This morning we had breakfast with VIPs from around the country that are part of the Army's Centers of Influence. Before meeting up with them, we were able to do a short tour of the Army Strong Zone, located just outside of the stadium. This area was set up with booths and demos, not to mention a bunch of free swag. My mom and sister did their own tour and reported back to me what the coolest stops were. I was able to catch a picture of them, upside down in the Apache Flight Simulator. Unfortunately, I couldn't see their faces but I could imagine them!

Of their favorites were the simulator, the demonstration by the Military Police of the Army's working dogs, the Special Forces booth (where there were a number of Green Berets there to talk to the two ladies) and the West Point booth. I now am the proud owner of a bag full of water bottles, stickers, stress balls, pens, pencils, and a few other items that I haven't quite found a useful purpose for, yet.

Interestingly enough, we also saw a Warrant Officer who was doing ice carving. We still haven't figured out what that had to do with the theme, but it was a very cool thing to watch for a while.

While my sister and mom were talking with a visiting Four Star General and calling me on my phone to come get coined, I was waiting in a warm banquet center for the VIPs. About 20 of us were to sit and talk with the civilians and former military and eat lunch with them. On the tables, there were MREs laid out. These Meals Ready to Eat have come quite a long way in my lifetime. I remember when I was a kid, my dad bringing me C-rats (C-rations). They were mostly dried items (like space food) that you added water to. My favorite was always the fruit cocktail and the fruit cake. Whenever my dad came back from the field, he would sometimes bring me those.

MREs are now completely different. Gone are the days you needed your canteen cup to mix up food. These new MREs come in pouches that you just open up and eat. There's a small water heater inside, which is a pouch you pour a little water into and the chemicals in there combine with the water to create a heat reaction. You just slide your meal in there and give a few minutes and ouila! Hot food. I would probably be a very unhappy field camper if they didn't put Tabasco sauce in there, or dried chili pepper packets but the food is remarkably better tasting than it was years ago, too. The Army now has a variety of meals to accommodate almost everyone, to include; several vegetarian dishes (they have the most snacks and candy!), halal meals (for those whose religions require they eat halal) and of course a variety of choices of chicken, beef or pork meals.

That day, I tried to get the people at my table to do the cracker challenge but no one bought into it. They're a lot smarter than privates. : ) The cracker challenge has yet, as far as I have seen, been won. It's when a person has to eat the entire package of crackers without water in under a minute. It looks like it would be easy, but unless you're a slobbering fool, it's not going to happen.

The VIPs were given a choice to have food prepared by a chef or to partake in some of our Army cuisine a la MRE. I was hoping that my table would eat the chef's food, but no luck, everyone picked MREs so that's what I had for lunch. It wasn't too bad, I'll admit. For some reason, MREs taste a bit better when they're served on a plate and eaten on fancy, table-clothed tables than when they're eaten out of a bag, in the field, in freezing cold or blazing hot weather, when you're exhausted and it's the only thing you've eaten for days on end.

I sat next to a gentleman who worked with FFA, or Future Farmers of America and with a Korean War and WWII Veteran. It was an honor to do so. I loved hearing their stories and comparing notes on the advancements of the military over the years. I am always inspired when I meet our older vets and love any opportunity I have to sit and visit with them. It was especially an honor to talk to the Korean War veteran and to thank him for his service... I feel a deep connection and gratitude to every one of them and know that without their sacrifices and contributions, South Korea wouldn't be the thriving and successful country it is today.

After Lieutenant General Benjamin Freakley gave a speech, one of the best I've heard him give (even though he caught me off guard and called me out in front of everyone in the beginning because I used to be one of his soldiers at the 10th Mountain Division from 2005 to 2007), there were a few questions asked and answered. One gentleman came up to me and asked if he could take a picture with me and I was honored... they were the VIPs asking to take pictures with US. I was a little embarrassed but I appreciated it. Soldiers enlist to serve the country, not to be VIPs so we're caught off guard when treated as such, especially by VIPs.

We all eventually headed back to the hotel. We were given a few hours for our next hard time of 1715 (or 5:15 PM in civilian time) when we had to be down stairs for accountability and to pick up our tickets for the US Army All American Bowl Banquet, hosted by the Rotary Club of San Antonio.

More on that, soon!