tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14242496.post114509265378593051..comments2023-10-20T08:07:46.557-04:00Comments on Malott's Blog: Malotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09908995141115792851noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14242496.post-1145310375246954102006-04-17T17:46:00.000-04:002006-04-17T17:46:00.000-04:00Part of "keeping faith" with him is doing everythi...<I>Part of "keeping faith" with him is doing everything I can to make sure that he did not die in vain, and that his memory and the honor in his sacrifice are held high like a banner for all to see.</I><BR/><BR/>I live near Camp Pendleton, and my church has a lot of Marine families. We love our Marines. One year our church bought a set of flags of the five branches of the military so we can use them for Fourth of July, and when it's not Fourth of July, the flags are set way up high on ledges on either side of the sanctuary. <BR/><BR/>After the first of our Marines who had been deployed to Iraq returned home (I don't remember any of our guys serving in Afghanistan), our minister asked them to stand. Then the congregation gave them a spontaneous standing ovation, and we've done that for them every time any of our Marines have returned home. It was so moving that first time, and it hasn't stopped being moving.<BR/><BR/>It's not just the dead that we need to keep faith with. Every single member of the military, by virtue of having joined, has shown him or herself willing (though certainly not eager) to make that sacrifice. The living members of our military deserve every bit as much honor as those who have died. And those who died deserve honor without measure.<BR/><BR/>As you said, to do less is unappreciative, irresponsible, and vulgar.<BR/><BR/>Great post, Chris!SkyePuppyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01571489259897997518noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14242496.post-1145305098057097692006-04-17T16:18:00.000-04:002006-04-17T16:18:00.000-04:00Chris, Well said. It seems that you and I are of ...Chris, <BR/><BR/>Well said. It seems that you and I are of like mind today, as the soldiers are on my mind too.<BR/><BR/>You are right. No matter what our feelings on the war are, the men and women who are fighting are fighting as much for you and I as for the Iraqis or the Afghans. They deserve our gratitude and support.Christinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09297412590929141055noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14242496.post-1145292163352038422006-04-17T12:42:00.000-04:002006-04-17T12:42:00.000-04:00When a young soldier dies in this struggle, he die...<B>When a young soldier dies in this struggle, he dies for me. And I owe him for every normal day, for every word I am free to speak, and for every step and breath I take as a free man.</B><BR/><BR/>Beautifully written Chris. That is a keeper.All_I_Can_Standshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13706352699628789787noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14242496.post-1145270289513248592006-04-17T06:38:00.000-04:002006-04-17T06:38:00.000-04:00How right you are. This is a cancer that threatens...How right you are. This is a cancer that threatens all of us.<BR/>Great post Chrisjanicehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10885403909609923540noreply@blogger.com