Oh my!
What a wonderful post, what a wonderful son.
What fear may be bubbling beneath the surface must be kept in check by the pride that you and your husband must feel when you look at the man your little boy has become.
It makes one stop and think about how meaningless all the posturing and chest-beating of the thousands of ideologues and "I'm more of a conservative than you" keyboard pounders that cheapen the risk one son takes, and the anguish mixed with pride that parents feel in the dead of the night, when those thoughts kept in check during the day surface to haunt your nights.
Know that I feel pride in him because of my pride in knowing you. Know that I will maintain him in my prayers, as will so many more in here. Know that with him goes a little piece of each and every one of us. Know that political ideology takes a backseat to what your son is...an American and a patriot.
Most of all, know without a doubt, that your son serves his country under a good man, a man who I believe will never put him in harm's way for any reason other than the good (and in the service) of God, flag, and country.
Like you put a face on our troops, I want to send you and your son a couple of faces myself. I have never done this, never thought I would, but this is important. These are a couple of the faces that he's defending, the faces that, as you said so well, are worth more than gold to me.
These are my little boys, and I hope that they grow into the man that your little boy has become.
Thank you, and God bless you.
Luis
