Today is Armed Forces Day! Salute our Troops and Veterans!

[UrbScotty]

As we celebrate Armed Forces Day, and as we approach Memorial Day, we remember the millions of people who have died for our rights. Let us honor the rights that have been protected by our Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and National Guard throughout the years.

Because of their sacrifices, we Americans have the right to:

• Speak our mind freely
  
• Worship in any way we choose (if we choose to worship at all)
  
• Assemble ‘Peaceably’
  
• ‘Petition to the Government for the Redress of Grievances
  
• Bear arms
  
• Maintain our privacy, unless they have a GOOD reason
  
• A speedy trial by jury, if we’re ever accused
  
• Freedom from cruel and unusual punishment, if we’re convicted
  
• Freedom from ‘double jeopardy’ if we’re acquitted (unless you’re an Alex Trebek fan ;-) )
  
• The right to choose our own leaders
  
• The right to replace our leaders if they have failed us
  

Obviously, there are some people who have a problem with those rights. I wish them a happy retirement starting next January!

I’d also expect there to be resentment toward our Armed Forces with regards to the prison abuse scandal. Understand, however, that this problem involves only a handful of troops. It would be downright terrible to not support any of our hundreds of thousands of troops because of what a few of them are doing.

SO...

To everybody in the United States Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard, and National Guiard, and to all of you who have served your Nation in the Armed Services before, I send out my HOO-RAH! (or whatever it is; I think that's actually just an Army thing, though) and a SALUTE!