God bless the USA

To the Editor,

Thank you for front page respect in (a recent) Sunday's edition!

Please don't tell those who are anti-america what each fold of the flag given to families of fallen servicepersons represents!! They'll want to take that away from us too!

As a gradeschooler, I pledged my allegiance to the flag and this country Monday through Friday standing in solemn attention as if I too was part of the military. I remember well the pride I felt when my cousins began serving their tours of duty. My brother held an even longer length with the Air Force.

Married in my teens, married just eight days, my new husband resumed his service by joining troops in Vietnam. He'd already completed about a year in Germany. For eight months then, I looked at our wedding pictures - me in a borrowed gown, but he is in his dress Army uniform. After 44 years wed, the two of us still defend the US Armed Forces as we have opportunity. today we face troubling times. And much has changed. We never stop needing to be reminded of what we put our trust in from man, and who we put our trust in spiritually. Lee Greenwood penned it beautifully: "I'll gladly stand up next to you and defend her still today. 'Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land - God bless the USA!" Can I get a witness?

Pat Mitchell

Puxico, Mo.