A Simple Thank You to an American Soldier...An Email I received: No matter what your opinion is on the war, if this doesn't touch your heart, you may want to check your pulse. Last week, while traveling to Chicago on business, I noticed a Marine sergeant traveling with a folded flag, but did not put two and two together. After we boarded our flight, I turned to the sergeant, who'd been invited to sit in First Class (across from me), and inquired if he was heading home. No, he responded. Heading out I asked? No. I'm escorting a soldier home. Going to pick him up? No. He is with me right now. He was killed in Iraq. I'm taking him home to his family. The realization of what he had been asked to do hit me like a punch to the gut. It was an honor for him. He told me that, although he didn't know the soldier, he had delivered the news of his passing to the soldier's family and felt as if he knew them after many conversations in so few days. I turned back to him, extended my hand, and said, Thank you. Thank you for doing what you do so my family and I can do what we do. Upon landing in Chicago the pilot stopped short of the gate and made the following announcement over the intercom. "Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to note that we have had the honor of having Sergeant Steeley of the United States Marine Corps join us on this flight. He is escorting a fallen comrade back home to his family. I ask that you please remain in your seats when we open the! forward door to allow Sergeant Steeley to deplane and receive his fellow soldier. We will then turn off the seat belt sign." Without a sound, all went as requested. I noticed the sergeant saluting the casket as it was brought off the plane, and his action made me realize that I am proud to be an American. So here's a public Thank You to our military Men and Women for what you do so we can live the way we do. Stuart Margel, Washington, D.C. "No arsenal, no weapon in the arsenals of the world, is so formidable as the will and moral courage of free men and women. - - - Ronald Reagan

http://www.mudvillegazette.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-comments.cgi?entry_id=2168 ...Thank-You

Thank you. i can only hope that my husband would recieve such an honor. To the world, such a sacrifice might seem insignificant. To me, the loss would be devistating. My hope is that all Americans would honor the sacrifice of our soldiers, airmen, and marines, even without the loss of life. These men are following orders, honorably. Their opinion doesn't matter, their families and children don't matter. Our cause is a higher one, and our sacrifice, necessary. thank you for your patriotism, honor, and emotion. I thank you for taking a glimpse itno our world. We, the families, wives, and children of soldiers, sacrifice our loved ones for you. So fly our flag proudly. My husband dies for you. Winonah Jones B Co. 1-36 INF 1 AD Friedberg, Germany

I would like to thank the soldiers and their families for the sacrifices they make. My son was married this month. In a few months he leaves for his second tour of Iraq. He and his wife don't have much time together before he goes. They will spend their first anniversary apart. When I thought of them, I realized how much all the soldiers, spouses, and children sacrifice each day just in the being apart. Thank you.

mumsy2b thank you for that message, it is sincerely appreciated by so many of us.