My father was in the military. I don't know all the details; they escape my memory. I do remember that he was in the Army and was part of an infantry company. He never was deployed to foreign soil. But he served our country well.

I have 2 step-sons who I respect quite a bit. They signed up for military service in the post-9/11 world. I am very amazed at what they have done.

My first step-son, Darren, signed up for the Army Reserves. He was going to go to flight school and fly commercially. He approached me and asked if he was doing the right thing. Trying to follow in my father's footsteps, I told Darren 'Don't serve 2 masters. Either choose the Army or go to school. Do not try to do both.' He then put in for a transfer from the reserves to active duty. He was denied 3 times. After getting quite discouraged about everything, he talked with me and his mother about what he could do.

His mother and I came up with an idea that was a 'long shot', but turned out to be the best possible thing we could've told him to do. We told him to contact Nebraska Senator Dennis Byars and ask him if he could help. Senator Byars made Darren face up to the reality of his decision. Shortly thereafter, thanks to Senator Byars, Darren was part of the active Army.

Darren is currently deployed to Iraq. I cannot give details here of where he is or what he does, but I am very proud of him and his decision to become part of the wall of protection that our soldiers give.

Brandon, my second step-son, joined the Army Reserves. He has thought about school or joining the working world, but now has received orders to be deployed to Iraq as well. His decision to join the Army, though not surprising, is something that I'm very proud of.

Because of their military lives, my wife, their younger brother, and I have had the honor to attend military graduations and visit Darren and his wife, Nakia, and their 2 children at the base he's assigned to. We've been to Fort Sill, Oklahoma, Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, and Fort Benning, Georgia. Each time we went to a base, we entered a new world.

Unless you have been on a military base, you cannot understand the feeling of protection while you are on base. To some people, it is invisible because of their ignorance. But for me, I was humbled at the thought that I was surrounded by soldiers who, at any given moment, were ready to protect our great country. My wife thought I was crazy sometimes, but I would go out of my way in order to tell the soldiers that I ran into "THANK YOU". From Private to First sergeant (I haven't met anyone with a higher rank yet), I would shake their hand and thank them for serving.

At times I felt ashamed that I didn't join the military. I was actually very close to joining, but didn't go to MEPS to get my physical. (If the recruiter that spent his time on me is reading this, I apologize deeply.) I now wish I had, but my time is past. (I'm classified as a 'fat body'. )

If you are in the military and reading this:

Thank you! Thank you very much! I appreciate your dedication, pride and service. I thank you for pledging to protect our country. I am honored that you do this for my family. I am proud of everything you do, regardless of what the news media and other countries say. I believe in you and will support you in any way that I can as a civilian. I will not forget what you have done.

If you are not in the military:

Do not forget our heroes. Do not forget that it is our soldiers who keep us living in a life of ignorance. That the freedom we take for granted is a direct product of our soldiers' actions. Do not discuss the politics of what our nation does and throw a shadow on our protectors. Our soldiers do what they are ordered to do. Thank them for standing fast and following those orders.

If you don't like war, don't pick the fruits of it. Don't enjoy your freedom.

Realize the fact that, without our soldiers, we would have no borders, no states, no country. There would not be a 'United States of America'. We would not have thousands of people wanting to gain citizenship to our country. We would not be considered the most powerful nation on earth.

Talk to your parents or grandparents. Ask them how life was during World War II. Talk with a Veteran about what they went through. We have far too many veterans that have not been thanked for their service. We have far too many veterans who never came home that have family that have not been thanked.

I am not a political person. I am, however, a proud citizen of the United States of America.

United. Think about that word for a moment. It's the opposite of divided. The dictionary defines the word, in one sense, as "To combine (people) in interest, attitude, or action." [ see: Dictionary.com ]

Let us continue to be the United States of America by being the United People of America and support our troups.

May God bless you and God bless the United States of America

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