Young men in harms way...

[Richard Crowe]

     Judy and I just drove up to Fallbrook, CA (about 25 miles from us) to pick up a pair of 6-month old puppies from a young Marine and his wife.  They are flying home tomorrow to Arkansas on Christmas leave and then the Marine will be deploying to Afghanistan. He is leaving his wife and son at home and we will find homes for the puppies...

     What struck me in meeting this young man was how young he looked.  He was probably less than twenty years old and was small in stature.  I am sure the Marines were equally as young when I was a combat cameraman in Vietnam but, since I was a lot younger myself, their young ages did not strike me as vividly...

     I could not help contrasting this young man, in the service of his country, spending his last night in San Diego finding a home for two puppies before he takes his wife and young child home, possibly never to see them again; against the horrendous acts committed by a troubled young person (I won't call him a man) of about the same age...

     As you are praying for the deceased of Newtown, Conn. and for their families; please include some prayers for the young men of this nation who are honorable and who are putting their lives on the line in a foreign country.  There are, thankfully, a lot more of these men than there are troubled boys who murder children because they don't like the way their mommy has treated them...

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Thank you for reminding us that many worthy young men will be far from their homes and loved ones this Christmas season.

[Lisa, Daisy & Dexter]

I will be praying loud and clear, just like your message Richard. And as usual, thank you for rescuing.