“It is too true, however disgraceful it may be to human nature, that the nations in general will make war whenever they have a prospect of getting anything by it, nay that absolute monarchs, will often make war when their nations are to get nothing by it, but for purposes and objects merely personal.”
–John Jay, Federalist Papers No. 4, 1787

I am so thankful each day that I am allowed to continue to serve my country in the small way that I am able.  Every day I am mindful of the lives on the line and the dedication and honor of the men and women who continue to actively serve our country.  They put their lives on the line so that the rest of us do not have to face so many of the adversities we might otherwise face.

Some come back bruised and battered.  Some physically.  Others, mentally and emotionally. All of us who have returned are daily reminded that some do not.  There are too many fallen brothers and sisters in arms.

For me though, there is that open secret that I have been given the privilege of doing my utmost for those who returned scarred and unable to deal with some of the things that have happened in life or who have aged or have left widows and orphans.  To me, it is my honor that I get to do my best to help them out.

As I do so, I am ever mindful of the fact that we need to be slow to go to war and put our people and our treasure into harm’s way.  But, also, having seen what I have seen, I want to hasten to say that when we do commit our country to war, we should do so with finality and of deliberation that we have done so justly, on good cause and to win victory as swiftly and decisively as possible.