Passage across international borders can...
Passage across international borders can be an intimidating experience. In 1993 a group with whom I was traveling crossed the border between Syria and Jordan. The day before coalition forces primarily composed of United States Air Force units had resumed bombing Iraq. One member of our group was a graduate of the Virginia Military Institute. The recent international crisis had already raised the anxiety of the group and the suspicions of the border guards. A curious guard noticed our colleague's VMI class ring and a windbreaker with Virginia Military Institute embroidered on it.