We must never forget those brave men and women fighting in far off lands who often are asked to make the ultimate sacrifice as 20 brave Marines from my old home town of Cleveland did this week.

When I heard on the news last week a 20 year old young man telling his mother in email that he was afraid, that things were getting ugly "over here" and then several days later he is killed, it breaks my heart.

Many who serve joined after 9/11 and they joined for the same reasons their grandfathers did after Pearl Harbor, patriotic duty to country. No matter how we as Americans feel about any particular military excursion, we must never forget those who wear the uniform go where they are ordered by their President and his commanders. So we must always honor their sacrifice, whether that is a sacrifice of time away from their families, a loss of limb, or the ultimate, their life.

But despite their obvious courage, bravery, and patriotism, we must never forget they are human beings first with normal fears all humans face. They do their best to protect themselves and their unit, but they can express fear and concern. War is truly hell. Many return a totally changed person, having faced death many times and nearly as important, many having killed for the first time in their lives. It is never easy to kill another human being even if that person is out to kill you. It's a life altering experience.

I will not debate the war in this article. This article is solely to honor our brave men and women in uniform.