"From the Halls of Monezuma to the shores of Tripoli", no other assembly of men living or dead hold a higher place of honor in my heart. To all Marines past and present, and Veterans of all branches, with bowed head and misty eye I offer my most heartfelt gratitude. If I were asked to select a single image to stand as an emblem of our Nation and heritatage it would be the Marine in dress uniform.
As I watch my children laughing and playing; free, safe, and prosperous; I temble at the thought of the price paid by others for what I now enjoy. I try to always remember that my freedom was not given, or negotiated; It was not aquired by chance or charity. It was won and is kept only by fierce unyielding might. ANYONE who thinks humanity has evolved and is a kinder, wiser, more civilized society where freedom is given and maintained by virtue of pacivity or courtesy is a fool. Freedom is and always will be maintained only by those tenacious fighters who would charge the very gates of Hell with a bucket of water for Freedom's sake. If you have never done so, I encourage you to go to Arlington or one of the 122 OTHER National cemetaries dedicated to our Honoured dead and look over the rolling sea of white markers and remember what they have sacrificed.
To true Heros.
-Ben M.
SEMPER FI 
support our troops.
