Yesterday was Father’s Day and I had a great time with my two kids. I started thinking about my dad, who died of agent orange related cancer at the age of 47 and missed the rewards of being a good father.

He only lived long enough to see two of his five kids graduate from high school and didn’t see any of us graduate from college. He never got to see that all of us somehow managed to to become productive adults – no criminals or ne’er do wells among us. He never got to see or dote on any of his now six grandchildren either.

Dad, an Air Force “lifer,” was away a lot when we were growing up – year-long trips to Vietnam and Thailand and six-month “temporary’’ assignments to Spain, England, Africa, and on and on. We always missed him. As a father myself now, I realize how much he probably missed us too.

Nonetheless, Dad, and we, were luckier than many others. No matter where he went, how long he went for, or how dangerous it was, he always came home. Many of those who serve their country never do.

I remember a few friends who lost their dads in Vietnam. When the blue staff car with the general’s star insignia rolled into base housing, we kids knew that it wasn’t coming to deliver good news. We all used to run home to make sure it wasn’t coming to our house. Most times, the family moved off the base pretty quickly after notification was made. We usually never got a chance to say goodbye to them, or find out what happened to them.

I was reminded of that today by this story that appeared in the Stars & Stripes. In what has become a tradition at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., relatives and friends of the fallen left messages and placed 2,000 roses at the Wall for Father’s Day. For some reason, it made me feel sad and glad at the same time. Sad, because it brought back a few painful memories about what for the most part was a great life growing up as a “military brat,’’ and glad, because it’s good to see that four decades later, the dads who never made it home are still in our collective hearts.

You put in your claim with the VA and you wait. After a while, you start to wonder if anyone is dealing with it of if it’s just sitting on a desk or buried in a file somewhere.

Chances are, you’re right.

The Associated Press is reporting that Department of Veterans Affairs will soon have a backlog of 1 million claims waiting to be processed, despite hiring an army (pun intended) of people over the past two years to handle them.

You can read the entire report here. Sounds like they need to get some drill sergeant types in there to get the processors motivated.

Yonkers will give thanks those who served on Saturday (June 20) at its 4th Annual Veterans Appreciation Day event to be held at Murray’s Skating Rink, 348 Tuckahoe Road.

The program, from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., will include food, entertainment, and fun. It’s free, with tickets available by calling local veterans posts or the Yonkers Veterans Services office at 914-377-6700.

The Hartsdale Pet Cemetery hosts its annual War Dog Memorial Celebration on Sunday (June 14) with ceremonies to remember the service and sacrifices of thousands of military canines.

The event, open to the public, begins at 1 p.m. when a wreath will be laid at the War Dog Memorial erected in 1923 as a tribute to the 7,000 four-legged veterans that served in World War I.

Also being remembered are all pets that have served humanity, including Seeing Eye dogs, therapy dogs and police and fire dogs.

Iraq veteran Tracy Wolak, a volunteer with the Yonkers Animal Shelter, will discuss the impact the current economy is having on animal shelters nationwide.

The cemetery, located at 75 North Central Park Ave. is a designated Westchester County landmark. For more information click here to see their website.

Thousands of samoas, tagalongs, thin mints and other Girl Scout cookies are heading into harm’s way, courtesy of Girl Scouts from throughout Westchester and Putnam.

On Saturday (June 13), hundreds of area scouts will be sending more than 42,000 boxes of the tasty treats to service men and women in Iraq and Afghanistan in the 8th annual “Operation Cookie Drop.’’

The girls will bring the cookies, donated by local communities,  to the state armory in Valhalla. Soldiers from Fort Dix will be on hand to load them onto three tractor-trailers and take them to the base. From there, they’ll be flown overseas and delivered to troops in the field.

I don’t know if they’ll get a merit badge for their effort, but I’m sure the scouts will make a lot of sweet-toothed GIs very happy.

The Curtis Seaman Reed VFW Post 3047 celebrates its 75th anniversary Wednesday (June 10) at it’s 7 p.m. meeting.

The post, named after the first Harrison casualty of World War I, was formed June 12, 1934 and includes members who werved in World War II, Korea and Vietnam. The post has been active in raising money to buy calling cards for service men and women deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan.

Here’s a hearty congratulations on your anniversary. Thanks for your service, and keep up the good work.

More than 700 military veterans, including 40 who served in World War II, are competing in the 23rd National Veterans Golden Age Games, being held in Birmingham, Al.

The games, open to vets who are 55 or older and receive care from VA hospitals, give participants a chance to compete in ambulatory, visually-impaired and wheelchair divisions, according to their ages. Events include swimming, bicycling, bowling, croquet, air rifle, golf, shuffleboard, horseshoes, discus and shot-put.

“The Golden Age Games continue to grow every year, and the athletes who participate are testimony that the spirit of competition, camaraderie and commitment to an actively invigorating lifestyle,” Marilyn Iverson, director of the Veterans Canteen Service, said in a VA press release.  “This spirit not only helps to prevent illness, it strengthens the hearts and rejuvenates the soul.”

Te read more about the games and see a video of the competition, click this link at the VA website.

I know I’ve been VERY lax in blogging, and I apologise. No excuses. I promise to do better. I need a little help. I’m hoping to write a story for this weekend on the 65th anniverary of the D-Day invasion of France. I’ve done the story several times in the past, and have a list of Westchester, Rockland and Putnam residents who fought on D-Day. Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to reach any of them and I’m afraid most have passed away.

If you know anyone from our coverage area who was involved in D-Day and might be willing to be interviewed and photographed sometime this week, please let me know. You can post a message here, e-mail me at rliebson@lohud.com or call me at 914-694-3534 and leave a message. I’d really appreciate it.