Missi and I are very proud of all the young men and women in the military. We have a son a nephew and four young friends in the service. One Marine, Two in the Army and Three, counting our son in the Navy. Last month, on his second deployment, in as many years he tapped out a few thoughts and I felt compelled to reprint them here for all to ponder. Dayne, I did enjoy the read. It must be very tough with all the diffrent feelings one goes through in a day. Be safe and God Bless. DAD

 Dad I was bored on watch and thought I would write something about the navy and the military in general because you don't always hear a lot of good things on the news about us. I hope you like it. Dayne

                                            A Sailors Point Of View

The sea is a dangerous place and it takes honor, and commitment to sail it for a unknown number of days at a time. The men and women who sail these seas protect the ones that we love and keep nearest to us. We know this andwe do it anyway. Some may call us stupid and some may call us dumb, but when they are sleeping at night and going to work in the morning or to school they take it for granted. When they buy a house and own it or they buy a vehicle they don't realize what it takes to do that. People in this country take freedom for granted. Why? I can't answer that question but I know one thing I'm proud to be fighting for these people who protest the war and the sailors, soldiers and airmen and womenwho are fighting for them to pick up that picket sign or march in the protest. Am I willing to give my life for these people that call themselves patriots? Absolutely, I have met a lot of people in my time in the service and I know that they feel the same way as me. Are we scared of dying? Yes, it's everyone's human nature to fear death. I just don't understand how these people can argue and protest these young men and women going out and fighting whether they believe in it or not and losing limbs or worse their lives. The military has a lot more to offer than a college education and honor. It has friendships that last forever. I have met alot of people in my day growing up and I considered them my friends.A true friend will look you in the eye SOBER and tellyou that he will give his life for you if it means he will able to see his family again. It is a big decision and responsibility for these young men and women to be able to do that but we do. We do this so we can have freedom. Freedom of speech, freedom to vote, freedom to do almost anything you want, and do we ever get thanks? The protestors only see what they want to see. They only see the carage of war. They don't see all the good we do. Noone ever said a war was fun, easy or pretty. Its the young men and women of this nation that make this country what it is, and if you ask me I'm very proud to be living in this country and fighting for this country. Am I a patriot? You bet I am! Am I willing to give my life for my loved ones back home, my friends and shipmates on board and my country? YES YES YES I am willing to do what it takes to keep this country a democracy and free and to defend all enemies foriegn and domestic to make sure that my kids someday will be able to grow up in the country that I did and have the rights and freedoms hat I did. In conclusion I'm not asking for sympathy. I'm asking you to take a moment and sit and think and pray and try to understand the hardships and efforts that the young men and women of America today have to go through, and the hardships that the veterans had to go through  when they were in the military, and the hardships that all military members are still going through. God Bless America.

    IT3 DS