Sammy and Ilna, love you guys.
REAL McRollers and Readers thank you for being the best. We love you all.
This is dedicated to everyone who's served. Our heartfelt thanks to you all this Veterans' Day and every day.
My special thanks and love to the boys of the 297th Combat Engineer Battalion - here and in heaven. Essayons!
I included a little nod to one of my favorite singers. Fins Up, Jimmy. You will be missed.
Best Parade Yet
Wahiawa Veterans' Day Parade Route Area
As DJ and Angie excitedly straightened their patriotic t-shirts, Steve and Catherine watched with matching smiles.
"Are you ready to walk in the Veterans' Day parade?" Steve asked, glancing at Joseph.
DJ beamed up at his dad. "I'm ready."
Catherine knelt in front of Angie, adjusting the belt on her camo shorts. "And how about you, baby girl?"
Angie giggled. "I'm very, very ready. We're gonna make the veterans smile with our thank you notes."
Joseph bent to kiss each of them on their heads. "Looks like you're all set to honor some vets."
Angie nodded enthusiastically. "We have lots of thank you notes. DJ helped me write mine." Both kids planned to hand out handwritten thank-you notes to veterans along the way. Each note was adorned with a drawing and a message of gratitude.
He grinned at Elizabeth. "I'm sure the veterans will appreciate them."
As they made their way to the staging area, DJ looked up at Steve. "Daddy, do you think we'll meet any World War II veterans?"
Steve ruffled DJ's hair. "You never know, buddy."
Angie walked between Elizabeth and Catherine, clutching her bag of thank you notes tightly. "We'll meet veterans from all over, right?"
Catherine nodded. "Yes, some veterans at the parade today are on Oahu for vacation, so they're from lots of different places."
"Even New Jersey?"
Her mother laughed at Danny's influence. "Even New Jersey."
/
The Wahiawa Veterans' Day parade was ready to start, the streets lined with spectators waving flags and cheering. DJ and Angie were beaming as they stood alongside Joseph. They'd attended the parade in the past, of course, but this was the first year they'd been invited to walk along with their grandpa.
When the parade began, Joseph and the kids stepped onto the bustling street lined with people, while Elizabeth, Steve and Catherine moved to the sidewalk. Their plan was to follow along with the Wounded Warriors contingent that they were marching with and meet up with them at the end of the route.
Joseph held each child's hand until they were in the staging area for their group. "Remember, stay where I can see you."
DJ nodded. "We will, Grandpa."
Angie squeezed his hand, and as they began to walk, her eyes darted around to find veterans in the crowd of spectators. "Grandpa, look, there's some veterans."
Joseph followed her gaze and spotted an older man wearing a World War II Combat Veteran hat seated in a wheelchair and flanked by several generations of family members. He smiled and bent down to Angie's level. "Let's go thank him, sweetheart."
As they approached, the man's face lit up. "Well, aren't you a little cutie?"
Angie offered him one of her thank you notes. "Thank you for being a hero."
The man, well into his 90s beamed at her. "Thank you, honey. This means the world to me."
"We love veterans," she said and introduced DJ and Joseph before rejoining the marchers with a two handed wave.
Meanwhile, Joseph found himself conversing with a Vietnam veteran named Gary who was helping to hold the massive, horizontal flag the group was carrying.
"Welcome home," he said, shaking the man's free hand.
"Thanks for being here." Gary looked at Angie and DJ. "You guys are doing a great job."
"We have a thank you note for you," DJ said, passing him one. "You can read it later when you're not carrying the giant flag."
"Thanks, bud, that's really special," Gary said sincerely. "I'll keep it with my shadowbox."
"Yay!" Angie said with a smile. "DJ, look, there's more veterans." She pointed to a group of local vets who were about Steve's age and at Joseph's nod, darted to the sideline with her brother to give them each a note.
They continued to walk the parade route, pausing to thank veterans of different ages and wars.
DJ spotted a Korean War veteran, and handed him a card. "Is that… wow, it is. That's a Medal of Honor," he said, eyes wide with reverence. "It's super great to meet you, sir."
The man nodded. "Thanks, son, I just did my job."
DJ looked up at him. "That's what our dad always says, but you're very brave and we're thankful for your service."
The man ruffled his hair affectionately. "Your dad's pretty brave, himself. You're Steve McGarrett's boy, right?"
He unconsciously stood taller. "You know my dad?"
"I've met him. I knew your grandfather, too. I was HPD back in the day. Detective Robert Māhealani, retired, at your service." He tipped his hat.
"Awesome, I'll tell Daddy I met you."
"Give him my best," the retired detective said with a smile. "You'd better catch up, son." He pointed to where Joseph and Angie were waiting a few yards ahead.
"I will. Thanks again for your service!" the ten year old called as he ran back to his grandfather's side.
As they continued through the parade, they encountered a veteran of the Iraq War who Joseph knew from volunteering at Pearl.
Angie introduced herself, her smile bright. "Thank you for your service. We 'preciate you."
The former ensign nodded, her eyes lighting at the little girl's gratitude. "It's my honor. You've got a great family, Captain Rollins," she said.
The six year old handed her a thank you note. "Thank you for being you."
Her smile widened as she looked down at Angie. "And thank you for reminding us why we serve."
As the parade neared its end, the trio spotted Steve and Catherine at the refreshment post where they were passing out bottled water with Elizabeth and the Allens, who'd been helping to man the post-parade snack and beverage area.
DJ waved to his parents, his eyes glowing with excitement. "This was the best parade ever!" he called.
Catherine returned the wave and grinned as Angie's voice carried over the crowd, "I gave out almost all my thank you notes!" making her parents and grandmother chuckle at her undimmed enthusiasm.
As they continued to distribute drinks, a familiar voice had them turning to face the crowd.
"Steve McGarrett," the man remarked, "and the always amazing Lieutenant Rollins."
Steve grinned and took the man's hand, pulling him into a hug. "Frank, what brings you to Oahu?"
Frank Bama's eyes crinkled with his grin. "A quick stopover. In this morning, and out in a couple of hours." He held up both hands "All above board…mostly."
Catherine laughed. "Good to see you, can you join us for dinner?" She gestured to where the parade marchers were filing onto a designated lawn area as they finished their route. "We're just throwing steaks on the grill, but you're always welcome."
"Thanks," he shook his head, "next time, promise." His eyes followed hers to the children that were cheering as each group finished the route and congregated on the lawn. "Zero doubt who that little firecracker belongs to," he chuckled. "She's the spitting image of you, Catherine. And your son's what? Nine or ten now?"
"DJ's ten." Steve smiled as the kids made their way over.
"Hi!" Angie said, eyeing Frank as she reached them first. "I like the wings on your hat. Are you a pilot? Daddy flies us sometimes, it's very very fun. Especially over volcanos. Thank you for your service." She offered him a hand made card.
Catherine chuckled. "This is Angie."
He tipped his vintage pilot cap to her and grinned. "This hat's older than your folks. It's nice to meet you, little lady." Frank laughed. "Comes by the fearlessness naturally, I see."
Meanwhile, DJ joined them and was introduced. "Hi," he said and offered a hand. "Did you serve with our grandpa? He's gonna be here in a little bit, he's one of the people in charge of the Wounded Warriors group over there."
Frank knelt down to DJ's level, his eyes twinkling. "Actually, I know your dad. And I had an adventure with both your parents." He winked. "They're quite a team."
"Mommy and Daddy are the best team." Angie stood straighter. "Can you tell us about it?"
Frank chuckled. "I provided transportation for your dad a few times and met your mom on one of their adventures. The rest, I'm afraid, is their story to tell." He winked again. "It involved a magnificent helo, a jeep and a snake or two."
DJ's eyes widened. "You mean it's classified?"
Frank touched the side of his nose, in a Sting-like gesture. "Pretty much. I tell you what though, next time I'm on the island, I'll share a story that isn't classified." He stood. "For now I have to get going. Nice meeting you two." He opened his arms and Catherine hugged him before Steve stepped up for a back-slapping hug of his own.
"Nice meeting you, Mr. Bama," DJ said.
"Have fun flying!" Angie added before he walked away, a smile gracing his features.
A few minutes later, she looked up as Joseph joined them and lifted her into a hug. "DJ's right, this was the best parade, ever, Grandpa."
Joseph shifted her to wrap one arm around his grandson. "It's definitely the best one yet."
# THE END thanks for reading
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