Reply #6: I have had the honor of serving my country, in the company of [View All]

[rasputin1952]

heroes.

In my sig is a line from Ralph Waldo Emerson that sums up heroism, "No hero is braver than any other man, they are just brave 5 minutes longer." Emerson had seen the horrors of war and worked as a nurse. He saw first hand how human bodies can be mangled and he saw the spirit that brings some through what appears to be a certain death sentence.

I have nothing but the highest respect for those who would stand proudly upon the ramparts in uniform. It is the abuse of these men and women that I find despicable.

To all of my fellow vets, to all those who have seen and felt the sacrifice these men and women are willing to make for us, to the waiting spouses, children, friends and relatives. I say, with great humility, thank you, and your wait for the one's you love, be short. I hope our men and women will be home soon and return to the arms of those they love.

Someone in my family has been in every conflict this nation has had since the War of 1812, (possibly the Revolution, but I'm still working on that). In WWII, my dad, (an only child), my step-dad & 3 of his 4 brothers served in Europe, they all came home. They did what their nation requested of them, just as those who serve today.

My older brother and I served, my younger brother did not. Oddly, my younger brother is the one who thinks this war is a "good" idea. Those of us who have borne the uniform know better. We know that diplomacy trumps military excursion. My daughter served in the Navy on USS Carl Vinson, they sent the first strikes in the current conflict, and she is against this was.

I want our heroes home, I want them to be respected for their service, I want them safe, and to only be used when all else has failed, and I want to see the little man who sent them into harms way behind bars.

:patriot: