No matter what our position is on the war in Iraq, we need to honor the men and women who served our nation since its beginning and those who serve America today.

There always has been respect and gratitude for the heroism of our armed forces. I hope to bring to you a fresh awareness of the commitment, courage and valiant honor our young people display today as they offer their lives in the lines of duty for God and their Country.

While I was on active duty last year with the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, a place where severely wounded were hospitalized, these heroes showed me something that I will never forget. In the company of hundreds of the 18,000 severely wounded soldiers, I witnessed an astounding spirit of courage and patriotism displayed by these Marines that shook the very foundation of reality. How could these young heroes look at life again and not despair? How could some face a future without the full use of their bodies? How would they move forward to achieve goals they set for themselves?

The answer to these and many questions they would face was in their belief about this nation that they love. There was no question they would continue to honor America by their words and through their conduct. Their rigorous training gave them an enduring strength and taught them selflessness and a morally principled outlook we all would hope to achieve. No matter who among them I spoke with, no matter how severely they were injured, their attitude reflected the same staunch confidence and hope in each other and in the founding principles of America. You would have been proud of these young Marines. I wanted to applaud them and their unwavering support for one another and their steadfast belief in our country. At a time of near personal devastation, their strength was firm, their courage was unyielding and their hope, steady and true. I thought long and hard of what could have shaped such character, which even in their pain and suffering never faltered. It came to be through their consistent answers to my questions. I learned of their commitment, dedication and

allegiance to the liberty for which America stands; a freedom they grew up loving; one in which they are deeply committed. Their appreciation of our freedom is resolute. Their love of liberty is a dream they hold high, a dream they will protect by sacrifice, and one they never will let die. They themselves would risk their lives again before allowing another act of violence against America and the freedom so loved by her people. For this undying belief in liberty, they will not let their families, their fellow Marines or this nation down. In my conversations with them, many of them spoke of "wanting to go back to my squad," or "I'm hoping they'll let me continue to serve my country."

This is today's military, enlisted men and woman, not drafted against their will, but the heart of America's best who believe that America and her freedom are to be protected. They are neighbors and friends, husbands and wives, fathers and mothers, nephews and nieces, sons and daughters. Many of the heroes who, while in battle but out of immediate danger, learned of the perilous position of their fellow soldiers and fought their way back to help them. We cannot be insensitive to such compassion and courage.

We have every right to be for or against this or any war, a right our very freedom protects. But we, as people of a nation struggling to stay free, must never let the very defenders of our freedom walk that journey alone.

As Americans free to choose our course, let us support through kindness, consideration, thoughtfulness and prayers all our heroes and fellow Americans who are vigilant in the struggle to keep us free.

The writer is a S.C. Legislator fromWest Islip