Today was one of those "feel good" days. Myself and dozens of other taxidermists from throughout Michigan traveled to Hamilton Michigan to help mount a deer for our US veterans that have been wounded while risking their lives to protect our freedom. There were eleven purple heart recipients from all over our country that were invited to the Legends Ranch in Bitely, MI. to hunt for a trophy whitetail buck as a tribute to one of our fallen heros. The Michigan Taxidermists Association stepped up to the plate again, as in the past two years to skin and mount the trophies these veterans collected there.  I was honored again, as in the past two years to take the lead role in mounting one of these trophies. My assistant today was Ralph Ely, he and I mounted a deer taken by James McConneghy, an 87 yr old hero from WW2. I was able to talk to his son and grandson as Ralph and I breathed a sense of realistic life into the beautiful whitetail that James had taken at the ranch. I'm sure that mount will now be handed down from generation to generation as a reminder of the bravery that James displayed all those years ago. I am more than proud to be a part of that memory, and proud to play a small part in saying "Thank You" to James and all the veterans in the past and future to protect what we as Americans enjoy in our everyday lives. Our veterans should never be forgotten, if you appreciate life as an American thank a veteran.