I normally don't do forwards....

but my mom sent this one to me and I had to share it. See, we are a proud military family, one cousin has done 3 tours in Iraq and is Marine helicopter pilot, my uncle is a Navy SEAL who volunteered for Vietnam, both of my grandfathers served in WWII and another cousin is a member of SEAL Team 6 and is currently serving in Afghanistan. And yes, several of his friends were killed a week ago. So this hit particularly close to home.


International  Picture of the Year.

Here  are two very touching photos honored this  year. 
First  Place : 

First  Place 
Todd Heisler The Rocky Mountain  News  

When 2nd Lt. James Cathey's body arrived  at the Reno   Airport , Marines climbed  into the cargo hold of the plane and draped the  flag over his casket as passengers watched the  family gather on the tarmac.

During the  arrival of another Marine's casket last year at    Denver  International   Airport  , Major Steve Beck described the scene as so  powerful: 'See the people in the windows? They  sat right there in the plane, watching those  Marines. You gotta wonder what's going through  their minds, knowing that they're on the plane  that brought him home,' he said 'They will  remember being on that plane for the rest of  their lives. They're going to remember bringing  that Marine home. And they should.'

Second  Place  
Second  Place 
Todd Heisler The  Rocky  Mountain  News The night before the  burial of her husband's body, Katherine Cathey  refused to leave the casket, asking to sleep  next to his body for the last time The Marines  made a bed for her, tucking in the sheets below  the flag. Before she fell asleep, she opened her  laptop computer and played songs that reminded  her of 'Cat,' and one of the Marines asked if  she wanted them to continue standing watch as  she slept. 'I think it would be kind of nice if  you kept doing it,' she said. 'I think that's  what he would have wanted'. 


And the  one that really tightens MY throat: 



 
Blue  Fridays. 
Very  soon, you will see a great many people wearing  blue every Friday. The reason? Americans who  support our troops used to be called the 'silent  majority' We are no longer silent, and are  voicing our love for God, country and home in  record breaking numbers We are not organized,  boisterous or overbearing.

Many  Americans, like you, me and all our friends,  simply want to recognize that the vast majority  of    America supports our troops. Our idea  of showing solidarity and support for our troops  with dignity and respect starts this Friday --  and continues each and every Friday until the  troops all come home, sending a deafening  message that every red-blooded American who  supports our men and women afar, will wear  something blue. By word of mouth, press, TV --  let's make the    United States on every  Friday a sea of blue much like a homecoming  football game in the bleachers. If every one of  us who loves this country will share this with  acquaintances, coworkers, friends, and family,  it will not be long before the    USA is  covered in BLUE and it will let our troops know  the once 'silent' majority is on their side more  than ever, certainly more than the media lets  on. The first thing a soldier says when asked  'What can we do to make things better for you?'  is .'We need your support and your prayers.'  Let's get the word out and lead with class and  dignity, by example, and wear something blue  every Friday.

Only two  defining forces have ever offered to die for  you:
1.   Jesus Christ
2.  The American G.  I.

One died for your soul, the  other for your freedom.