On Veterans Day Tuesday November 11, 2025 , we honor all those who served our country past and present. I’d like to take this moment to honor my late father, Captain Douglas E. Gotro, US Army, Korean War veteran.
My mother was presented the flag at my dad’s military funeral. When she passed, as is tradition, the eldest child receives the flag. Being the oldest of his four children, after her funeral, I was presented my dad’s military funeral flag, his captains bars and his Korean War service bar as seen above. When I was adding his bars to the flag inside the display case, I was completely surprised when three shell casings fell out of the folded flag. I carefully placed them in the display case and did some research. My father had a full military funeral and during his 21 rifle salute, 7 military members fired three volleys. After each volley, the main rifleman discreetly held an empty shell casing in his white gloved hand. When the military detail folded his flag, he placed the three shell casings inside the folded flag. The three shell casings represent “duty, honor, and country.”
We honor all those who served in the name of “duty, honor, and country.”
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