Laden and passing the Affordable Care Act, which has proven to be a “mixed bag” of success. His tenure was followed by eight years of Joe Biden, which were a complete disaster on many levels.
  14. In recent years, the Dem Party has been characterized by the weak, ineffective leadership of Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries, and the disappearance of the moderate Dems who are either gone, have gone radical, or are cowering in fear of being primaried. They should have used their status within the Dem Party to nip this movement in the bud years ago. Now, it may be too late. Even though the radicals constitute a small minority they are vocal, aggressive, savvy and well-funded. They have moved the Dem Party so far to the left that it is out of the political mainstream. I predict that they will either take control of the party or rip it apart.
  15. There is empirical evidence of the ramifications of the far, far-left loons attaining power and influence. One only has to study the fate Great Britain. Over the last few decades these radicals have infiltrated British politics, economics and culture and in certain locales have seized control, all to the detriment of the country.

Conclusion

Those who maintain that “it can’t happen here” are sadly mistaken. Even though communism/socialism has failed wherever it has been tried, the lure of “free stuff” is very powerful. Advocates don’t realize that there is no such thing. Somewhere, somehow, someone has to pay for it. In the words of Margaret Thatcher, “eventually you run out of other people’s money.”

The disaffected, lazy and incompetent view the wealth that successful people possess and convince themselves that they didn’t earn it, didn’t build it, and don’t deserve it. In their view, they acquired it by greed, favoritism, or nefarious activities. They advocate that the government redistribute it to the masses.

History tells us it only takes a small, well-organized, aggressive minority to take over a country. Consider, at the advent of the Russian Revolution in January 1917 there were only 24,000 members of the Bolshevik Party. 24,000 out of a population estimated at 160 million! Also, they were competing with other factions for control of the country, but eventually they grew stronger and seized power.

Another example closer to home would be Cuba. In 1959, the established communist population in Cuba was estimated to be between 10,000 and 20,000. The total population was around seven million.

In both countries the people were disaffected, the conditions were ripe for a change, and strong, charismatic leaders emerged to take advantage. So, don’t tell me it can’t happen here. It won’t be next year and maybe not even in the next few years, but the seeds are there. Middle aged and young people who believe in America will have to deal with it. Be vigilant.

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MEDICARE FRAUD INVESTIGATION

As always, the contents of this blog constitute a compendium of multiple media reports supplemented by my personal opinion, where indicated.

As most of you know, the Department of Justice in conjunction with various other federal agencies has been investigating allegations of massive, pervasive, Medicare fraud throughout the US. This problem first came to light some months ago with the disclosure of alleged fraud in Minnesota. Federal and state authorities have been conducting massive, ongoing investigations into Medicare and Medicaid fraud in that state. The Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office have executed what the media has described as a series of “historic joint takedowns” of dozens of individuals and medical providers allegedly participating in extensive schemes involving false claims totaling hundreds of millions of dollars. It has been further alleged that politicians such as Governor Tim Walz, Attorney General Keith Ellison, Congresswoman Ilhan Omar and others were cognizant of these schemes but chose to turn a “blind eye” for political reasons. Most of the media has underreported this matter, but now it has burst wide open.

It has long been suspected that this fraud was not limited to MN. Accordingly, the DOJ has been conducting its own countrywide investigation. Last Tuesday the DOJ announced what it termed the “2026 National Health Care Fraud Takedown.” This historic nationwide enforcement action charged 455 defendants, including 90 medical professionals, across 45 states for allegedly submitting $6.5 billion in false Medicare and Medicaid claims. Officials said cases were filed in 56 federal districts and territories, with all 50-state Medicaid Fraud Control Units participating. The blatant and brazen degree of audacity and greed will make your blood boil especially considering that many of the victims are the weakest and most defenseless among us – the sick, the elderly and children. Acting AG Todd Blanche described it as “the greatest combined federal and state effort combatting healthcare fraud in history.”

The MN scheme was particularly egregious since it funneled money to Somali nationals, many of whom were in the US illegally to boot, who, in turn, funneled the funds to Somali terrorist organizations located in Somalia.

These schemes come in many forms, but the most common one is medical identity theft combined with fraudulent billing. Typically, fraudsters steal Medicare numbers, which enables them to bill the government illegally for expensive medical treatments, tests, or equipment that were never needed, requested, or provided.

A few of the many examples:

  1. Los Angeles is a hotbed of abuse. HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. characterized LA as a “hive of hospice fraud” denoting, tongue in cheek, that an inordinate number of hospice patients “never die.” The Anti-Fraud Task Force headed up by VP JD Vance suspended payments to approximately 800 hospices and home health agencies in the city. Additionally, federal prosecutors have commenced criminal charges against ten doctors who were illegally prescribing controlled substances.
  2. Businessman Ibrahim Khaldoon Hilmi is accused of running a medical supply business that submitted $3.7 billion in false claims for equipment that patients never received.
  3. Nurse practitioner Marizel Yukee won the dubious prize for the highest level of fraud. According to the indictment, she is accused of billing $906 million for medically unnecessary treatments. She owned mobile clinics in four states from which she targeted elderly Medicare patients many of whom were terminally ill and under hospice care. Moreover, she allegedly billed for medically unnecessary amniotic wound treatments that were applied to vulnerable patients through an illegal kickback and bribery scheme. Authorities allege the treatments were applied to infected wounds, wounds that had already healed and wounds that were not responding to treatment. Prosecutors also allege that she falsified patient records to make it appear that these procedures complied with Medicare requirements. Authorities seized much of her property that she had acquired through these schemes, including a $594,000 Ferrari and an $865,000 necklace.
  4. Last year the federal authorities recovered nearly $220 million from the State of Texas related to criminal and civil Medicaid fraud judgments.
  5. CA consistently ranks among the top states for total fraud dollars and volume of federal investigations. As a result, federal authorities have taken the unusual step of deferring portions of its state Medicaid reimbursements.
  6. In Illinois Dr. Daniel Robinson billed Medicare for $67 million for “counseling and therapy services.” According to prosecutors obviously, this was a fraudulently inflated amount since his company was not large enough to generate that size of a bill even if all the employees worked 24 hours a day.
  7. Historically, Florida has had a reputation for massive health care fraud schemes involving telemedicine, genetic testing, and durable medical equipment. In a particularly egregious case, a high school basketball player died during practice after his doctor had approved his cardiovascular test results as being normal even though the student had pre-existing cardiac issues and despite the fact that the doctor had only given the test results a “cursory glance.”

CONCLUSION

I believe that this story had been underreported by the mainstream media until yesterday. In my opinion, this was partly due to the attention being paid to the more dominant issues such as the war with Iran, the economy, and the upcoming midterm elections. Moreover, the initial story involved MN, which is a state controlled by Dems, and the perpetrators were largely Somali illegal immigrants. I am glad the DOJ made such a huge splash to bring this to the attention of the general public.

As I discussed above, this widespread fraud is unconscionable on its face. I’m glad that the DOJ is prosecuting the perpetrators. However, I think it should also prosecute the politicians who were responsible for supervising these people. Either they didn’t know about the schemes, which would constitute an abject failure of their duty to supervise, or they did know and aided, abetted and covered it up, which is just as bad.

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SUMMER SOLSTICE

What is the summer solstice?  What does it mean?  When does it occur?  Good questions.  Read on for the answers.

As many of you know, the ss is the date with the longest period of daylight, and when the sun’s shadow is its shortest. Furthermore, in most of the US it is the date on which the sun appears to be at its highest point in the sky. In extreme northern locales the sun will be “out” the entire day.  In the NY area, where I live, we typically get about 15 hours of daylight.

The word “solstice” is derived from the Latin sol, meaning “sun” and sistere, meaning “to stand still.” As the seasons progress from winter to summer in the northern hemisphere, the sun appears to move north in the sky. On the date of the ss it has progressed as far north as it will get, and it momentarily “stands still” before it appears to begin to slide southward toward the point of its winter solstice.

Depending on the particular year, in the northern hemisphere the summer solstice can occur anytime between June 20 and June 22.  The 2026 summer solstice will arrive on Sunday, June 21 at 4:24 am EDT. At that time the sun will be directly over the Tropic of Cancer (23.5 degrees north latitude).

In most cultures and countries, the summer and winter solstices are intertwined with the seasons.  For example, in the US and many other countries the ss marks the commencement of summer.  (I find it somewhat incongruous that the days grow shorter during the summer and longer during the winter.) On the other hand, in extreme northern and southern locations the solstices mark the midpoint of summer or winter.

For many ancient cultures the ss was a festive time. Most of them were sun worshippers anyway, and the longest day of the year was a reason to celebrate the renewal of life. The recurrent themes, in various forms, were life, light, femininity, marriage and fertility. (Perhaps, this concept was the derivation of the custom of holding weddings in June.)

For example:

1. The pagan holiday, Litha, which is a celebration of light and life, was celebrated on that date.
2. According to English Heritage, a charity that acts as caretaker for over 400 historic buildings, monuments, and sites, the ancient culture that constructed Stonehenge in about 2,500 BC intended it to be a crude calendar used to mark the summer and winter solstices and the vernal and autumnal equinoxes. The stones do seem to have been placed to align with the sunrise on the dates of those events.
3. The ancient Chinese marked the date with celebrations of the femininity, the “Yin” forces, and the Earth, itself. This served as a counterpoint to the winter solstice, which was a celebration of the heavens, masculinity, and the “Yang” forces.
4. Typically, Native Americans held festivals featuring body paint and ritualistic dances.
5. In ancient Gaul (modern-day France) the celebration was called the Feast of Epona after a mare goddess that protected horses and personified fertility.
6. Slavic and Germanic cultures celebrated with huge bonfires.

In modern times the ss is a time to celebrate the arrival of summer.  In many extreme northern areas, such as northern Sweden, Finland and Norway, where the people may not see the sun at all for certain parts of the year, people spend the entire day outside to “reconnect with nature.” Many of them decorate their homes, light bonfires, and dance around Maypoles.

CONCLUSION

I have always enjoyed a warm summer day as much as the next guy.  But, truthfully, to me the day of the ss is just another day. Rest assured, I will NOT be lighting any bonfires or dancing around any maypoles. (Wouldn’t that be a scary image.) Depending on the weather typically I play golf, play outside with the kids (or grandkids), go to a pool, or, if it’s inclement, just stay inside.  This year the ss falls on Father’s Day and the finals of the US Open. The weather forecast in my area is sunny and warm, so many of us will be spending the day outside at barbeques, the beach, the pool or other family activities.

Whatever you do I hope you enjoy the day.

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U. S.-IRAN MEMO OF UNDERSTANDING

As always, the contents of this blog constitute a compendium of various media communications supplemented by my personal opinion, where indicated.

The recently distributed 14-point Memo of Understanding between the US and Iran has drawn significant controversy. Everyone has an opinion. Comments and opinions have ranged from extremely positive (Trump, Vance and Rubio) to extremely negative, if not derisive (among most Dems, much of the media and even some Repubs). All this, and the ink is barely dry on the document.

In my opinion, people have to take a deep breath and recognize the MOU for what it is and what it is not. It is not a peace agreement. Essentially, what it is is a 60-day cease fire agreement, nothing more, nothing less, and it should be evaluated as such. Moreover, don’t be surprised if the 60-day limit gets extended, perhaps multiple times.

I believe it would be of little value to delve into the weeds of the MOU at this time. Suffice to say, the wording is vague and needs to be refined. Also, some key issues have been omitted, such as (1) Iran’s sponsoring of so-called “proxies” and (2) Israel’s separate war with Hezbollah in Lebanon, or require clarification, such as (1) the treatment of the $300 billion of “frozen” Iranian funds, (2) the details of the collection, disposal, and/or destruction of Iran’s nuclear dust, and (3) the verification process of various matters.

I wouldn’t characterize the MOU as “not worth the paper it is printed on” as some have. Rather, it should be evaluated as a first step in the peace negotiation process. I will denote, however, that it is a bad deal for Israel. It doesn’t address its major concerns with respect to Iran or its proxies. Some supporters, including me, would even characterize it as a betrayal of our staunchest ally in the ME.

I expect all parties to interpret elements of it differently. There is enough in it for both sides to interpret it as a “victory.” Hopefully, these issues will be ironed out sufficiently. Remember, as I opined in a previous blog the “devil is in the details.”

In the short-term I think the most significant matter is the opening of the Hormuz Strait. It will get the oil flowing, which will produce positive tangible results of lower energy prices for both businesses and consumers and ultimately improve the economy. As I have discussed in previous blogs the mid-term elections are approaching, and history tells us that the number one issue for voters is always the economy. Indeed, recent surveys have identified the number one issue for voters as affordability and the cost of living e.g. putting food on the table, paying the mortgage or rent, and healthcare. The Iran War and other key matters are simply not as important to most voters at the present time. Many of them have limited knowledge of the issues and are blissfully unaware of Iran’s nuclear threat.

Conclusion

I have significant misgivings concerning the current iteration of the peace process. I feel like we are missing our one chance to deal decisively with Iran once and for all. I fear that the vague wording of the MOU will yield a long, drawn-out peace treaty negotiation process. This will enable Iran to do what it has always done – lie, cheat, obfuscate, and delay, delay, and delay some more until US public opinion forces us to accept an agreement that does not meet all of our objectives.

As a means of defending the MOU President Trump has reiterated that if Iran fails to “live up” to its end of the MOU he can and will resume military action. Sounds great, but I foresee problems with that. At what point would an Iranian transgression be serious enough to warrant military action? For example, suppose Iran were to resume impeding the flow of oil through the Hormuz Strait or support a terrorist attack by one of its cells in the US or by Hezbollah against Israel. Would any of those actions be deemed sufficient to trigger additional military action? Resuming military action would be a drastic step and would be very unpopular with our allies and even worse, with the voters especially this close to the midterms. Furthermore, I believe Iran will test the US’s resolve by committing a series of “minor” violations.

Finally, and most significantly, although Iran fears and respects Trump he will not be president forever. Iran can take the long view. Eventually, the US will elect a president with less fortitude and with a more flexible attitude toward Iran and the ME in general. Then, I fear, Iran will be able to take advantage.

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IRAN PEACE DEAL. THE DEVIL IS IN THE DETAILS.

As always, the contents of this blog constitute a compendium of multiple media reports supplemented by my personal opinion where indicated.

Apparently, after several months of fighting and several weeks of on and off negotiations Iran and the US have agreed on a deal to end hostilities. (Sort of, maybe, kind of, perhaps.) Vice President J. D. Vance said the U.S. signed a peace agreement with Iran “digitally” on Sunday. He characterized it as a major step toward peace. He stated the deal “ensures that Iran will never have a nuclear weapon,” the Strait of Hormuz will be reopened, and none of the frozen funds has been released to Iran yet. He added the deal would “change the Middle East” (predicated on Iran’s compliance with it). Major allies, including France, Germany, Italy, the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom praised the announcement and agreed “to lift relevant sanctions in response to clear, verifiable steps by Iran on its nuclear program.”

At first blush, this is good news, however, given Iran’s negotiating history I wouldn’t get too excited yet. I, for one, am skeptical. Even after the final agreement has been signed as planned, I will remain skeptical. I just don’t trust Iran to live up to whatever agreement it signs. In my opinion it will lie, obfuscate and cheat. Moreover, I am not the only one who has expressed that opinion. Independent verification of compliance to the terms of any agreement will be crucial.

The initial reaction of the financial markets has been very positive. Both US and foreign markets have posted sizeable gains. The price of U.S. crude oil declined over 5% in early Monday trading to around $80 per barrel, while international Brent crude fell about 4.5% to $83 per barrel. For both benchmarks, these levels were the lowest since the first week of March, just days after the war with Iran commenced. Heating oil declined 3%, while wholesale gasoline prices dropped 4%. Natural gas futures fell 3%. This was in addition a 6% decrease in oil prices during last week in anticipation of an agreement. In addition, I have noticed a drop in the price of gas at the pump, which is very discernible to voters.

Not everyone is so ebullient. For example, various Israeli officials have criticized the deal. Israel has consistently been more aggressive toward Iran than the US and, given their hostile history, for good reason. Prime Minister Netanyahu has yet to comment on it (the word is he hasn’t been provided a copy yet, which is curious since Israel has been our principal ally in this war), but Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz stated that IDF forces will not be withdrawing from Lebanon despite whatever the deal may say. That could be significant as discussed below.

Many news outlets are referring to the deal as “preliminary,” which is disquieting in and of itself. Even VP JD Vance, in an interview with CNBC, described the agreement as but “a major step towards peace,” not a “done deal.” In addition, he declined to divulge specific details of the deal. Again, the devil is in the details. The full text of the agreement has not been made available yet, which is suspicious in and of itself. But emerging details have suggested that some of the most difficult issues, including the fate of Iran’s nuclear program, have been deferred to future rounds of negotiations. Absent a resolution of the central issues how can the negotiators maintain that there is a deal?

In my view we are still a long way from a final agreement. There are a plethora of issues and details that still remain to be finalized. I will outline some of these below. As I said in the title, the devil is in the details. For instance:

  1. According to many analysts and commentators it is likely that negotiators on each side will interpret the vague language differently, either intentionally or unintentionally leading to misunderstandings and worse.
  2. It does not address, in sufficient detail, the US’s primary objectives of the war, namely eliminating Iran’s prospective nuclear capabilities, the surrender and disposal of its “nuclear dust,” and Iran’s terminating its support of “proxy” terrorist groups. Those were the main purposes of the war. Any deal that excludes acquiescence with respect to those issues would be worthless.
  3. The United States and Iran have reached a preliminary agreement to cease hostilities for 60 days, but how will the cease fire be monitored, by whom, what will constitute a violation, and what will be the penalties for said violations? And what of the ongoing hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon? Iran has continually insisted that that conflict must be included in any deal, in which case the cease fire would already have been violated, whereas the US has insisted it is a separate matter.
  4. Since its commencement on February 28, the war has not produced many of the results President Trump had vowed to achieve, such as overthrowing Iran’s autocratic, theocratic leadership and liberating its citizens, which are among the most oppressed in the world. Will those issues be included in any deal or not?
  5. The language regarding the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz is extremely vague. For example, when will it reopen? Who will ensure all the mines have been removed or destroyed? Who will govern the passage of ships through it? Will Iran be precluded from charging fees or not?
  6. There are questions regarding the US’s blockade of Iranian shipping. The U.K. Maritime Trade Operations Group, which acts as the chief point of contact for merchant ships liaising with military forces in the region, warned that the U.S. blockade on Iranian ports will remain in effect until the peace deal with Iran has been signed. The UKTMO then followed up with a memo warning all vessels not to attempt a crossing until “explicit direction is given” (presumably by them and presumably not until the cease fire is in effect).

Conclusion

President Trump has invested a considerable amount of military assets, time, money, materials, goodwill, prestige and political capital in this venture. His overriding objective that Iran can never have a nuclear weapon is a righteous one. However, apparently, we are still a long way from a final settlement that the US and its allies in this war can live with. It is crucial that we attain our objectives. This will likely be our one and only chance to resolve this issue. Trump will not be president forever, and there are no assurances that his successor(s) will have the nerve, the fortitude and the domestic and worldwide support that Trump presently has to see this through.

Due to the foregoing, I would characterize this as merely the first step toward a lasting peace agreement, nothing more. That’s fine as far as it goes, but there is still much to do. The situation is very fluid. By the time you read this it may very well have changed.

Due to the impending midterm elections, I believe these negotiations need to show tangible results quickly. I further believe that the short-term key is the reopening of the Hormuz Strait. That will lead to the free flow of energy and a reduction of the cost to businesses and consumers alike. The price of energy affects the cost of all goods and services. Remember history has demonstrated repeatedly that the number one issue for voters in every election is the economy.

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AMERICA’S 250TH BIRTHDAY QUIZ, PART 2

In celebration of America’s 250th birthday I am posting a series of three quizzes. Part 1 covered the Revolutionary War. Below please find Part 2, which covers the 19th century.

  1. Which president prosecuted the wars against the Barbary Pirates? (a) John Adams, (b) Thomas Jefferson, (c) James Monroe, (d) Andrew Jackson.
  2. The land acquired by the Louisiana Purchase included each of the following present-day states except (a) Iowa, (b) Kansas, (c) Wisconsin, (d) Nebraska
  3. The massive Louis and Clarke expedition covered sixteen present day states including each of the following except (a) Oklahoma, (b) Montana, (c) Iowa, (d) Oregon.
  4. Which state was admitted with Missouri as part of the “Missouri Compromise” of 1820? (a) Michigan, (b) Tennessee, (c) Maine, (d) New Hampshire?
  5. Which president was captured and detained by the British during the RW as a young boy? (a) James Madison, (b) James Monroe, John Quincy Adams, (d) Andrew Jackson.
  6. Harriet Tubman was famous for (a) being the first women to attend Harvard University, (b) being a famous “conductor” on the Underground Railroad, (c) writing poetry depicting slavery, (d) being the first female member of Congress.
  7. Who was the first president to serve two nonconsecutive terms? (a) Franklyn Pierce; (b) James Buchanaan; (c) Abraham Lincoln, (d) Grover Cleveland
  8. “Custer’s Last Stand” was fought in which present day state? (a) North Dakota, (b) South Dakota, (c) Montana, (d) Wyoming?
  9. Each of the following presidents was assassinated except (a) James A Garfield, (b) John Tyler, (c) William McKinley, (d) Abraham Lincoln.
  10. Which famous frontiersman perished at the Alamo? (a) Jim Bridger, (b) Davy Crockett, (c) Daniel Boone, (d) Sam Houston?
  11. Susan B. Anthony was known for (a) women’s suffrage, (b) founding the Red Cross, (c) pioneer surgeon, (d) politics.
  12. Who was president during the purchase of Alaska (aka “Seward’s Folly)? (a) Abraham Lincoln; (b) Grover Cleveland; (c) Samuel Tildden, (d) Andrew Johnson.
  13. The “Golden Spike,” which symbolized the union of the Central Pacific and Union Pacific Railroads, is located in which state? (a) Utah; (b) California, (c) Wyoming; (d) Colorado.
  14. Who is widely credited with inventing the original, commercially successful electric telegraph? (a) Guglielmo Marconi; (b) Alexander Graham Bell; (c) Samuel Morse; (d) Eli Whitney
  15. When did the “Pony Express” commence operation? (a) 1850, (b) 1860, (c) 1870, (d) 1880.
  16. Who was the first American woman to earn a medical degree? (a) Elizabeth Cady Stanton, (b) Mary Smith, (c) Elizabeth Blackwell, (d) Lucretia Mott
  17. In what city was Francis Scott Key when he wrote the “Star Spangled Banner?” (a) Washington, DC; (b) NYC; (c) Baltimore; (d) Charleston
  18. Which Native American tribe never surrendered to the US? (a) Seminole; (b) Apache; (c) Sioux; (d) Comanche
  19. The Battle (Massacre) of Wounded Knee took place in which present day state? (a) Texas; (b) Colorado; (c) Montana; (d) South Dakota
  20. Who founded the American Red Cross? (a) Florence Nightingale; (b) Clara Barton; (c) Wilma Rogers; (d) Josie Wales
  21. Prior to the Civil War which was the first state to secede from the Union? (a) Alabama; (b) Mississippi; (c) Virginia; (d) South Carolina
  22. Pike’s peak is located in which state? (a) Wyoming, (b) California, (c) Arizona, (d) Colorado.
  23. Who wrote Uncle Tom’s Cabin? (a) Louisa May Alcott, (b) Susan Allen, (c) Harriett Beecher Stowe, (d) Veronica Lake
  24. This president had the shortest tenure in office. (a) Zachary Taylor, (b) Chester A. Arthur, (c) William Henry Harrison, (d) William Jennings Bryan.
  25. Which territory was the last to gain statehood during the 19th century? (a) Utah 1896, (b) Arizona, (c) Alaska, (d) New Mexico.
  26. Each of the following was infamously known as a “robber baron” except (a) Andrew Carnegie, (b) Jay Gould, (c) Samuel Gompers, Leland Stanford

Answers

1. (b); 2. (c); 3. (a); 4. (c); 5. (d); 6. (b); 7. (d); 8. (c); 9. (b); 10. (b); 11. (a); 12. (d); 13. (a); 14. (c); (15) (b); 16. (c); 17. (c); 18. (a); 19. (d); 20. (b), 21. (d); 22. (d); 23. (c); 24. (c) (31 days); 25. (b); 26. (c)

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D DAY

D Day. That’s all one has to say. Most everyone knows what it was and what it meant. Just the very name conjures up remembrances and images of one of the bloodiest battles and one of the turning points of WWII. The battle has been memorialized in numerous books and movies, and who can forget the poignant image of countless crosses and Stars of David neatly lined up in military cemeteries in Normandy.

Today, June 6, marks the 82nd anniversary of this epic battle. The Allied Forces included 156,000 troops from various countries, including the US, UK, Free France, Canada and Norway, among others, 5,000 ships and landing craft, 11,000 planes, 50,000 land vehicles, and coordinated landings over a 50 mile stretch of beaches code-named Juno, Omaha, Utah, Sword and Gold, truly a massive undertaking. Allied and German casualties have been estimated as high as 20,000 killed, wounded, missing and captured. Many of those brave souls were mere teenagers.

If you were involved in the actual landing, whether you lived or died was largely a matter of luck and happenstance. Two men could be sitting side-by-side in an LST, and a German bullet would find one and not the other. Think about that for a minute.

In addition to the German guns the soldiers had to deal with the rough surf.  Wearing their battle gear made them heavy and unwieldy, and many of them actually drowned.  The movie Saving Private Ryan depicts this grisly scene clearly.

If you were lucky enough to survive the landing, you became a “sitting duck” on the beach. Then, if you managed to fight your way off the beach you had to charge into several thousand heavily armed German troops, which were placed strategically in fortified bunkers. Once you fought your way past those, you were ready to commence the real battle to liberate France.

Planning for the operation began as early as 1943. Russia, one of our allies at the time (“The enemy of my enemy is my friend.”) had been lobbying strongly for a second front to alleviate some of the pressure from the Russian Front. Military leaders on both sides recognized the significance of a second front and expected the Allies to attempt to open one at some point. The question was where and when. The Allies were not prepared to attempt such a massive landing until early 1944 primarily because they needed time to build up levels of men and material. Remember, the Allies were fighting in the Mediterranean and North Africa as well. Plus, the US was involved in the Pacific War against the formidable Japanese. Finally, Britain’s fighting capacity had been severely damaged in the debacle at Dunkirk in 1940.  Only a remarkable evacuation, aided by thousands of small boats piloted by civilians prevented the Germans from capturing or destroying the entire British army on the beach.

The Operation was code-named Operation Overlord. The landing, itself, was code-named Operation Neptune. General Eisenhower was in charge. Indeed, he was in charge of the entire Atlantic Theatre. As the story goes, when he was put in charge his orders were very simple – “Win the War.” No confusion; no limited rules of engagement, which hampered us in Viet Nam and other future conflicts.  “Just win, baby.”

The Allies considered four possible landing sites: Brittany, Cotentin Peninsula, Pas de Calais and Normandy. The first two were eliminated primarily because they were located on peninsulas, which would have afforded very narrow fronts that would have enabled the Germans to trap the soldiers in a counterattack. That left Normandy and Calais. Once the Allies decided on Normandy there were many attempts to deceive the Germans into thinking the landings would be at Calais. Historical evidence indicates that the Germans thought Calais the most likely site anyway, possibly because it was closer to England, but both sites were heavily fortified. Indeed, the Germans had planned to fortify the entire coast from Norway to Spain, a so-called “Atlantic Wall.”  This would have included concrete emplacements, barbed wire, booby traps, mines, the removal of ground cover, and, of course, troops and armored equipment. Luckily for us, these fortifications were never completed. Interestingly, although most of the German High Command viewed Calais as the most likely landing site, General Rommel, perhaps the best general on either side, surmised correctly that it would likely be at Normandy.

Accordingly, he increased fortifications in the area, but, luckily for us he was out of favor for political reasons, so some key elements of his plans for defending the area were ignored or overruled. Most notably, some panzer divisions, which he had wanted to place in the Normandy area were, instead, retained in and around Paris.

In addition, the German Army was stretched very thinly. Much of its manpower was committed to the Eastern Front and had been depleted by heavy casualties after five years of fighting. Finally, it was relying on captured equipment, which was not of the highest quality.

One of the biggest unknowns, and one that the Allies could not control, was the weather. Keep in mind, at the time the meteorological instruments were not nearly as sophisticated as they are now. The weather in the Normandy area was very unpredictable. At many times, forecasting the weather was no more than an educated guess. The various meteorologists advising General Eisenhower could not agree on the weather forecasts, which frustrated the military officers responsible for planning and executing the landings.

Due to the complexity of the operation weather conditions had to be just so, including the tides, phases of the moon and the time of day. Additionally, dawn, which was between low and high tide, was the preferred time of day. That way, as the high tide came in it would carry the LSTs farther in on the beach, and the men could spot obstacles, such as land mines, more easily. High winds, heavy seas and low cloud cover were not favorable. The planners were determined to wait for a day with ideal weather conditions that would satisfy all of the above criteria so as to maximize the chances of a successful landing. Only a few days of a given month satisfied all criteria. In fact, the operation had been postponed several times before June 6.

On the other hand, the longer they waited to launch the greater the chances of an intelligence leak, which would be disastrous. The Germans had an extensive network of spies. Moreover, despite warnings people talk. (Remember the famous admonition “loose lips sink ships.”), and there was the very real danger of an inadvertent leak. This conundrum was depicted brilliantly in the 2026 movie, Pressure, a true account, starring Brendan Fraser as General Eisenhower.

As we know, the operation was a success. Some of the major reasons for this were:
1. The aforementioned missions to deceive the Germans forced them to spread their defenses over a wide area.
2. The German’s much-ballyhooed “Atlantic Wall” was only about 20% complete.
3. The Allies achieved air superiority quickly.
4. Much of the transportation infrastructure in France had been damaged by Allied bombings and the French resistance, which hampered the Germans’ ability to move men and material.
5. The German high command was disorganized and indecisive, and their most brilliant general, Field Marshall Rommel, believing the forecasted severe weather and rough seas would prevent a successful Allied invasion, was on leave back in Germany to celebrate his wife’s birthday, which by happenstance was on June 6. Thus, he was unable to communicate with his notorious panzer forces effectively. On such minor events are wars sometimes won or lost.

CONCLUSION

If, as many historians believe, winning WWII was one America’s greatest achievements, then it can be argued that D Day was one of its greatest victories. Certainly, its success shortened the war in Europe and, in the process, saved countless lives (combatants and non-combatants alike).

There is no exact figure, but according to the National WWII Museum with the passage of time only a few thousand D-Day veterans are still alive worldwide, which is a shame.  Even the youngest ones are approaching 100 years old.

In WWII we had a clear-cut goal, win the war; the nation was united in support of the war, our government and our troops; we knew who the enemy was; we knew the Axis Powers were evil (Hitler, in particular, was one of the most despicable men ever to walk the face of the earth.); and there was no holding back. Sadly, we have never had such clarity of purpose again, and, perhaps, we never will.

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AMERICA’S 250TH BIRTHDAY QUIZ, PART I

In honor of America’s upcoming 250th birthday I will be posting a series of quizzes over the next several weeks. Time to test your knowledge (or lack thereof) of American history. The first one deals with the formation of our country. In recognition of the fact that there are different levels of knowledge among the readers I have tried to moderate the difficulty of the questions. The answers were drawn primarily from and confirmed by Wikipedia and other internet sources and publications.

  1. The Revolutionary War began in what year? (a) 1774, (b 1775, (c) 1776, (d) 1777
  2. The primary author of the Declaration of Independence was (a) George Washington, (b) Thomas Jefferson, (c) Alexander Hamilton, (d) John Hancock.
  3. Each of the following is recognized as a “Founding Father except (a) John Jay, (b) Alexander Hamilton, (c) James Madison, (d) James Monroe
  4. Each of the following states was one of the 13 original colonies except (a) Rhode Island, (b) Georgia, (c) Vermont, (d) Delaware.
  5. The British general who surrendered at Yorktown thus ending the Revolutionary War was (a) Howe, (b) Burgoyne (c) Mitchell, (d) Cornwallis.
  6. Who was known as the “Swamp Fox?” (a) Francis Marion, (b) John James, (c) Jim Duffy, (d) William Tarleton.
  7. George Washington led troops across the frozen Delaware River to defeat the opposition at the Battle of (a) Yorktown Heights, (b) Monmouth, (c) Trenton, (d) Brooklyn Heights
  8. Who was the leader of the Green Mountain Boys? (a) Benedict Arnold, (b) Roger Miller, (c) Ethan Allen, (d) Charles Lee.
  9. Which battle is generally considered to be the turning point of the RW? (a) Lexington and Concord, (b) Saratoga, (c) Albany, (d) Charleston.
  10. Each of the following was a colonial RW general except (a) Henry Clinton, (b) John Knox, (c) Nathanael Greene, (d) Horatio Gates
  11. What is the origin of the term “Uncle Sam?” (a) a famous army general, (b) a meatpacker, (c) a financier, (d) a politician
  12. What is the origin of the term “Yankee Doodle Dandy?” (a) a musical comedy; (b) a term to insult a person, (c) a British army tune, (d) a popular song.
  13. Who said, “give me liberty or give me death?” (a) Patrick Henry, (b) John Hancock, (c) John Adams, (d) Nathan Hale
  14. Who said, “I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country?” (a) Benedict Arnold, (b) Nathan Hale, (c) Henry Lee, (d) Crispus Atticks
  15. What battle is generally considered to have been the turning point of the RW. (a) NY; (b) Trenton, (c) West Point; (d) Saratoga.
  16. When asked to surrender who said, “I have not yet begun to fight?” (a) John Paul Jones, (b) Ethan Allen, (c) Gerry Mander, (d) George Washington
  17. During the RW many cities served as the capital city. Basically, the capital was wherever the Continental Congress was in session at the time, and it had to move on several occasions to avoid the British Army. Each of the following served as the capital of the colonies except (a) Philadelphia, (b) NYC, (c) Lancaster, (d) Princeton.
  18. Which was the first colony to sign the Constitution? (a) Delaware, (b) Virginia, (c) Rhode Island, (d) NY.
  19. How many signatories of the Declaration of Independence were there? (a) 52, (b) 26, (c) 56, (d) 13.
  20. Who was the first President to occupy the White House? (a) George Washington, (b) John Adams, (c) Thomas Jefferson, (d) James Madison.
  21. France “officially” presented the Statue of Liberty to the US in (a) 1776, (b) 1880, (c) 1884, (d) 1888.
  22. What RW battle was precipitated by “the shot heard around the world?” (a) Lexington and Concord, (b) Saratoga, (c) Yorktown, (d) Baltimore
  23. In what year was the constitution finally ratified? (a) 1787, (b) 1788, (c) 1789, (d) 1790.
  24. Who was the King of England during the RW? (a. George I, (b) George II, (c) George III, (d) George IV
  25. Who was the first colonial fatality of the RW? (a) Crispus Attucks, (b) Jeffrey Kent, (c) Jeremiah Langley, (d) Edward Smyth
  26. Who was the head of the “Sons of Liberty?” (a) James Otis, (b) John Hancock, (c) Paul Revere, (d) Samuel Adams.
  27. Who wrote the pamphlet Common Sense, which was first published on January 10, 1776, widely disseminated and presented the case for American self-government? (a) Thomas Paine, (b) Benjamin Franklyn, (c) Thomas Jefferson, (d) Alexander Hamilton.

Answers: (1) b; (2) b, [Jefferson was assisted by a committee which was appointed by the Second Continental Congress that included Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Robert R. Livingston, and Roger Sherman.]; (3) d; (4) (c); (5) d; (6) a; (7) c; (8) c; (9) b; (10) a.[Clinton was a British general]; (11) b. [Samuel Wilson was a meatpacker from Troy, New York, who supplied beef to the U.S. Army.]; (12) b. [ ‘Yankee” was a contemptuous term used by the British referring to American colonists. “Doodle” was slang for a simpleton, country bumpkin, or fool. A “dandy” was a man who is overly obsessed with his appearance.] 13. a; (14) b; (15) d; (16) a. (17) b; (18) a; (19) c [Few persons signed on July 4. Most signed on August 2 or later.]; (20) b; (21) c; (22) a; (23) b; (24) c; (25) a; (26) d; (27) a.

I would be remiss if I failed to mention the many females who also contributed to the cause in a variety of ways. Some, such as Molly Rinker, Anna Strong, Anna Bates, and the mysterious “agent 355,” posed as loyalists but, in reality, operated as spies right under the noses of the British. In addition, the following deserve special mention for their heroism:

  • Deborah Sampson – Disguised herself as a man named Robert Shurtleff and enlisted in the Continental Army in 1782. She fought in several skirmishes and afterwards became one of the first women to receive a full military pension. 
  • Margaret Corbin – Fought at the Battle of Fort Washington in 1776. After her husband was killed, she took over operating his cannon and was severely wounded. Later she became the first woman to earn a lifelong military pension.
  • Anna Marie Lane – Fought alongside her husband in the Battle of Germantown (1777). She also earned a military pension for her service.
  • Sybil Ludington – Though only 16 she rode 40 miles through the night in 1777 to alert local militia that British troops were burning nearby Danbury, Connecticut. 

Conclusion

As America’s 250th birthday approaches the country finds itself in a state of turmoil. A small, but vociferous portion of the people, who are disaffected and hate America, are finding it necessary to criticize, denigrate and tear down our way of life and what the country stands for. They will likely try to disrupt the various celebratory activities. Yes, America has flaws, but they do not obscure the multitude of benefits, which make it the greatest nation in the world and one to which millions of foreigners aspire to emigrate.

In addition, let’s remember and pay homage to the tens of thousands of patriots who fought and died in various wars so that we may enjoy all the freedoms we often take for granted.

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DON’S DEFICIENT DEAL

As always, the contents of this blog are a compendium of multiple media reports supplemented by my personal opinion, where indicated.

Obviously, I have no inside knowledge of the ongoing peace negotiations among the US, Iran, Israel, and other interested parties. All I know is what I have read in the news and seen on tv. The following opinions and comments are based on that.

As most of you know, I have been an avid Trump supporter since 2016. I haven’t agreed with everything he has said and done but based on his many accomplishments I have always given him the benefit of the doubt. All that said, I am appalled at the terms of the proposed peace agreement as disclosed to date. For months Trump has reiterated that the purposes of the war were (1) to prevent Iran from ever having a nuclear weapon; (2) Iran must surrender its cache of enriched uranium; (3) there must be a reliable methodology to independently verify Iran’s compliance with #s 1 and 2; and (4) Iran must allow all ships free and unfettered passage through the Strait of Hormuz.

There are significant inconsistencies with respect to this “deal.” Trump has been saying that a deal to “end the war” has been “largely negotiated.” Only some details remain to be resolved, and they will be announced “shortly.” In addition: (1) Iran is reportedly committing to abandon the pursuit of developing nuclear weapons; (2) it is negotiating the surrender of its stockpile of highly enriched uranium; and (3) the Hormuz Strait will be reopened completely. In return, (1) Iran would be able to resume free oil sales; and (2) billions of dollars in frozen Iranian assets would be released contingent upon reaching a final nuclear agreement.

Sounds promising, except just today an Iranian spokesperson issued a statement that totally contradicts Trump’s statement. He told a USA Today reporter anonymously that Iran has NOT committed to giving up its stockpile of enriched uranium as part of any settlement. Furthermore, Iran’s Fars news agency reported early Sunday that any agreement would have to continue to allow Iran to retain control of the Strait of Hormuz; Iran is continuing to deny claims that it has pursued or is pursuing nuclear weapons other than for “peaceful purposes,” and it has the right to do so; and it wants an end to the U.S. blockade on its ports and the lifting of sanctions on Iranian oil sales.

Also, what will be the procedures for inspections of nuclear sites. For example, who will perform them, how often, will they be surprise visits or scheduled, will the inspectors have complete and unfettered access, and what will be the penalties for noncompliance. Truly, the devil is in the details. Does the foregoing sound like an agreement is “imminent,” and just a few “details” remain to be ironed out? I think not.

Trump’s and Iran’s positions are miles apart with significant unresolved differences. In fact, they are mutually exclusive. Both cannot be true. Since Iran’s militant leadership has adamantly and consistently stated it would never give up its stockpile of enriched uranium I believe it is more likely that its statements are more accurate.

One glaring omission from the proposed deal is Iran’s ballistic missiles program. Its missiles represent a clear and present danger. Iran already possesses missiles that can reach all of Europe. It will not be long before it develops missiles that can reach parts of the US as well.

There is also the matter of Israel, which may have different goals and a different attitude toward Iran and its proxies. In my view, there are signs that Israel is more cognizant of the dangers Iran and its proxies still present. Indeed, Israeli media has reported that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had told President Trump that Israel must “maintain the freedom to act against all threats, including in Lebanon.” I’m not sure if this signifies a slight difference between Trump and Netanyahu or an actual rift.

Conclusion

History tells us that Iran has consistently negotiated in bad faith. Its representatives say one thing and do another. Their negotiating strategy has been to lie, obfuscate, deceive and delay, delay and then delay some more. This strategy has been very successful for 47 years with multiple Administrations. Trump has repeatedly denigrated these negotiating tactics and derided those who have fallen for them. Yet, it appears that he may be falling into the same trap.

If we were to agree to Iran’s current terms the war will have failed to accomplish any of our main objectives. In fact, I could make a case that we would be worse off. Iran would still have its stockpile of enriched uranium; we would not be certain that all of its nuclear material was destroyed; we would have expended a goodly portion of our weaponry; Trump would have dissipated much of his political capital; and many people would perceive Iran to be the winner thus raising its status and diminishing ours in the eyes of the world.

Finally, let’s not forget that we won the war, not Iran. Thus, we should be dictating terms not getting bogged down in prolonged negotiations with murky details. Trump has said he is reluctant to attack in force. He wants to give the negotiations a chance. He wants to avoid killing innocent Iranians. I agreed up to a point, but we are well past that point. The longer these negotiations drag on the more it will hurt our economy. When all is said and done elections are always about the economy. A problematic economy will likely spell defeat in the midterm elections. Remember, America first!

These negotiations have not and will not bear fruit. It’s time to lay down the hammer and end this once and for all.

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MEMORIAL DAY

On Monday, May 25 millions of Americans will celebrate Memorial Day.  Traditionally, most of us have viewed MD as a day off from work, part of a three-day weekend, a day to gather with friends and relatives, watch sports, barbecue, go to the beach or pool club, or maybe go away for a mini vacation.  Regardless of the calendar MD is generally considered to be the unofficial start of summer. Wherever you go and whatever you do expect travel delays, crowds, frustrations and undue stress. Of course, we don’t like those inconveniences, but they are acknowledged and tolerated as an integral part of the holiday weekend.

Normally, Memorial Day weekend is the busiest travel period of the year. According to AAA in 2026 a record 45 million persons are expected to travel 50 miles or more. This would surpass the current record of 44 million established in 2025. The majority of travelers (87%) are expected to travel by car. AAA advises that the worst period to travel is Friday, May 22 from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM, and Monday, May 25 in the afternoon. In any event, it is advisable to allow extra travel time to account for delays due to heavy traffic and/or inclement weather. Moreover, in order to mitigate the prospect of delays I recommend using your friendly GPS to help you navigate around trouble.

The cost of gas at the pump is an issue. It is higher than last year primarily due to the war with Iran and the resulting disruption of oil shipments through the Hormuz Strait. As I write this, the average price nationally is $4.529 per gallon compared to $3.197 in 2025. If you think that price is excessive, and it is, consider that the price in CA is considerably higher ($6.115).

The National Safety Council (NSC) warns that MD weekend is one of the most dangerous periods for traffic accidents. It is predicting a total of 393 fatalities during the 2026 MD holiday period. This represents an 11% decrease from last year, but it is still too many. Everybody says, “watch out for the other guy.” Don’t be the “other guy.” Drive with extra caution. Don’t become a statistic!

The TSA is predicting some 3.61 million people to travel by air over MD weekend, which would be a 2% increase over last year.  Allow extra time as one can expect the usual heavy crowds, overbooked flights, delays, cancellations and inclement weather. Be courteous to airport employees, flight attendants and your fellow passengers. Everyone is doing their best to deal with a most stressful and frustrating situation. Don’t be “that guy.”

One TSA Senior Official is, in my opinion, overly optimistic. He has told various media outlets that, thanks to President Trump and Secretary Mullin settling the government shutdown of Homeland Security “TSA teams are completely staffed, so passengers should experience a smooth screening experience [with minimal wait times] and have an enjoyable trip through our airports and on to their travel destinations.” I hope he is right, but seasoned air travelers know that unforeseen events, such as the weather, can cause significant disruptions.

Some TSA travel tips to expedite your travel experience: (1) be sure to carry your passport or “REAL ID,” (2) utilize TSA PreCheck,  (3) ensure your carry-on bags are organized and comply with TSA regulations, and (4) most of all, allow plenty of extra time to account for unforeseen circumstances both on the road to and at the airport. The TSA advises travelers to arrive at least 2.5 to 3 hours before their scheduled departure. A wise credo is to hope for the best but plan for the worst. There’s nothing worse than spending a chunk of your vacation at the airport because you missed your flight.

Back to the holiday, itself. How many of us actually stop to ponder the meaning of MD? What does it signify? What is its etymology? Well, I’m glad you asked. Read on and be edified.

According to the Department of Veterans’ Affairs the purpose of MD is to honor veterans who have died in the service of their country.  (Some people confuse it with Veterans’ Day, celebrated in November, which is to honor LIVING veterans for their service.)  MD is celebrated on the final Monday in May, which, as stated above, is May 25 this year.  As I said, it has also evolved into the unofficial start of summer and Opening Day for beaches, pools and vacation homes.

The original name for MD was “Decoration Day.”  The custom of decorating soldiers’ graves with flowers is centuries old.  Its origins are murky, but after the Civil War it became customary to “decorate” soldiers’ graves with flowers as a way to honor those who had died in that war.

Several cities claim to be the birthplace of MD.  Warrenton, Va. claims that the first CW soldier’s grave was decorated there in 1861.  Women began decorating soldiers’ graves in Savannah, Ga. as early as 1862.   Boalsburg, Pa. and Charleston, SC, among others, have also made claims.  NY became the first state to recognize MD as an official holiday in 1873.  In 1966 President Lyndon Johnson declared Waterloo, NY to be the official birthplace of MD.

The basis of Waterloo’s claim is that in 1865 a group of locals, including a pharmacist, Henry Welles, General John Murray, a CW hero, and a group of other veterans, simply marched to the local cemeteries and decorated the soldiers’ graves with flowers.  What gave Waterloo an edge in the birthplace battle was that Murray was an acquaintance of General John Logan, the general who issued “Logan’s Order,” the proclamation that declared “Decoration Day” should be celebrated annually nationwide.

At first, MD was celebrated on May 30 every year.  The date seems somewhat arbitrary as it was not the anniversary of any famous battle or military event.  Perhaps, it was chosen simply because flowers with which the graves are decorated are in bloom and plentiful at that particular time of the year.  The name, “Decoration Day” was gradually replaced by “MD” beginning in 1882, and in 1887 MD became the official name.  In 1968 the Congress moved the holiday to the last Monday in May.  This annoyed many traditionalists, but the lure of a three-day weekend overcame any objections, and the Monday date has prevailed.

There are some MD traditions worth noting:

  1. Flying the flag at half-staff.

Most of the time one will see the flag flown at half-staff all day; however, technically, this is not proper.  The flag should be raised to the top and then lowered to half-staff.  This is intended to honor those who have died for their country.  At noon, the flag is to be raised again to full staff, where it remains for the rest of the day.  This is to recognize that the deceased veterans’ sacrifices were not in vain.

  1. Poppies.

Poppies have become the official flower of remembrance, declared as such by the American Legion in 1920.  This is derived from WWI and the Battle of Ypres (English pronunciation is “Wipers.”).  Apparently, a proliferation of poppies grew on that battlefield around the soldiers’ graves.  These poppies were featured in a famous poem by Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae called “In Flanders Fields.”  This poem caught peoples’ imagination and popularized the custom.

  1. Sporting Events.

No American holiday celebration would be complete without a sports connection. MD weekend features the Indianapolis 500 and the Memorial golf tournament, among others.  Also, until recently there was the traditional Memorial Day MLB baseball doubleheader.  Alas, due to economics, scheduled holiday baseball doubleheaders are all but extinct. 

4. Parades and ceremonies.

There will be parades and ceremonies in virtually every city and town of any size. Washington, DC will feature the National Memorial Day Parade, which will be televised and streamed live nationally and around the world.

CONCLUSION

I hope the foregoing has enhanced your understanding and appreciation of MD.  As a veteran, myself, I find it most gratifying that, in recent years, most Americans have come to recognize and appreciate the service and sacrifice of our country’s veterans.  I can remember a time (the Vietnam War period) when it wasn’t so.

So, whatever you do this weekend, however you celebrate, try to pause for a moment in honor of the many veterans who have given their lives so that the rest of us can enjoy the freedoms that we sometimes take for granted.

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