Our choices are what make us who we are. We always have the choice to do what's right.

It's easy to forget that there are still soldiers whose lives are at risk in Iraq. Some good bull to remind us via one man's sacrificial valor. (HT LTC. Michael J. Hartman (ret.))

Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael A. Monsoor was posthumously awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for jumping on a grenade thrown by an insurgent in Ramadi, giving his life to save 2 fellow SEALs in Iraq on St. Michael's day, September 29, 2006.

Per President Bush, he was the "4th Medal of Honor recipient in the 'War on Terror.'" He is the 2nd Navy Seal lost in Iraq and was the son of a Marine and a social worker. In addition to his parents, he is survived by his older brother, a police officer and former Marine; his sister, a nurse; and his younger brother, a college football player.

"Mr. and Mrs. Monsoor: America owes you a debt that can never be repaid. This nation will always cherish the memory of your son. We will not let his life go in vain. And this nation will always honor the sacrifice he made. May God comfort you. May God bless America."
-President Bush, at award ceremony (April 08, 2008)

During Mike Monsoor's funeral in San Diego, as his coffin was being moved from the hearse to the grave site at Ft. Rosecrans National Cemetery, SEALs were lined up on both sides of the pallbearers route forming a column of two's, with the coffin moving up the center. As Mike's coffin passed, each SEAL, having removed his gold Trident from his uniform, slapped it down embedding the Trident in the wooden coffin.

The slaps were audible from across the cemetery; by the time the coffin arrived grave side, it looked as though it had a gold inlay from all the Tridents pinned to it. A fitting send-off for a warrior hero, dead at age 25.

(PO2 Monsoor was also awarded the Silver Star, Bronze Star, Purple Heart, and the CAR.)