It’s the sound of freedom!
Although an outgoing ICBM is rather cool too.

I experience the same before every Green Bay Packer home game. The fighters make their turn over our area, point toward Green Bay, and let it roar. I too am grateful for the dedication to duty of those in the armed forces. Every once in a while I reflect on Luther’s letter to Asa von Kram. It is a powerful reminder that Lutherans have a fuller understanding of vocation than Anabaptists and those who exercise freedoms afforded by those who answer God’s call rather than rationalize it away.

I’ve heard it said this way.
Those in the military know where the war is. The rest of us are at the mall.

Thank you for your kind words and your steadfast, genuine support. In a country that seems to offer us far too much sympathy, pity, and fear, real gratitude is always welcome.
Thank you for the aid that you send to my brothers and sisters who are currently in harm’s way and for recognizing that there is an indivisible connection between a Soldier and the mission that he has been ordered to perform.
Most of all, thank you for your continued prayers. Those of us who are in this violent vocation are proud to serve such loyal citizens.
I recently spent an emotional weekend with nearly a dozen of our wounded veterans from the Global War on Terrorism. I would encourage all American patriots to seek out opportunities to directly interact with these heroes who have sacrificed so much for the rest of us. If you have not met with these young men and women to personally offer your gratitude to them, love them, and help them during this difficult time in their lives, you should make the effort. Opportunities abound for those who are interested. Your public words of thanks are always greatly appreciated, but it will be the direct actions of service to your neighbor that will help restore what our enemy tried so hard to take away from them.
Actions speak louder than words.
God bless each of you and your families.

We see lots of soldiers and veterans where I work. Men and women.
I love a loyal vet, still captivated by his life of decades ago. For some, the captivation is an abiding, healthy interest in a unique past experience. For others, at the worst it’s a continuing nightmare, at the least, an obvious scar.
As for the current crop, all volunteers, they’re truly doing the job *other Americans* won’t do, probably don’t understand, and can little appreciate.
It was disconcertingly humbling for this college grad to assist a soldier who got his diploma through GED, comes home to see his first baby being born, comes to our store to buy himself a good pair of boots (wife and newborn son in tow) on his way to literally catching a plane to return to Iraq where the temperature at the time was ridiculous triple digits.
She wasn’t crying and he wasn’t complaining.
I cried.
Most members of the military help you remember that people like that are still being made. Probably just because we need them.

Paul,
You might appreciate this. Once while crossing the ferry from Calhoun to St. Louis the jets came roaring past, below the tree tops, and right over top of the ferry on the mighty Mississippi. In the word’s of Fred Sanford, “Elizabeth! Honey! I’m coming to join you,” which is exactly what I was sure was going to happen. When I recovered, however, the adreline was pumping. Awesome!
Military guys and gals, keep up the good work.