I hope everyone has a great Holiday Weekend. And remember why we have Memorial Day.

Our military is not perfect...but none of us are. And our military is often used poorly by crummy politicians. But let's remember that the courageous folks who *voluntarily* choose to be in the military are literally willing to die to protect you and me and our country. If you do nothing else for Memorial Day, perhaps just think about that for a minute. And if you have another minute, think about how WW II would have come out if the US did not have a strong military.

Below are a few short lines about our soldiers. I'm sure that some folks out there can nitpick and deconstruct the below, but let's just be appreciative this long weekend and be thankful for our soldiers, past and present. Not to stifle debate--if you don't like what I'm saying here and want to say so, please just wait until Tuesday to post your comment. Only supportive comments will be accepted this weekend! ;)

**

It's the soldier, not the reporter who has given us
Freedom of the Press.

It's the soldier, not the poet, who has given us
Freedom of Speech.

It's the soldier, not the campus organizer, who has given us the Freedom to Demonstrate.

It's the soldier, not the lawyer, who has given us the
Right to a Fair Trial.

It's the soldier who salutes the flag, serves under the flag and whose coffin is draped by the flag,
Who gives the protestor the right to burn the flag.

~Father Dennis Edward O'Brien, USMC