A Tribute to Heroes...

I just got back from a night-time welcome home parade for a soldier here in Heber. He's younger than me and just got back from Iraq today. Can I just say, that is one of the coolest things I have ever done, and one of the coolest parts of living here in Heber. Where else would families drop everything at 9 on a Saturday night to line the streets to wave flags and cheer? Where else would a firetruck and police escort come through the city, sirens blaring for a brother returning from war? It was amazing.

I was touched to the point of tears - grateful to this courageous young man who has put himself in harm's way to protect my city, my country, my freedom.

Ladies and gentlemen, you may not agree with President Bush leading us to war. You may not even agree with President Obama's pull-out plans. But you cannot fault these young men and women who voluntarily put themselves in harm's way to protect our country, our freedom, and our way of life, in fact, our very freedom to proclaim whether we support this war or not. Support the policy of war or not, but we are ungrateful if we do not honor these young men and women when they come home, and hold in remembrance those who are not so fortunate.

"Thank you" just doesn't seem adequate. We are forever indebted to you. We love you. We honor you.

Welcome home, Michael Kirkland. Welcome home.

We salute you.