Yellow Linen Suits / Air National Guard Uniform

Bud’s teenage years' pals were Don Reid, David Gannon, and Richard Arrowood. They bought really classy yellow linen suits alike, and snazzy straw hats. Calling each other by their mothers’ first names, (Flossie, Bessie, Flora, and Vera...Why do I remember this?) and would stand on a busy corner in downtown Des Moines on the loop, calling out Richard’s phone number to car loads of girls driving the loop because it was the easy one to remember: 6-1616! (I don’t think they ever got any calls—I always wondered if Richard’s mom intercepted the calls...)

*****

Bud was in the Air National Guard. I was very proud of him—he was so very handsome in his uniform. He was always meticulous about his dress—right down to spit shining his shoes to perfection—which earned him a position in the coveted color guard.