I find myself needing to purchase a new suit, and my aunt bequested me a specific budget for it. (The will and estate are still being worked out, but an envelope bearing your name and a stated purpose with cash inside is a pretty clear indicator.) So, here's the rub... I already have a black one and my gal really likes the "MIB Look" on me, but other than with her I prefer to save that for funerals or "Serious Social Work" like should I find myself in the line of duty standing between someone entrusted to my overwatch and one who intends them harm again.
Anyway, in light of the role my grandfather played in raising me and his Air Force retiree buddies and peers had in helping make something resembling a man out of me, I thought it might be a fitting acknowledgment of that heritage to have my next suit loosely styled after what would have been Grandpa's last Service Dress Uniform when he ETS'ed after coming home from College Cadence in '68. (CC was a response to the Pueblo Incident, forward-deploying F-106 interceptor squadrons on six-month TDY's to Osan AB in Korea.) Problem is, how to "thread the needle" of clearly showing USAF influence while just as clearly NOT attempting to impersonate a servicemember? (For example, when I was reenacting the only insignia I would wear were the standard eagle on the cap and the rank I was depicting, not even branch-of-service.) So no "US" on the collars, not even Grandpa's old stripes on the sleeves, just plain undecorated blue.
Anyone in our veteran community have any advice about how to thread this needle and not have my intent to pay respect to my heritage create bigger problems?
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