TweetI know we all follow the news about what's going on in Iraq. You can't help but hear it. Last week, it hit a little too close to home. One of the soldiers killed in a roadside bombing was a local guy from my area, Marine Cpl John Todd. I knew his mother very well. She was my old boss. I remember talking to his mom just before he left for his second tour. She was nervous for obvious reasons. He was young and just got married 2 days before deployment. She was telling me that her and her husband tried to talk him out of it for the sake of his wife, not to mention his family was worried. His response was "I want to go. I want to make a difference". Unfortunately, as I said, he was killed last week. I went to the funeral yesterday and must tell you, it was amazing to say the least. It was open casket. He was dressed in his marine uniform. 2 fellow Marines stood next to his coffin at attention the whole time. There were Marines, Army, Air Force, Navy, Police officers, firefighters, you name it. Over 400 people showed up. They blocked roads, set a huge flag up across one of the streets. People lined the roads as the hearse drove by and waved American flags. It was truely an amazing sight to see. At the cemetary, he was given a 21 gun salute, and then TAPS played. It was sad. Very sad, but also very beautiful. This young man wanted to go to make a difference. Not to kill, but to make a difference and help rebuild a Country in need. Even with a new wife at home and a loving caring family, he went anyways. It made me realize how much more I'm proud to be an American, and how much more these brave men and women mean to me who are fighting for our freedom. Wether you're for the war, or against the war, you must respect the brave men and women who defend our country day in and day out.
TweetYeah, the only good thing about a war is when it's over. But at least we have men and women brave enough to serve voluntarily vs. an army that serves out fear. They have my respect 100 %