I still tear up when they play the National Anthem.
But this really gets me reaching for the Kleenex.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q65KZIqay4E
Bart, I'm with you.
As most of you know by now, I worked at Camp Pendleton Marine Base for several years. I know of the gore, the disrupted and destroyed lives. However,the thing that haunts me very frequently, happened at the base (which is surprisingly a very peaceful place). I was leaving the office at the end of the day to go to my car while another person was coming from the parking area.
She was a clean cut, bright looking, VERY beautiful, lady in her early 20's... Her right leg was gone from the knee down.
Yes, a tremendous number of military had it even worse---However, SHE is the picture that haunts me and makes me tear up whenever I think of her and how her life was changed.
To me she is the image that represents the horror that all of the mentally and physically wounded have suffered. She, and the other wounded paid in the extreme so I have been able to have a wonderful life.
Enjoy your life, country, friends, relations, standard of living, education and all of the other wonderful things we have in this country,
Jim
Honor the troops, past and present.