The most patriotic man I know is my Grandpa Vernie!

Grandpa's name is on the "Passion" sign on the last column.

Can you find "Vernon M. Kahl"?

Cousins with the sign that I held in my awesome seat!

Grandpa raising the flag...what the whole night was about!

Standing proud as Grandpa raises the flag!  We were on the Jumbotron.

Saluting.  He definitely is the most patriotic person I have ever met!  I highly recommend his book.

Grandpa's sign...and he did make it on the Jumbotron with it!

Grandpa and his kids:  Karolyn, Dave, Julie, Kristi, and Don...not quite birth order!  I guess Don's trying to be youngest!

The whole group of us!

Grandpa and Aaron in Grandpa's seats!

Dad and Grandpa in the good seats!

My turn!

And I had the HONOR to watch him raise the flag at the MN Twins game on June 26th.  It was a Tuesday, so I got off of work early just for the grand event.  Thankfully, our next door neighbor and very good friend, Heidi, was able to watch both of our kids including picking up from daycare/preschool.  I got to savor this special time with Grandpa to the fullest, without having to tend to kiddos that would never make it through the entire game!  My parents drove to Shakopee after my dad got off work.  They picked me up and we headed to the MOA to meet up with my Aunt Julie and Uncle Ed.  Together we proceeded to Target Field via the light rail.  Brian came from work in Roseville.  He met us there.  Then the man of the day showed up.  Boy, do they know how to treat a veteran at Target Field.  They ushered us to the flag pole and we waited.  They made sure Grandpa was taken care of.  It was some waiting, but then for the BIG moment.  Grandpa did raise most of the flag by himself...had just a little help from my cousin, Aaron (at the very end).  Then he saluted to the flag.  I couldn't help but tear up...and it ended up on the Jumbotron!  My aunts (Karolyn and Kristi) made lots of cool signs.  (Have to give credit to them as I don't know when I would've found the time to do that!)  After the flag raising/introduction, etc., my grandpa headed down to one of the best seats in the house...first row right along the first base line.  Each of his children took an inning to sit with him.  Then some lucky grandchildren and children-in-law took turns too.  I got lucky inning seven...and it was the BEST!  We talked some and enjoyed each other's company....It was fun to be with Grandpa doing something he LOVED.  (I loved it too!)  He even got a foul ball given to him and was put up on the Jumbotron with his sign.  We made it through most of the game and left in the 9th inning.  Memories I will NEVER forget.  My dad and all of his siblings made the trip.  Very cool.  The ride home was fun too...cramming 6 adults into our Ford Escape.  I am BLESSED.