It is the VETERAN, not the preacher,
who has given us freedom of religion.

It is the VETERAN, not the reporter,
who has given us freedom of the press.

It is the VETERAN, not the poet,
who has given us freedom of speech.

It is the VETERAN, not the campus organizer,
who has given us freedom to assemble.

It is the VETERAN, not the lawyer,
who has given us the right to a fair trial.

It is the VETERAN, not the politician,
Who has given us the right to vote.



10th Mountain Police Co. in Afghanistan

It is the VETERAN,
who salutes the Flag,
who serves under the Flag,



USS Constellation and Arlington National Cemetary

ETERNAL REST GRANT THEM O LORD,
AND LET PERPETUAL LIGHT SHINE UPON THEM.












Grow Old With Me
Artwork by Paula Vaughan
used with permission

My Darling Wife,

Just a few lines tonight before I turn in to let you know that you are constantly in my thoughts. There seems to be a delay in my letters getting through to you so I thought I would use this V-Mail hoping it would reach you sooner. It seems like we have been apart forever. I will never forget the morning I left finding that you had lined my coat with pieces from your dress. Now the dress that once touched you is what keeps me warm while I am away from you. I touch the coat with my hands and I close my eyes and for a moment I am touching you. The flowers in the material remind me of the ones we planted before I left. You said they would come back in the Spring and maybe by then I will be coming home too. Someday this war will be over and we can begin our lives together again. I love you and I miss you so very much. I pray that God will give us many years together. Grow old along with me, my love, for the best is yet to be.

Yours forever,

This page is dedicated to
Col. Michael R. Gosnell
Golden Boy, a real GI Joe
An American Hero
and my dearest friend
"If you ain't Cav ..."


This page constructed in Notepad :-)

Photos US DOD website