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On Tuesday night, as I watched more than a squad of high-ranking folks called to the stage for induction into the Military Health Systems Honors Society, which was held during the farewell dinner for S. Ward Casscells, assistant secretary of Defense for Health Affairs, at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Arlington, I thought someone had made a mistake.

I heard a very familiar name called, "Bob Brewin." And then once again, "Bob Brewin." This is a mistake, I thought, because journalists are rarely ever honored by the folks they cover.

I walked to the front of the ballroom, blurted out, "This is a mistake!" But then received a spiffy Honors Society tie, a coin and handshake from Casscells, who assured me that the award was not a mistake and recognized me for my work as a journalist covering the Military Health System.

Wow. I've not pulled any punches in my coverage of the Military Health System, especially its AHLTA (maybe not a noun), and I'm sure in some parts of the organization I am viewed as a pest, the most polite of all the four-letter word used to describe journalists.

I guess now I am an honorary pest.