I’ve seen others post requests for prayers for loved ones. I didn’t think I would need to.

But I learned my nephew will be deployed to Iraq sometime in December. Needless to say, my sister is quite emotional right now.

I guess I just wanted to say I’m so proud of him and all those who serve in the military. They all deserve our prayers and gratitude.

I second that. I support the miltary fully. My dad is retired Army, my brother served for 9yrs and my husband is currently in Basic Training.
People constantly ask me why my husband joined, especially now with the war. His reason was because he wanted to serve the country and felt it was the right thing to do.
I cannot stress enough the pride I feel when I see a soldier in uniform.

"This will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave."
-Elmer Davis, U.S. radio announcer
Soldier's Creed

Same here, my cousin's hubby is going over in the spring. He's such a young kid. (They wanted to get married before he want away, they are only 20 years old).
Safe return for all of them.

I live in a military town and unlike any other conflict I have seen before the local newspaper has a story on every young man or woman that has lost their life in this war. The article tells about how they died, about their family, and what kind of person they were. I am an old Vietnam vet and I know what war is like and as I read these articles, it seems like almost everyday, my heart goes out to their families and the pain they must feel. I have always been a strong supporter of our military. Mt grandfather was in WWI, my father in WWII, I was in Vietnam, both of my sons served in the Air Force, the oldest during Desert Storm. I must say that I am glad that they are both now out of the service. I have grandsons, the oldest is 11 and I pray that by the time that they may have to serve that maybe we will have a time of peace. Is that possible?

Here's a tribute I received by email today:

'TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS,
HE LIVED ALL ALONE
IN A ONE BEDROOM HOUSE
MADE OF PLASTER AND STONE.

I HAD COME DOWN THE CHIMNEY
WITH PRESENTS TO GIVE,
AND TO SEE JUST WHO
IN THIS HOME DID LIVE.

I LOOKED ALL ABOUT;
A STRANGE SIGHT I DID SEE:
NO TINSEL, NO PRESENTS,
NOT EVEN A TREE.

NO STOCKING BY MANTLE,
JUST BOOTS FILLED WITH SAND.
ON THE WALL HUNG PICTURES
OF FAR DISTANT LANDS...

WITH MEDALS AND BADGES,
AWARDS OF ALL KINDS...
A SOBER THOUGHT
CAME THROUGH MY MIND.

FOR THIS HOUSE WAS DIFFERENT.
IT WAS DARK AND DREARY.
I FOUND A HOME OF A SOLDIER,
ONCE I COULD SEE CLEARLY.

THE SOLDIER LAY SLEEPING--
SILENT, ALONE--
CURLED UP ON THE FLOOR
IN THIS ONE BEDROOM HOME.

THE FACE WAS SO GENTLE,
THE ROOM IN DISORDER;
NOT HOW I PICTURED
A UNITED STATES SOLDIER.

WAS THIS THE HERO
OF WHO I'D JUST READ?
CURLED UP ON A PONCHO;
THE FLOOR FOR A BED?

I REALIZED THE FAMILIES
THAT I SAW THIS NIGHT
OWED THEIR LIVES TO THIS SOLDIER
WHO WAS WILLING TO FIGHT.

SOON 'ROUND THE WORLD
THE CHILDREN WOULD PLAY,
AND GROWNUPS WOULD CELEBRATE
A BRIGHT CHRISTMAS DAY.

THEY ALL ENJOY FREEDOM
EACH MONTH OF THE YEAR
BECAUSE OF THE SOLDIERS
LIKE THE ONE LYING HERE.

I COULDN'T HELP WONDER
HOW MANY LAY ALONE
ON A COLD CHRISTMAS EVE,
IN A LAND FAR FROM HOME.

THE VERY THOUGHT
BROUGHT A TEAR TO MY EYE.
I DROPPED TO MY KNEES
AND STARTED TO CRY.

THE SOLDIER AWAKENED
AND I HEARD A ROUGH VOICE,
"SANTA, DON'T CRY.
THIS LIFE IS MY CHOICE."

"I FIGHT FOR FREEDOM.
I DON'T ASK FOR MORE.
MY LIFE IS MY GOD,
MY COUNTRY, MY CORPS."

THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER
AND DRIFTED TO SLEEP.
I COULDN'T CONTROL IT;
I CONTINUED TO WEEP.

I KEPT WATCH FOR HOURS,
SO SILENT AND STILL;
AND WE BOTH SHIVERED
FROM THE COLD NIGHT'S CHILL.

I DIDN'T WANT TO LEAVE
ON THAT COLD, DARK NIGHT--
THIS GUARDIAN OF HONOR,
SO WILLING TO FIGHT.

THEN THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER
AND WITH A VOICE, SOFT AND PURE,
WHISPERED, "CARRY ON, SANTA.
IT'S CHRISTMAS DAY, ALL'S SECURE."

ONE LOOK AT MY WATCH
AND I KNEW HE WAS RIGHT.
"MERRY CHRISTMAS, MY FRIEND,
AND TO ALL, A GOOD NIGHT."