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If the following story isn't true, it ought to be.

Place: Somewhere, USA
Time: Somepast

A little girl stands beside the casket containing the remains of her daddy, killed while serving our country. The tall Marines looked sharp in their dress blues as they proudly and reverently stood at attention as honor guards. The little girl looked up at one of them and said, "Why? Why did MY daddy have to die?"

The Marine looked down at her and quietly kneeled down to be on the same level as her. He gazed into her young puffy red eyes and said, "Was your daddy a brave man?"

"Oh, yes", replied the little girl as she puffed up her chest a bit in pride, "he was VERY brave. He wasn't afraid of snakes or bugs or ANYTHING!"

"I though so", said the Marine. "If your daddy saw a bad bear that was going to hurt you, what would he do?"

"He would get his gun and chase that mean old bear away", said the girl.

"If he didn't have his gun, would he still try to chase the bear away to save you, even if the bear might hurt him very badly?", he asked.

"Oh, yes, my daddy loves me very much and wouldn't let me get hurt, no matter what", replied the girl.

"Would your daddy do it for a little girl or boy he had never met?"

Slowly, a bit of understanding crept into the little girl's eyes as she hung her head to try to hide her tears. "But why MY daddy!", she insisted.

"I think you know. You know that your daddy was in the military because there are very bad people who want to hurt good little boys and girls. He died trying to save ALL of those little boys and girls as well as their mommies and daddies. You see, your daddy is a hero not just to you, but to everybody, now."

The little girl burst into tears, throws herself into the arms of the Marine and sobs, "But I don't care! I just want my daddy!"

As a tear trickles down the face of the Marine, he hugs the girl and says simply, "I know, baby girl, I know."

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Greater love hath no man than he who lays down his life for his brother.

Thank you, Lord for the fine men and women who stand ready so that we may sleep peacefully.
Amen