[Illbay]

I almost cannot stand to watch when Fox News Channel broadcasts the little, 15- or 30-second seque', entitled "Ultimate Sacrifice," where they put up the names, ranks, ages, hometowns and photos of our Iraqi war dead.

But I can't not watch. It always takes me several minutes to regain my composure afterward. I want to weep, and I can't.

And then I realize that gallons of tears are being wept by mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, wives, children, cousins, aunts, uncles, friends, teachers, pastors, scout leaders, brothers-in-arms, commanding officers, and many others, for each one of these men (and women).

I haven't sufficient words to tell my emotions. In fact, I feel a touch of that sense of guilt that they say the survivor of an accident that takes the life of another always feels, the overwhelming sense that "it should have been me, not him, not her."

I don't believe that my own, personal debt to this valiant dead can EVER be expunged.

All I can try to do is live my life like these Ultimate Sacrifices were worth it.

[BonnieJ]

What hurts the most is how young they all are. And that is the case in every war, those who have barely begun to live their lives have sacrificed all for our freedom. My husband was badly injured in Vietnam at age 19, but at least went on to live his life. 58,000 did not from those many years there. And how many in World War II, Korea, etc? We owe them everything, and it truly is devastating to see them and consider the loss, but I am so glad Fox is honoring them.

[OldFriend]

Perhaps it's because my son is only recently out of the military, but I cannot watch either. It is unbearable. I see them and to me they are all our children.

[GodBlessRonaldReagan]

I don't believe that my own, personal debt to this valiant dead can EVER be expunged. All I can try to do is live my life like these Ultimate Sacrifices were worth it.

Amen.

[SouthernFreebird]

....and yet you have an intense hatred for our Confederate soldiers. Go figure

[hnorris]

[NewJerseyJoe]

Some appropriate words from our history -- bold emphasis added by me....

=======================

November 21, 1864
Mrs. Bixby-

Dear Madam,

I have been shown in the files of the War Department a statement of the Adjutant General of Massachusetts, that you are the mother of five sons who have died gloriously on the field of battle.

I feel how weak and fruitless must be any word of mine which should attempt to beguile you from the grief of a loss so overwhelming. But I cannot refrain from tendering to you the consolation that may be found in the thanks of the Republic they died to save.

I pray that our Heavenly Father may assuage the anguish of your bereavement, and leave you only the cherished memory of the loved and lost, and the solemn pride that must be yours, to have laid so costly a sacrifice upon the altar of freedom.

Yours, very sincerely and respectfully,

- A. Lincoln -