With Memorial Day fast approaching, let's put aside our personal feelings about the United States involvement in Iraq and focus on our service men who are serving our country proudly. Let our prayers go out to the families who have lost loved ones in this conflict. Pray to keep safe those men and woman who wear their uniforms proudly so that we may be kept safe. I am soon to see a close friend's son be deployed. It is in his honor that I offer you this tune. Take a moment to read the lyrics and say a prayer of peace.

The official song of the Marines is a hymn whose origins are cloudy. This tune was adopted by the Marine Corps in 1929. Although unconfirmed, the hymn is believed to have been written for the Opera, Genevieve de Barbant by Jacques Offenbach. When sung, the tune conjures up great visual images of the pride and dedication for which the Marines are known. A great admirer of the Marine Corps, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill was known to recite all three verses of the Marines' Hymn without prompts. Churchill was a great British patriot.

Marines' Hymn

From the Halls of Montezuma,
To the shores of Tripoli;
We fight our country's battles
In the air, on land, and sea;
First to fight for right and freedom
And to keep our honor clean;
We are proud to claim the title
Of United States Marines.

Our flag's unfurled to every breeze,
From dawn to setting sun;
We have fought in every clime and place
Where we could take a gun;
In the snow of far off northern lands
And in sunny tropic scenes;
You will find us always on the job --
The United States Marines.

Here's health to you and to our Corps
Which we are proud to serve;
In many a strife we've fought for life
And never lost our nerve;
If the Army and the Navy
Ever look on Heaven's scenes;
They will find the streets are guarded
By United States Marines.

I was born a few years after World War Two had ended. Both my parents had served in the war voluntarily. It was a time in our nation when patriotism was high. Conflicts since that time have raised the levels of patriotism such as the 1st gulf war and certainly immediately after 9/11 when we as a nation were reeling from the blow to our national security. However, the unpopularity of the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts have lowered the general feel of patriotism in this nation. Yet, we have large numbers of men and woman who are serving our country proud in these countries. Let us not forget them.