"The Price Of Freedom Is Never Free."

Thus spoke Jan Scruggs, the driving personality that brought forth to culmination the dream of a memorial to honor the forever fallen of the Vietnam war. Himself a decorated veteran of this conflict that claimed 58,000 fellow comrades-in-arms who never returned to our shores, Jan was determined that their ultimate sacrifice and the service of the 300,000 men and women who were wounded during this dark period in our country's history would be forever remembered and honored. His unrelenting dedication to that quest is evidenced by the Vietnam Veteran Memorial's two rows of polished etched granite walls rising solemnly in the shadow of the Lincoln Memorial. Three million visitors to our nation's capital each year include a visit to this patch of hallowed ground to honor and pay their respect to these men and women who indeed gave the full measure of their devotion to our country.

As a veteran myself, I would be terribly remiss if I failed to use this vehicle of self-expression to offer my personal indebtedness and sincere gratitude for the thousands upon thousands of self-sacrificing men and women who have served and are serving in our country's military. I have walked the length of Vietnam Memorial, running my fingers across the names in prayerful respect, have stood at attention at the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Solider, and have wept among the endless rows of white grave makers at Arlington National Cemetery, being touched to my very core with the sobering realization that each etched name and each grave marker represents not just the individual who lost their life in defense of our freedoms and liberty, but the loved ones left behind that stood where I was standing and emptied their souls in unquenchable sorrow. Unless one has personally experienced that confusing and numbing mixture of sorrow and pride, one can never come to fully understand what an ultimate sacrifice demands in payment. Because I cannot relate to that depth of feeling, I am lost for the words to adequately describe. But I am never at a loss to say that the words "Thank You" are never enough.

This nation's indebtedness to these men and women must be held in the highest esteem not just on a single day of commemoration, but should be remembered daily in our prayers of protection for those who serve us faithfully today and in humble recognition for those who have served us so selflessly in the past. Each understands and understood that "The price of freedom is never free." Their sacrifice has and is paying that price in full. I am grateful and I am humbled.