The Letter

I suppose I should begin at the beginning.  There have been two letters of overwhelming significance in my life.  You all are by now familiar with my Naval service and the reason for my separation.  The first letter came into my life via my own hand in 1976, about a year after I had been summarily dismissed from the Navy as 'unfit'.  This after they gave me a medal for 'good conduct', ironic lol.  I had just returned to TX from California and ws temporarily residing at my parent's house.  I wrote the letter describing an adventure I had on the bus trip down which was very descriptive of the adventure.  Before mailing said letter (which never happened by the way) I placed it in my briefcase for transport.  It was there found by my  Mother in her quest for knowledge.  Unfortunately the knowledge she gained was not the knowledge she was seeking.  Thus began a 30+ year period of alienation between us.

Fast forward to the time of the DADT repeal and the fights for its passage.  I worked for that along with Obama's election.  Once the bill was passed, signed into law and then finally implemented, the law provided a section that allowed for an appeals process to the Review Boards of the respective services for veterans to have their less than honorable discharges for reasons of homosexuality to be reviewed.  I was separated in 1975 and the statute of limitations for such an appeal had long passed.  I was skeptical when Will suggested I apply for a review of my records, but I reluctantly agreed to do it.  That was in March of last year.  The government remained silent on the subject and I pretty much chalked it up as a failed experiment.  There had been no response to my request at all.  Until yesterday when the second letter of great significance in my life appeared before my eyes.

I retrieved the mail yesterday afternoon and found the letter with a return address from the Department of the Navy.  They had used the 'good' stationery.  I held the letter with trembling hands and went inside.  In the envelope was a cover letter on velum stationery and a 3 page official Department of the Navy document.  I read the cover letter then went through the document.  I excerpted the cover letter and redacted personal information.  You will find its rendering below this paragraph:

With tears in my eyes I showed the letter to Will.  I could not even speak, I could only motion to read the letter.  The letter contained Will's greatest gift to me.  The Board of review had granted my request for review after waiving the statute of limitations, done the review and ruled that my discharge was to be up graded to 'Honorable', the reason for my separation would be changed to 'Secreterial Authority" and all coding would show me as having served honorably and eligible for reenlistment.  Thus with the stroke of a pen, 40 years of stigma has been removed.  Without Will's prompting, this would never have happened. Would that this would have happened a long, long, long time ago.  Howver, it has at long last happened, something I never thought would.  One of my ealiest thoughts was it is too bad my Mother did not live to see this.  I really don't think having the official US Government Seal of Disapproval  removed from my life and records would have made much difference.  But it matters a whole hell of a lot to me that I feel vindicated.  The military now recognizes my just and honorable service and dedication to my country.  Just like every other LGBT Service Member presently serving or LGBT Veteran from the past.

  I really don't know quite what to think about this.  I have spent so many years castigating the government and its minions for their sins, I suppose now is the time to forgive them.  I still have to wait 6 months for the paperwork.  Maybe I will think about it then.  For now I just have to process the data and figure out what to do now that I am no longer a governmental 'persona non grata'.  

I am in the mood for some Tchaikovsky now, so you will find his String Quartet Number 1 in D Major, Opus 11 posted down below.  The Quartet is Tchaikovsky's first completed string quartet of three string quartets, published during his lifetime. (An earlier attempt had been abandoned after the first movement had been completed.) Composed in February 1871, it was premiered in Moscow on 16/28 March 1871 by four members of the Russian Musical Society: Ferdinand Laub and Ludvig Minkus, violins; Pryanishnikov, viola; and Wilhelm Fitzenhagen, cello.

The quartet has four movements: Moderato e semplice (D major) Andante cantabile (B♭ major) Scherzo. Allegro non tanto e con fuoco -- Trio (D minor) Finale. Allegro giusto -- Allegro vivace (D major).  Today's performers are not listed although it is a marvelous recording nonetheless.  Over on my tumblr you may join the Moscow Radio Symphony Orchestra under Conductor Vladimir Fedoseyev for their performance of Tchaikovsky's Serenade for Strings recorded live at the Alte Oper in Frankfurt, 1991. 

Then there is a boatload of Random Hotness in the post down below, any one of which I am sure you would save from drowning should the boat develop a leak.  Over on my tumblr, the Hottie of the Day! invites you to a 'Picnic in Paradise'.  Thanks for stopping in, see you again soon.  I think I will go be weepy and emotional for a bit before I get over it.  Until next time as always, Enjoy!

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