A very Merry Christmas to you and your family, dear readers! I really appreciate each and every one of you taking the time to read my often incoherent and frequently neglected blog. I hope 2009 has been good to you, and that 2010 will be even better.

As everyone knows, eight years have passed since the event that changed the world. Seems like yesterday, doesn’t it? And yet, the world has changed so much since then that it’s hard to believe that only eight years have passed.

Yet here were are, eight years later, looking back on that event and how it changed the world. Certainly it changed many of us as individuals. I was a 20 year old student at Cumberland University on that Tuesday morning, just starting to stir in my dorm room. I woke up and flipped on the TV, then slipped back into a semi-asleep state when I heard, half awake, that a plane had crashed into the World Trade Center. I didn’t think much of it; I mean, it was tragic and all, but it was probably an accident, right?

Wrong. When I heard that a second plane had crashed into the World Trade Center, like everyone else, I knew it was no accident. The point was reinforced when a third plane crashed into the Pentagon, and another crashed in Shanksville, PA. We were at war. There was no turning back.

I didn’t see the towers fall. I was preparing for class when the first collapsed, and returned to the TV to see one of the towers was gone. ‘Surely it didn’t fall,’ I thought. I was informed of the next collapse from a student who ran into my classroom with the news. An older student sitting next to me said ‘Get ready to enlist; we’re at war.’

Well, that didn’t happen, but September 11, 2001 remains the most surreal day I’ve ever lived through. I knew that someday my children and grandchildren would ask about it. This would be the defining moment of my generation (born in 1981, I’m either the very last of Generation X or the very first of Generation Y, depending on whose timeline you use).

9/11 changed me in some ways, the most obvious of which being my interest in politics. I had a passing interest in current events prior to that day, but afterwards I became obsessive, spending several hours a day watching the news. After I transferred to UT I got involved in the College Republicans and became a columnist for the Daily Beacon. Later, I even changed my major to political science, and went on to earn a Master’s degree in that subject. And, of course, I’ve been maintaining this blog for almost six years. If not for 9/11, I doubt any of this would happen.

Well, my politics have cooled a bit since that day, mostly due to disillusionment about the presidency of George W. Bush and the conservative movement in general. But politics still fascinate me, and I still know what I believe, even if politicians rarely ever institute it. I know there are millions of others who have a 9/11 story similar to my own.

My time in Korea is winding down. Not coincidentally I hope to resume blogging soon.

Today I turn 28. Another year has passed in my increasingly rapid trek toward oblivion.

On November 10, 2003, an uber-motivated undergraduate College Republican at the University of Tennessee started a political blog creatively called “What Can Brown Do For You?” Five years, four name changes, and three URL moves later, that blog lives on. Sure it isn’t as active as it once was. I’m also not as idealistic or ideological as I was in those days. But I am proud that I have stuck with it this long, and I am very grateful to everyone who has dropped in over the past five years. I hope you were enlightened, and I hope I my foray into the blogosphere is just getting started!

It’s hard to believe it’s been seven years… On September 11, 2001 these lives were lost…
World Trade Center

Gordon M. Aamoth Jr., Paula Morales, Edelmiro Abad, Maria Rose Abad, Andrew Anthony Abate, Vincent Abate, Laurence Christopher Abel, Alona Abraham, William F. Abrahamson, Richard Anthony Aceto, Jesus Acevedo Rescand, Heinrich Bernhard Ackermann, Paul Acquaviva, Donald LaRoy Adams, Patrick Adams, Shannon Lewis Adams, Stephen George Adams, Ignatius Udo Adanga, Christy A. Addamo, Terence E. Adderley Jr., Sophia Buruwad Addo, Lee Allan Adler, Daniel Thomas Afflitto, Emmanuel Akwasi Afuakwah, Alok Agarwal, Mukul Kumar Agarwala, Joseph Agnello, David Scott Agnes, Brian G. Ahearn, Jeremiah Joseph Ahern, Joanne Marie Ahladiotis, Shabbir Ahmed, Terrance Andre Aiken, Godwin Ajala, Gertrude M. Alagero, Andrew Alameno, Margaret Ann Alario, Gary M. Albero, Jon Leslie Albert, Peter Alderman, Jacquelyn Delaine Aldridge, David D. Alger, Sarah Ali-Escarcega, Ernest Alikakos, Edward L. Allegretto, Eric Allen, Joseph Ryan Allen, Richard Dennis Allen, Richard Lanard Allen, Christopher E. Allingham, Anna Allison, Janet M. Alonso, Arturo Alva-Moreno, Anthony Alvarado, Antonio Javier Alvarez, Victoria Alvarez-Brito, Telmo E. Alvear, Cesar Amoranto Alviar, Tariq Amanullah, Angelo Amaranto, James M. Amato, Joseph Amatuccio, Christopher Charles Amoroso, Kazuhiro Anai, Calixto Anaya Jr., Joseph Anchundia, Kermit Charles Anderson, Yvette Constance Anderson, John Andreacchio, Michael Rourke Andrews, Jean Ann Andrucki, Siew-Nya Ang, Joseph Angelini Jr., Joseph Angelini Sr., David Lawrence Angell, Laura Angilletta, Doreen J. Angrisani, Lorraine Antigua, Seima Aoyama, Peter Paul Apollo, Faustino Apostol Jr., Frank Thomas Aquilino, Patrick Michael Aranyos, David Arce, Michael George Arczynski, Louis Arena, Barbara Jean Arestegui, Adam P. Arias, Michael Armstrong, Jack Charles Aron, Joshua Aron, Richard Avery Aronow, Myra Joy Aronson, Japhet Jesse Aryee, Patrick Asante, Carl Asaro, Michael Asciak, Michael Edward Asher, Janice Marie Ashley, Thomas J. Ashton, Manuel O. Asitimbay, Gregg Arthur Atlas, Gerald T. Atwood, James Audiffred, Louis Frank Aversano Jr., Ezra Aviles, Sandy Ayala, Arlene T. Babakitis, Eustace P. Bacchus, John J. Badagliacca, Jane Ellen Baeszler, Robert J. Baierwalter, Andrew J. Bailey, Brett T. Bailey, Garnet Edward Bailey, Tatyana Bakalinskaya, Michael S. Baksh, Sharon M. Balkcom, Michael Andrew Bane, Katherine Bantis, Gerard Baptiste, Walter Baran, Gerard A. Barbara, Paul Vincent Barbaro, James William Barbella, Ivan Kyrillos F. Barbosa, Victor Daniel Barbosa, Christine Barbuto, Colleen Ann Barkow, David Michael Barkway, Matthew Barnes, Sheila Patricia Barnes, Evan J. Baron, Renee Barrett-Arjune, Nathaly Barrios La Cruz, Arthur Thaddeus Barry, Diane G. Barry, Maurice Vincent Barry, Scott D. Bart, Carlton W. Bartels, Guy Barzvi, Inna B. Basina, Alysia Basmajian, Kenneth William Basnicki, Steven Bates, Paul James Battaglia, Walter David Bauer Jr., Marlyn Capito Bautista, Mark Lawrence Bavis, Jasper Baxter, Michele Beale, Paul Frederick Beatini, Jane S. Beatty, Lawrence Ira Beck, Manette Marie Beckles, Carl John Bedigian, Michael Earnest Beekman, Maria A. Behr, Yelena Belilovsky, Nina Patrice Bell, Debbie Bellows, Stephen Elliot Belson, Paul M. Benedetti, Denise Lenore Benedetto, Maria Bengochea, Bryan Craig Bennett, Eric L. Bennett, Oliver Duncan Bennett, Margaret L. Benson, Dominick J. Berardi, James Patrick Berger, Steven Howard Berger, John P. Bergin, Alvin Bergsohn, Daniel Bergstein, Graham Andrew Berkeley, Michael J. Berkeley, Donna M. Bernaerts, David W. Bernard, William Bernstein, David M. Berray, David S. Berry, Joseph J. Berry, William Reed Bethke, Timothy Betterly, Carolyn Beug, Edward Frank Beyea, Paul Beyer, Anil Tahilram Bharvaney, Bella J. Bhukhan, Shimmy D. Biegeleisen, Peter Alexander Bielfeld, William G. Biggart, Brian Bilcher, Carl Vincent Bini, Gary Eugene Bird, Joshua David Birnbaum, George John Bishop, Jeffrey Donald Bittner, Albert Balewa Blackman Jr., Christopher Joseph Blackwell, Susan Leigh Blair, Harry Blanding Jr., Janice Lee Blaney, Craig Michael Blass, Rita Blau, Richard Middleton Blood Jr., Michael Andrew Boccardi, John P. Bocchi, Michael Leopoldo Bocchino, Susan M. Bochino, Bruce D. Boehm, Mary Catherine Boffa, Nicholas Andrew Bogdan, Darren Christopher Bohan, Lawrence Francis Boisseau, Vincent M. Boland Jr., Touri Bolourchi, Alan Bondarenko, Andre Bonheur Jr., Colin Arthur Bonnett, Frank Bonomo, Yvonne Lucia Bonomo, Genieve Bonsignore, Seaon Booker, Kelly Ann Booms, Sherry Ann Bordeaux, Krystine Bordenabe, Martin Boryczewski, Richard Edward Bosco, Klaus Bothe, Carol Marie Bouchard, John H. Boulton, Francisco Eligio Bourdier, Thomas Harold Bowden Jr., Kimberly S. Bowers, Veronique Nicole Bowers, Shawn Edward Bowman Jr., Larry Bowman, Kevin L. Bowser, Gary R. Box, Gennady Boyarsky, Pamela Boyce, Michael Boyle, Alfred Braca, Kevin Bracken, David Brian Brady, Alexander Braginsky, Nicholas W. Brandemarti, Daniel Raymond Brandhorst, David Reed Gamboa Brandhorst, Michelle Renee Bratton, Patrice Braut, Lydia E. Bravo, Ronald Michael Breitweiser, Edward A. Brennan III, Francis Henry Brennan, Michael E. Brennan, Peter Brennan, Thomas M. Brennan, Daniel J. Brethel, Gary Lee Bright, Jonathan Briley, Mark A. Brisman, Paul Gary Bristow, Mark Francis Broderick, Herman Charles Broghammer, Keith A. Broomfield, Ethel Brown, Janice Juloise Brown, Lloyd Stanford Brown, Patrick J. Brown, Bettina Browne, Mark Bruce, Richard George Bruehert, Andrew Brunn, Vincent Brunton, Ronald Paul Bucca, Brandon J. Buchanan, Gregory Joseph Buck, Dennis Buckley, Nancy Clare Bueche, Patrick Joseph Buhse, John Edwards Bulaga Jr., Stephen Bunin, William Francis Burke Jr., Matthew J. Burke, Thomas Daniel Burke, Donald J. Burns, Kathleen Anne Burns, Keith James Burns, John Patrick Burnside, Irina Buslo, Milton G. Bustillo, Thomas M. Butler, Patrick Byrne, Timothy G. Byrne, Jesus Neptali Cabezas, Lillian Caceres, Brian Joseph Cachia, Steven Dennis Cafiero Jr., Richard M. Caggiano, Cecile Marella Caguicla, John Brett Cahill, Michael John Cahill, Scott Walter Cahill, Thomas Joseph Cahill, George Cain, Salvatore B. Calabro, Joseph Calandrillo, Philip V. Calcagno, Edward Calderon, Kenneth Marcus Caldwell, Dominick Enrico Calia, Felix Calixte, Frank Callahan, Liam Callahan, Luigi Calvi, Roko Camaj, Michael F. Cammarata, David Otey Campbell, Geoffrey Thomas Campbell, Jill Marie Campbell, Robert Arthur Campbell, Sandra Patricia Campbell, Sean Thomas Canavan, John A. Candela, Vincent Cangelosi, Stephen J. Cangialosi, Lisa Bella Cannava, Brian Cannizzaro, Michael Canty, Louis Anthony Caporicci, Jonathan Neff Cappello, James Christopher Cappers, Richard Michael Caproni, Jose Manuel Cardona, Dennis M. Carey, Steve Carey, Edward Carlino, Michael Scott Carlo, David G. Carlone, Rosemarie C. Carlson, Mark Stephen Carney, Joyce Ann Carpeneto, Ivhan Luis Carpio Bautista, Jeremy M. Carrington, Michael Carroll, Peter Carroll, James Joseph Carson Jr., Christoffer Mikael Carstanjen, Marcia Cecil Carter, James Marcel Cartier, Vivian Casalduc, John Francis Casazza, Paul R. Cascio, Margarito Casillas, Thomas Anthony Casoria, William Otto Caspar, Alejandro Castano, Germaan Castillo Garcia, Arcelia Castillo, Leonard M. Castrianno, Jose Ramon Castro, Richard G. Catarelli, Christopher Sean Caton, Robert John Caufield, Mary Teresa Caulfield, Judson Cavalier, Michael Joseph Cawley, Jason David Cayne, Juan Armando Ceballos, Jason Michael Cefalu, Thomas Joseph Celic, Ana Mercedes Centeno, Joni Cesta, Jeffrey Marc Chairnoff, Swarna Chalasani, William Chalcoff, Eli Chalouh, Charles Lawrence Chan, Mandy Chang, Mark Lawrence Charette, Gregorio Manuel Chavez, Delrose E. Cheatham, Pedro Francisco Checo, Douglas MacMillan Cherry, Stephen Patrick Cherry, Vernon Paul Cherry, Nester Julio Chevalier, Swede Chevalier, Alexander H. Chiang, Dorothy J. Chiarchiaro, Luis Alfonso Chimbo, Robert Chin, Wing Wai Ching, Nicholas Paul Chiofalo, John Chipura, Peter A. Chirchirillo, Catherine Chirls, Kyung Hee Cho, Abul K. Chowdhury, Mohammad Salahuddin Chowdhury, Kirsten L. Christophe, Pamela Chu, Steven Chucknick, Wai Chung, Christopher Ciafardini, Alex F. Ciccone, Frances Ann Cilente, Elaine Cillo, Nestor Andre Cintron III, Edna Cintron, Robert Dominick Cirri, Juan Pablo Cisneros-Alvarez, Benjamin Keefe Clark, Eugene Clark, Gregory Alan Clark, Mannie Leroy Clark, Thomas R. Clark, Christopher Robert Clarke, Donna Marie Clarke, Michael J. Clarke, Suria Rachel Emma Clarke, Kevin Francis Cleary, James D. Cleere, Geoffrey W. Cloud, Susan Marie Clyne, Steven Coakley, Jeffrey Alan Coale, Patricia A. Cody, Daniel Michael Coffey, Jason M. Coffey, Florence G. Cohen, Kevin Sanford Cohen, Anthony Joseph Coladonato, Mark Joseph Colaio, Stephen Colaio, Christopher M. Colasanti, Kevin Nathaniel Colbert, Michel P. Colbert, Keith E. Coleman, Scott Thomas Coleman, Tarel Coleman, Liam Joseph Colhoun, Robert D. Colin, Robert J. Coll, Jean Collin, John Michael Collins, Michael L. Collins, Thomas J. Collins, Joseph Collison, Jeffrey Dwayne Collman, Patricia Malia Colodner, Linda M. Colon, Sol E. Colon, Ronald Edward Comer, Sandra Jolane Conaty Brace, Jaime Concepcion, Albert Conde, Denease Conley, Susan P. Conlon, Margaret Mary Conner, Cynthia Marie Lise Connolly, John E. Connolly Jr., James Lee Connor, Jonathan M. Connors, Kevin Patrick Connors, Kevin F. Conroy, Jose Manuel Contreras-Fernandez, Brenda E. Conway, Dennis Michael Cook, Helen D. Cook, Jeffrey W. Coombs, John A. Cooper, Joseph John Coppo Jr., Gerard J. Coppola, Joseph Albert Corbett, John J. Corcoran III, Alejandro Cordero, Robert Cordice, Ruben D. Correa, Danny A. Correa-Gutierrez, James J. Corrigan, Carlos Cortes, Kevin Cosgrove, Dolores Marie Costa, Digna Alexandra Costanza, Charles Gregory Costello Jr., Michael S. Costello, Conrod K. Cottoy, Martin John Coughlan, John Gerard Coughlin, Timothy J. Coughlin, James E. Cove, Andre Cox, Frederick John Cox, James Raymond Coyle, Michele Coyle-Eulau, Anne Marie Cramer, Christopher S. Cramer, Denise Elizabeth Crant, James Leslie Crawford Jr., Robert James Crawford, Tara Kathleen Creamer, Joanne Mary Cregan, Lucy Crifasi, John A. Crisci, Daniel Hal Crisman, Dennis Cross, Kevin Raymond Crotty, Thomas G. Crotty, John Crowe, Welles Remy Crowther, Robert L. Cruikshank, John Robert Cruz, Grace Yu Cua, Kenneth John Cubas, Francisco Cruz Cubero, Thelma Cuccinello, Richard J. Cudina, Neil James Cudmore, Thomas Patrick Cullen lll, Joyce Cummings, Brian Thomas Cummins, Michael Cunningham, Robert Curatolo, Laurence Damian Curia, Paul Dario Curioli, Patrick Currivan, Andrew Peter Charles Curry Green, Beverly Curry, Michael S. Curtin, Gavin Cushny, John D’Allara, Vincent Gerard D’Amadeo, Jack D’Ambrosi, Mary D’Antonio, Edward A. D’Atri, Michael D. D’Auria, Michael Jude D’Esposito, Manuel John Da Mota, Caleb Arron Dack, Carlos S. DaCosta, Joao Alberto DaFonseca Aguiar Jr., Brian Paul Dale, Thomas A. Damaskinos, Jeannine Marie Damiani-Jones, Patrick W. Danahy, Nana Danso, Vincent Danz, Dwight Donald Darcy, Elizabeth Ann Darling, Annette Andrea Dataram, Lawrence Davidson, Michael Allen Davidson, Scott Matthew Davidson, Titus Davidson, Niurka Davila, Clinton Davis, Wayne Terrial Davis, Anthony Richard Dawson, Calvin Dawson, Edward James Day, Dorothy Alma de Araujo, Jayceryll de Chavez, Jennifer De Jesus, Monique E. De Jesus, Nereida De Jesus, Emerita De La Pena, Azucena Maria de la Torre, Jose Nicolas De Pena,, David Paul De Rubbio, Jemal Legesse De Santis, Christian Louis De Simone, Melanie Louise De Vere, William Thomas Dean, Robert J. DeAngelis Jr., Thomas Patrick DeAngelis, Tara E. Debek, Anna Marjia DeBin, James V. Deblase, Paul DeCola, Simon Marash Dedvukaj, Jason Defazio, David A. DeFeo, Manuel Del Valle Jr., Donald Arthur Delapenha, Vito Joseph DeLeo, Danielle Anne Delie, Joseph A. Della Pietra, Andrea DellaBella, Palmina DelliGatti, Colleen Ann Deloughery, Francis Albert DeMartini, Anthony Demas, Martin N. DeMeo, Francis Deming, Carol K. Demitz, Kevin Dennis, Thomas F. Dennis, Jean DePalma, Robert John Deraney, Michael DeRienzo, Edward Desimone Iii, Andrew Desperito, Cindy Ann Deuel, Jerry DeVito, Robert P. Devitt Jr., Dennis Lawrence Devlin, Gerard Dewan, Sulemanali Kassamali Dhanani, Patricia Florence Di Chiaro, Debra Ann Di Martino, Michael Louis DiAgostino, Matthew Diaz, Nancy Diaz, Rafael Arturo Diaz, Michael A. Diaz-Piedra III, Judith Berquis Diaz-Sierra, Joseph Dermot Dickey Jr., Lawrence Patrick Dickinson, Michael D. Diehl, John Difato, Vincent Difazio, Carl Anthony DiFranco, Donald Difranco, David Dimeglio, Stephen Patrick Dimino, William John Dimmling, Marisa DiNardo Schorpp, Christopher M. Dincuff, Jeffrey Mark Dingle, Anthony Dionisio, George DiPasquale, Joseph Dipilato, Douglas Frank DiStefano, Donald Americo Ditullio, Ramzi A. Doany, John Joseph Doherty, Melissa C. Doi, Brendan Dolan, Neil Matthew Dollard, James Joseph Domanico, Benilda Pascua Domingo, Alberto Dominguez, Carlos Dominguez, Jerome Mark Patrick Dominguez, Kevin W. Donnelly, Jacqueline Donovan, Stephen Scott Dorf, Thomas Dowd, Kevin Dowdell, Mary Yolanda Dowling, Raymond Mathew Downey, Frank Joseph Doyle, Joseph Michael Doyle, Randall L. Drake, Stephen Patrick Driscoll, Mirna A. Duarte, Luke A. Dudek, Christopher Michael Duffy, Gerard Duffy, Michael Joseph Duffy, Thomas W. Duffy, Antoinette Duger, Sareve Dukat, Christopher Joseph Dunne, Richard Anthony Dunstan, Patrick Thomas Dwyer, Joseph Anthony Eacobacci, John Bruce Eagleson, Robert Douglas Eaton, Dean Phillip Eberling, Margaret Ruth Echtermann, Paul Robert Eckna, Constantine Economos, Dennis Michael Edwards, Michael Hardy Edwards, Mary Lynn Edwards-Angell, Christine Egan, Martin J. Egan Jr., Lisa Egan, Michael Egan, Samantha Martin Egan, Carole Eggert, Lisa Caren Ehrlich, John Ernst Eichler, Eric Adam Eisenberg, Daphne Ferlinda Elder, Michael J. Elferis, Mark Joseph Ellis, Valerie Silver Ellis, Albert Alfy William Elmarry, Edgar Hendricks Emery Jr., Doris Suk-Yuen Eng, Christopher Epps, Ulf Ramm Ericson, Erwin L. Erker, William John Erwin, Jose Espinal, Fanny Espinoza, Bridget Ann Esposito, Francis Esposito, Michael Esposito, William Esposito, Ruben Esquilin Jr., Sadie Ette, Barbara G. Etzold, Eric Brian Evans, Robert Evans, Meredith Emily June Ewart, Catherine K. Fagan, Patricia Mary Fagan, Keith George Fairben, Sandra Fajardo-Smith, William Lawrence Fallon Jr., William F. Fallon, Anthony J. Fallone Jr., Dolores Brigitte Fanelli, Robert John Fangman, John Joseph Fanning, Kathleen Anne Faragher, Thomas Farino, Nancy Carole Farley, Paige Marie Farley-Hackel, Elizabeth Ann Farmer, Douglas Jon Farnum, John G. Farrell, John W. Farrell, Terrence Patrick Farrell, Joseph D. Farrelly, Thomas Patrick Farrelly, Syed Abdul Fatha, Christopher Edward Faughnan, Wendy R. Faulkner, Shannon Marie Fava, Bernard D. Favuzza, Robert Fazio Jr., Ronald Carl Fazio, William Feehan, Francis Jude Feely, Garth Erin Feeney, Sean B. Fegan, Lee S. Fehling, Peter Adam Feidelberg, Alan D. Feinberg, Rosa Maria Feliciano, Edward Thomas Fergus Jr., George Ferguson, Henry Fernandez, Judy Hazel Fernandez, Julio Fernandez, Elisa Giselle Ferraina, Anne Marie Sallerin Ferreira, Robert John Ferris, David Francis Ferrugio, Louis V. Fersini, Michael David Ferugio, Bradley James Fetchet, Jennifer Louise Fialko, Kristen Nicole Fiedel, Samuel Fields, Alexander Milan Filipov, Michael Bradley Finnegan, Timothy J. Finnerty, Michael Curtis Fiore, Stephen S R Fiorelli Sr., Paul M. Fiori, John B. Fiorito, John R. Fischer, Andrew Fisher, Bennett Lawson Fisher, John Roger Fisher, Thomas J. Fisher, Lucy A. Fishman, Ryan D. Fitzgerald, Thomas James Fitzpatrick, Richard P. Fitzsimons, Salvatore Fiumefreddo, Christina Donovan Flannery, Eileen Flecha, Andre G. Fletcher, Carl M. Flickinger, John Joseph Florio, Joseph Walken Flounders, Carol Ann Flyzik, David Fodor, Michael N. Fodor, Stephen Mark Fogel, Thomas Foley, David J. Fontana, Chih Min Foo, Godwin Forde, Donald A. Foreman, Christopher Hugh Forsythe, Claudia Alicia Foster, Noel John Foster, Ana Fosteris, Robert Joseph Foti, Jeffrey Fox, Virginia Fox, Pauline Francis, Virgin Francis, Gary Jay Frank, Morton H. Frank, Peter Christopher Frank, Richard K. Fraser, Kevin J. Frawley, Clyde Frazier Jr., Lillian Inez Frederick, Andrew Fredricks, Tamitha Freeman, Brett Owen Freiman, Peter L. Freund, Arlene Eva Fried, Alan Wayne Friedlander, Andrew Keith Friedman, Paul J. Friedman, Gregg J. Froehner, Lisa Anne Frost, Peter Christian Fry, Clement A. Fumando, Steven Elliot Furman, Paul Furmato, Karleton D.B.Fyfe, Fredric Neal Gabler, Richard Samuel Federick Gabrielle, James Andrew Gadiel, Pamela Lee Gaff, Ervin Vincent Gailliard, Deanna Lynn Galante, Grace Catherine Galante, Anthony Edward Gallagher, Daniel James Gallagher, John Patrick Gallagher, Lourdes Galletti, Cono E. Gallo, Vincenzo Gallucci, Thomas E. Galvin, Giovanna Galletta Gambale, Thomas Gambino Jr., Giann Franco Gamboa, Ronald Gamboa, Peter Ganci, Ladkat K. Ganesh, Claude Michael Gann, Osseni Garba, Charles William Garbarini, Ceasar Garcia, David Garcia, Juan Garcia, Marlyn Del Carmen Garcia, Harvey J. Gardner III, Christopher S. Gardner, Douglas Benjamin Gardner, Jeffrey Brian Gardner, Thomas Gardner, William Arthur Gardner, Francesco Garfi, Rocco Nino Gargano, James M. Gartenberg, Matthew David Garvey, Bruce Gary, Boyd Alan Gatton, Donald Richard Gavagan Jr., Peter Alan Gay, Terence D. Gazzani, Gary Geidel, Paul Hamilton Geier, Julie M. Geis, Peter G. Gelinas, Steven Paul Geller, Howard G. Gelling, Peter Victor Genco Jr., Steven Gregory Genovese, Alayne Gentul, Linda M. George, Edward F. Geraghty, Suzanne Geraty, Ralph Gerhardt, Robert Gerlich, Denis P. Germain, Marina Romanovna Gertsberg, Susan M. Getzendanner, James G. Geyer, Joseph M. Giaccone, Vincent Francis Giammona, Debra Lynn Gibbon, James Andrew Giberson, Craig Neil Gibson, Ronnie E. Gies, Laura A. Giglio, Andrew Clive Gilbert, Timothy Paul Gilbert, Paul Stuart Gilbey, Paul John Gill, Mark Y. Gilles, Evan Gillette, Ronald Lawrence Gilligan, Rodney C. Gillis, Laura Gilly, John F. Ginley, Donna Marie Giordano, Jeffrey John Giordano, John Giordano, Steven A. Giorgetti, Martin Giovinazzo, Kum-Kum Girolamo, Salvatore Gitto, Cynthia Giugliano, Mon Gjonbalaj, Dianne Gladstone, Keith Glascoe, Thomas Irwin Glasser, Edmund Glazer, Harry Glenn, Barry H. Glick, Steven Glick, John T. Gnazzo, William Robert Godshalk, Michael Gogliormella, Brian Fredric Goldberg, Jeffrey Grant Goldflam, Michelle Goldstein, Monica Goldstein, Steven Goldstein, Andrew H. Golkin, Dennis James Gomes, Enrique Antonio Gomez, Jose Bienvenido Gomez, Manuel Gomez Jr., Wilder Alfredo Gomez, Jenine Nicole Gonzalez, Mauricio Gonzalez, Rosa Gonzalez, Lynn Catherine Goodchild, Calvin J. Gooding, Peter M. Goodrich, Harry Goody, Kiran Reddy Gopu, Catherine C. Gorayeb, Lisa Reinhart Gordenstein, Kerene Gordon, Sebastian Gorki, Kieran Joseph Gorman, Thomas Edward Gorman, Michael Edward Gould, Douglas Alan Gowell, Yuji Goya, Jon Richard Grabowski, Christopher Michael Grady, Edwin J. Graf III, David Martin Graifman, Gilbert Franco Granados, Elvira Granitto, Winston Arthur Grant, Christopher S. Gray, James Michael Gray, Tara McCloud Gray, Linda Catherine Grayling, John M. Grazioso, Timothy George Grazioso, Derrick Auther Green, Wade B. Green, Elaine Myra Greenberg, Gayle R. Greene, James Arthur Greenleaf Jr., Eileen Marsha Greenstein, Elizabeth Martin Gregg, Denise Gregory, Donald H. Gregory, Florence Moran Gregory, Pedro Grehan, John Michael Griffin, Tawanna Sherry Griffin, Joan Donna Griffith, Warren Grifka, Ramon Grijalvo, Joseph F. Grillo, David Joseph Grimner, Francis Edward Grogan, Kenneth George Grouzalis, Joseph Grzelak, Matthew James Grzymalski, Robert Joseph Gschaar, Liming Gu, Jose Guadalupe, Cindy Yan Zhu Guan, Joel Guevara Gonzalez, Geoffrey E. Guja, Joseph Gullickson, Babita Girjamatie Guman, Douglas Brian Gurian, Janet Ruth Gustafson, Philip T. Guza, Barbara Guzzardo, Peter M. Gyulavary, Gary Robert Haag, Andrea Lyn Haberman, Barbara Mary Habib, Philip Haentzler, Nezam A. Hafiz, Karen Elizabeth Hagerty, Steven Michael Hagis, Mary Lou Hague, David Halderman, Maile Rachel Hale, Richard B. Hall, Vaswald George Hall, Robert J. Halligan, Vincent Gerard Halloran, James Douglas Halvorson, Mohammad Salman Hamdani, Felicia Hamilton, Robert Hamilton, Carl Max Hammond Jr., Frederic K. Han, Christopher J. Hanley, Sean S. Hanley, Valerie Joan Hanna, Thomas Hannafin, Kevin James Hannaford, Michael Lawrence Hannan, Dana R Hannon, Christine Lee Hanson, Peter Burton Hanson, Susan Kim Hanson, Vassilios G. Haramis, James A. Haran, Gerald Francis Hardacre, Jeffrey Pike Hardy, Timothy John Hargrave, Daniel Edward Harlin, Frances Haros, Harvey Harrell, Stephen G. Harrell, Melissa Marie Harrington, Aisha Anne Harris, Stewart Dennis Harris, John Patrick Hart, Eric Hartono, John Clinton Hartz, Emeric Harvey, Peter Paul Hashem, Thomas Theodore Haskell Jr., Timothy Haskell, Joseph John Hasson III, Leonard W. Hatton, Terence S. Hatton, Michael Haub, Timothy Aaron Haviland, Donald G. Havlish Jr., Anthony Hawkins, Nobuhiro Hayatsu, James Edward Hayden, Philip Hayes, Robert Jay Hayes, William Ward Haynes, Scott Jordan Hazelcorn, Michael K. Healey, Roberta B. Heber, Charles Francis Xavier Heeran, Neilie Anne Heffernan Casey, John F. Heffernan, H. Joseph Heller Jr., Joann L. Heltibridle, Mark F. Hemschoot, Ronnie Lee Henderson, Brian Hennessey, Edward R. Hennessy Jr., Michelle Marie Henrique, Joseph Henry, William Henry, John Christopher Henwood, Robert Allan Hepburn, Mary Herencia, Lindsay C. Herkness III, Harvey Robert Hermer, Claribel Hernandez, Eduardo Hernandez, Nuberto Hernandez, Raul Hernandez, Gary Herold, Jeffrey A. Hersch, Thomas Hetzel, Brian Hickey, Ysidro Hidalgo, Timothy Higgins, Robert D. W. Higley II, Todd Russell Hill, Clara Victorine Hinds, Neal O. Hinds, Mark D. Hindy, Katsuyuki Hirai, Heather Malia Ho, Tara Yvette Hobbs, Thomas Anderson Hobbs, James J. Hobin, Robert Wayne Hobson, DaJuan Hodges, Ronald George Hoerner, Patrick A. Hoey,, John A. Hofer, Marcia Hoffman, Stephen G. Hoffman, Frederick Joseph Hoffmann, Michele L. Hoffmann, Judith Florence Hofmiller, Thomas Warren Hohlweck Jr., Jonathan R. Hohmann, Cora Hidalgo Holland, John Holland, Joseph F. Holland, Elizabeth Holmes, Thomas Holohan, Herbert Wilson Homer, Bradley Hoorn, James P. Hopper, Montgomery McCullough Hord, Michael Horn, Matthew Douglas Horning, Robert L. Horohoe Jr., Michael Robert Horrocks, Aaron Horwitz, Charles Houston, Uhuru G. Houston, George Howard, Michael C. Howell, Steven Leon Howell, Jennifer L. Howley, Milagros Hromada, Marian R. Hrycak, Stephen Huczko Jr., Kris Robert Hughes, Paul Rexford Hughes, Robert Thomas Hughes, Thomas Hughes, Timothy Robert Hughes, Susan Huie, Lamar Hulse, John Nicholas Humber Jr., William Christopher Hunt, Kathleen Anne Hunt-Casey, Joseph Hunter, Robert R. Hussa, Abid Hussain, Thomas Edward Hynes, Walter G. Hynes, Joseph Anthony Ianelli, Zuhtu Ibis, Jonathan Lee Ielpi, Michael Iken, Daniel Ilkanayev, Frederick Ill Jr., Abraham Nethanel Ilowitz, Anthony P. Infante Jr., Louis S. Inghilterra Jr., Christopher Noble Ingrassia, Paul Innella, Stephanie Veronica Irby, Douglas Irgang, Kristin A. Irvine Ryan, Todd Antione Isaac, Erik Isbrandtsen, Taizo Ishikawa, Waleed Joseph Iskandar, Aram Iskenderian Jr., John F. Iskyan, Kazushige Ito, Aleksandr Valeryevich Ivantsov, Virginia May Jablonski, Brooke Alexandra Jackman, Aaron Jeremy Jacobs, Ariel Louis Jacobs, Jason Kyle Jacobs, Michael Grady Jacobs, Steven A. Jacobson, Ricknauth Jaggernauth, Jake Denis Jagoda, Yudh Vir Singh Jain, Maria Jakubiak, Robert Adrien Jalbert, Ernest James, Gricelda E. James, Priscilla James, Mark Steven Jardim, Amy N. Jarret, Muhammadou Jawara, Francois Jean-Pierre, Maxima Jean-Pierre, Paul Edward Jeffers, Alva Cynthia Jeffries Sanchez, John Charles Jenkins, Joseph Jenkins Jr., Alan Keith Jensen, Prem N. Jerath, Farah Jeudy, Hweidar Jian, Eliezer Jimenez Jr., Luis Jimenez Jr., Fernando Jimenez-Molina, Charles Gregory John, Nicholas John, LaShawna Johnson, Scott Michael Johnson, William R. Johnston, Allison Horstmann Jones, Arthur Joseph Jones, Brian Leander Jones, Charles Edward Jones, Christopher D. Jones, Donald T. Jones, Donald W. Jones, Linda Jones, Mary S. Jones, Andrew Jordan, Robert Thomas Jordan, Albert Gunnia Joseph, Guylene Joseph, Ingeborg Joseph, Karl Henry Joseph, Stephen Joseph, Jane Eileen Josiah, Anthony Jovic, Angel L. Juarbe Jr., Karen Sue Juday, Mychal F. Judge, Paul William Jurgens, Thomas Edward Jurgens,, Dennis O’Berg, James P. O’Brien Jr., Michael P. O’Brien, Scott J. O’Brien, Timothy Michael O’Brien, Daniel O’Callaghan, Diana J. O’Connor, Dennis James O’Connor Jr., Keith Kevin O’Connor, Richard J. O’Connor, Amy O’Doherty, Marni Pont O’Doherty, James Andrew O’Grady, Thomas O’Hagan, Patrick J. O’Keefe, William O’Keefe, Gerald O’Leary, Matthew Timothy O’Mahony, Peter J. O’Neill Jr., Sean Gordon O’Neill, Kevin O’Rourke, Patrick J. O’Shea, Robert William O’Shea, Timothy F. O’Sullivan, James A. Oakley, Douglas E. Oelschlager, Takashi Ogawa, Albert Ogletree, Philip Paul Ognibene, John Ogonowski, Joseph J. Ogren, Samuel Oitice, Gerald Michael Olcott, Christine Anne Olender, Linda Mary Oliva, Edward Kraft Oliver, Leah E. Oliver, Eric T. Olsen, Jeffrey James Olsen, Maureen Lyons Olson, Steven John Olson, Toshihiro Onda, Seamus L. Oneal, John P. Oneill, Betty Ann Ong, Frank Oni, Michael C. Opperman, Christopher Orgielewicz, Margaret Orloske, Virginia Anne Ormiston, Ronald Orsini, Peter Ortale, Juan Ortega-Campos, Jane M. Orth, Alexander Ortiz, David Ortiz, Emilio Ortiz Jr., Paul Ortiz Jr., Pablo Ortiz, Sonia Ortiz, Masaru Ose, Elsy C. Osorio, James R. Ostrowski, Jason Douglas Oswald, Michael Otten, Isidro D. Ottenwalder, Michael Chung Ou, Todd Joseph Ouida, Jesus Ovalles, Peter J. Owens Jr., Adianes Oyola, Angel M. Pabon, Israel Pabon Jr., Roland Pacheco, Michael Benjamin Packer, Rene Padilla-Chavarria, Deepa Pakkala, Jeffrey Matthew Palazzo, Thomas Palazzo, Richard Palazzolo, Orio J. Palmer, Frank Anthony Palombo, Alan N. Palumbo, Christopher Matthew Panatier, Dominique Lisa Pandolfo, Paul J. Pansini, John M. Paolillo, Edward Joseph Papa, Salvatore T. Papasso, James Nicholas Pappageorge, Marie Pappalardo, Vinod Kumar Parakat, Vijayashanker Paramsothy, Nitin Parandkar, Hardai Parbhu, James Wendell Parham, Debra Marie Paris, George Paris, Gye Hyong Park, Philip Lacey Parker, Michael Alaine Parkes, Robert E. Parks Jr., Hashmukhrai C. Parmar, Robert Parro, Diane Marie Parsons, Leobardo Lopez Pascual, Michael Pascuma, Jerrold Paskins, Horace Robert Passananti, Suzanne H. Passaro, Avnish Ramanbhai Patel, Dipti Patel, Manish Patel, Steven Bennett Paterson, James Matthew Patrick, Manuel D. Patrocino, Bernard E. Patterson, Cira Marie Patti, Robert E. Pattison, James Robert Paul, Patrice Paz, Victor Paz-Gutierrez, Stacey Lynn Peak, Richard Allen Pearlman, Durrell V. Pearsall, Thomas Nicholas Pecorelli, Thomas Pedicini, Todd Douglas Pelino, Michel Adrian Pelletier, Anthony G. Peluso, Angel Ramon Pena, Richard Al Penny, Salvatore F. Pepe, Carl Peralta, Robert David Peraza, Jon A. Perconti, Alejo Perez, Angela Susan Perez, Anthony Perez, Ivan Perez, Angel Perez Jr., Nancy E. Perez, Berinthia B. Perkins, Joseph John Perroncino, Edward J. Perrotta, Emelda H. Perry, Glenn C. Perry, John William Perry, Franklin Allan Pershep, Danny Pesce, Michael John Pescherine, Davin Peterson, William Russell Peterson, Mark Petrocelli, Philip Scott Petti, Glen Kerrin Pettit, Dominick Pezzulo, Kaleen Elizabeth Pezzuti, Kevin Pfeifer, Tu-Anh Pham, Kenneth Phelan, Sneha Ann Philips, Gerard Phillips, Suzette Eugenia Piantieri, Ludwig John Picarro, Matthew M. Picerno, Joseph Oswald Pick, Christopher Pickford, Dennis J. Pierce, Bernard Pietronico, Nicholas P. Pietrunti, Theodoros Pigis, Susan Elizabeth Pinto, Joseph Piskadlo, Christopher Todd Pitman, Joshua Piver, Joseph Plumitallo, Ana Gloria Pocasangre Debarrera, John Pocher, William Howard Pohlmann, Laurence Polatsch, Thomas H. Polhemus, Steve Pollicino, Susan M. Pollio, Joshua Iousa Poptean, Giovanna Porras, Anthony Portillo, James Edward Potorti, Daphne Pouletsos, Richard N. Poulos, Stephen Emanual Poulos, Brandon Jerome Powell, Shawn Edward Powell, Antonio Pratt, Gregory M. Preziose, Wanda Ivelisse Prince, Vincent Princiotta, Kevin Prior, Everett Martin Proctor III, Carrie Beth Progen, Sarah Prothero-Redheffer, David Lee Pruim, Richard Prunty, John Foster Puckett, Robert David Pugliese, Edward F. Pullis, Patricia Ann Puma, Sonia M. Puopolo, Hemanth Kumar Puttur, Edward R. Pykon, Christopher Quackenbush, Lars Peter Qualben, Lincoln Quappe, Patrick J. Quigley IV, Beth Ann Quigley, Michael Quilty, James Francis Quinn, Ricardo J. Quinn, Carlos Quishpe-Cuaman, Carol Millicent Rabalais, Christopher Peter A. Racaniello, Leonard J. Ragaglia, Eugene Raggio, Laura Marie Ragonese-Snik, Michael Ragusa, Peter Frank Raimondi, Harry A. Raines, Ehtesham Raja, Valsa Raju, Edward Rall, Lukas Rambousek, Maria Ramirez, Harry Ramos, Vishnoo Ramsaroop, Lorenzo E. Ramzey, Alfred Todd Rancke, Adam David Rand, Jonathan C. Randall, Srinivasa Shreyas Ranganath, Anne T. Ransom, Faina Aronovna Rapoport, Robert A. Rasmussen, Amenia Rasool, Roger Mark Rasweiler, David Alan Rathkey, William Ralph Raub, Gerard P. Rauzi, Alexey Razuvaev, Gregory Reda, Michele Reed, Judith Ann Reese, Donald J. Regan, Robert M. Regan, Thomas Michael Regan, Christian Michael Otto Regenhard, Howard Reich, Gregg Reidy, James Brian Reilly, Kevin O. Reilly, Timothy E. Reilly, Joseph Reina Jr., Thomas Barnes Reinig, Frank Bennett Reisman, Joshua Scott Reiss, Karen Renda, John Armand Reo, Richard Cyril Rescorla, John Thomas Resta, David E. Retik, Luis Clodoaldo Revilla, Eduvigis Reyes Jr., Bruce Albert Reynolds, John Frederick Rhodes, Francis Saverio Riccardelli, Rudolph N. Riccio, Ann Marie Riccoboni, Kenneth Frederick Rice III, David H. Rice, Eileen Mary Rice, Vernon Allan Richard, Claude Daniel Richards, Gregory David Richards, Michael Richards, Venesha Orintia Richards, James C. Riches, Alan Jay Richman, John M. Rigo, Frederick Charles Rimmele III, Theresa Risco, Rose Mary Riso, Moises N. Rivas, Joseph Rivelli, Carmen Alicia Rivera, Isaias Rivera, Juan William Rivera, Linda Ivelisse Rivera, David E. Rivers, Joseph R. Riverso, Paul V. Rizza, John Frank Rizzo, Stephen Louis Roach, Joseph Roberto, Leo Arthur Roberts, Michael Roberts, Michael Edward Roberts, Donald Walter Robertson Jr., Catherina Robinson, Jeffery Robinson, Michell Lee Jean Robotham, Donald A. Robson, Antonio A. Rocha, Raymond James Rocha, Laura Rockefeller, John Rodak, Antonio J. Rodrigues, Anthony Rodriguez, Carmen Milagros Rodriguez, Gregory Ernesto Rodriguez, Marsha A. Rodriguez, Mayra Valdes Rodriguez, Richard Rodriguez, David Bartolo Rodriguez-Vargas, Matthew Rogan, Jean Destrehan Roger, Karlie Barbara Rogers, Scott Williams Rohner, Keith Roma, Joseph M. Romagnolo, Juan Romero Orozco, Elvin Romero, Efrain Romero Sr., James A. Romito, Sean Paul Rooney, Eric Thomas Ropiteau, Wendy Alice Rosario Wakeford, Aida Rosario, Angela Rosario, Mark Rosen, Brooke David Rosenbaum, Linda Rosenbaum, Sheryl Lynn Rosenbaum, Lloyd Daniel Rosenberg, Mark Louis Rosenberg, Andrew Ira Rosenblum, Joshua M. Rosenblum, Joshua Alan Rosenthal, Richard David Rosenthal, Philip Martin Rosenzweig, Daniel Rosetti, Richard Barry Ross, Norman S. Rossinow, Nicholas P. Rossomando, Michael Craig Rothberg, Donna Marie Rothenberg, James Roux, Nicholas Rowe, Timothy Alan Roy Sr., Paul G. Ruback, Ronald J. Ruben, Joanne Rubino, David M. Ruddle, Bart Joseph Ruggiere, Susan A. Ruggiero, Adam Keith Ruhalter, Obdulio Ruiz Diaz, Gilbert Ruiz, Stephen P. Russell, Steven Harris Russin, Michael Thomas Russo Sr., Wayne Alan Russo, Edward Ryan, Jonathan Stephan Ryan, John Joseph Ryan Jr., Matthew Lancelot Ryan, Tatiana Ryjova, Christina Sunga Ryook, Thierry Saada, Jason Elazar Sabbag, Thomas E. Sabella, Scott Saber, Joseph Francis Sacerdote, Jessica Leigh Sachs, Neeraha Sadaranghgani, Mohammad Ali Sadeque, Francis John Sadocha, Jude Safi, Brock Joel Safronoff, Edward Saiya, John Patrick Salamone, Hernando Salas, Juan G. Salas, Esmerlin Antonio Salcedo, John Salvatore Salerno Jr., Rahma Salie, Richard L. Salinardi Jr., Wayne John Saloman, Nolbert Salomon, Catherine Patricia Salter, Frank Salvaterra, Paul Richard Salvio, Samuel Robert Salvo Jr., Rena Sam-Dinnoo, Carlos Alberto Samaniego, James Kenneth Samuel Jr., Michael San Phillip, Sylvia San Pio, Hugo M. Sanay, Erick Sanchez, Jacquelyn Patrice Sanchez, Jesus Sanchez, Eric M. Sand, Stacey Leigh Sanders, Herman S. Sandler, James Sands Jr., Ayleen J. Santiago, Kirsten Santiago, Maria Theresa Santillan, Susan Gayle Santo, Christopher Santora, John A. Santore, Mario L. Santoro, Jorge Octavio Santos Anaya, Rufino Conrado Flores Santos III, Rafael Humberto Santos, Victor J. Saracini, Kalyan Sarkar, Chapelle R. Sarker, Paul F. Sarle, Deepika Kumar Sattaluri, Gregory Thomas Saucedo, Susan M. Sauer, Anthony Savas, Vladimir Savinkin, Jackie Sayegh, John Michael Sbarbaro, Robert L. Scandole Jr., Michelle Scarpitta, Dennis Scauso, John Albert Schardt, John G. Scharf, Frederick Claude Scheffold Jr., Angela Susan Scheinberg, Scott Mitchell Schertzer, Sean Schielke, Steven Francis Schlag, Jon Schlissel, Karen Helene Schmidt, Ian Schneider, Thomas G. Schoales, Frank G. Schott Jr., Gerard Patrick Schrang, Jeffrey H. Schreier, John T. Schroeder, Susan Lee Schuler, Edward William Schunk, Mark E. Schurmeier, Clarin Shellie Schwartz, John Burkhart Schwartz, Mark Schwartz, Adriane Victoria Scibetta, Raphael Scorca, Randolph Scott, Sheila Scott, Christopher Jay Scudder, Arthur Warren Scullin, Michael Herman Seaman, Margaret M. Seeliger, Anthony Segarra, Carlos Segarra, Jason Sekzer, Matthew Carmen Sellitto, Howard Selwyn, Larry John Senko, Arturo Angelo Sereno, Frankie Serrano, Alena Sesinova, Adele Christine Sessa, Sita Nermalla Sewnarine, Karen Lynn Seymour, Davis Sezna, Thomas Joseph Sgroi, Jayesh S. Shah, Khalid M. Shahid, Mohammed Shajahan, Gary Shamay, Earl Richard Shanahan, Neil Shastri, Kathryn Anne Shatzoff, Barbara A. Shaw, Jeffrey James Shaw, Robert John Shay Jr., Daniel James Shea, Joseph Patrick Shea, Mary Kathleen Shearer, Robert M. Shearer, Linda Sheehan, Hagay Shefi, John Anthony Sherry, Atsushi Shiratori, Thomas Joseph Shubert, Mark Shulman, See Wong Shum, Allan Abraham Shwartzstein, Johanna Sigmund, Dianne T. Signer, Gregory Sikorsky, Stephen Gerard Siller, David Silver, Craig A. Silverstein, Nasima Hameed Simjee, Bruce Edward Simmons, Arthur Simon, Kenneth Alan Simon, Michael J. Simon, Paul Joseph Simon, Marianne Teresa Simone, Barry Simowitz, Jane Louise Simpkin, Jeff Lyal Simpson, Khamladai Singh, Kulwant Singh, Roshan Ramesh Singh, Thomas E. Sinton III, Peter A. Siracuse, Muriel Fay Siskopoulos, Joseph Michael Sisolak, John P. Skala, Francis Joseph Skidmore Jr., Toyena Skinner, Paul A. Skrzypek, Christopher Paul Slattery, Vincent Robert Slavin, Robert F. Sliwak, Paul K. Sloan, Stanley S. Smagala Jr., Wendy L. Small, Catherine Smith, Daniel Laurence Smith, George Eric Smith, Heather Lee Smith, James Gregory Smith, Jeffrey R. Smith, Joyce Patricia Smith, Leon Smith Jr., Karl T. Smith, Keisha Smith, Kevin Joseph Smith, Moira Ann Smith, Rosemary A. Smith, Bonnie Jeanne Smithwick, Rochelle Monique Snell, Dianne Bullis Snyder, Leonard J. Snyder Jr., Astrid Elizabeth Sohan, Sushil S. Solanki, Ruben Solares, Naomi Leah Solomon, Daniel W. Song, Michael Charles Sorresse, Fabian Soto, Timothy Patrick Soulas, Gregory Spagnoletti, Donald F. Spampinato Jr., Thomas Sparacio, John Anthony Spataro, Robert W. Spear Jr., Maynard S. Spence Jr., George Edward Spencer III, Robert Andrew Spencer, Mary Rubina Sperando, Tina Spicer, Frank Spinelli, William E. Spitz, Joseph Spor Jr., Klaus Johannes Sprockamp, Saranya Srinuan, Fitzroy St. Rose, Michael F. Stabile, Lawrence T. Stack, Timothy M. Stackpole, Richard James Stadelberger, Eric Stahlman, Gregory Stajk, Alexandru Liviu Stan, Corina Stan, Mary Domenica Stanley, Anthony Starita, Jeffrey Stark, Derek James Statkevicus, Craig William Staub, William V. Steckman, Eric Thomas Steen, William R. Steiner, Alexander Steinman, Andrew Stergiopoulos, Andrew Stern, Martha Stevens, Richard H. Stewart Jr., Michael James Stewart, Sanford M. Stoller, Douglas Joel Stone, Lonny Jay Stone, Jimmy Nevill Storey, Timothy Stout, Thomas Strada, James J. Straine Jr., Edward W. Straub, George J. Strauch Jr., Edward T. Strauss, Steven R. Strauss, Steven F. Strobert, Walwyn W. Stuart Jr., Benjamin Suarez, David Scott Suarez, Ramon Suarez, Xavier Suarez, Yoichi Sugiyama, William Christopher Sugra, Daniel Suhr, David Marc Sullins, Christopher P. Sullivan, Patrick Sullivan, Thomas Sullivan, Hilario Soriano Sumaya Jr., James Joseph Suozzo, Colleen Supinski, Robert Sutcliffe, Seline Sutter, Claudia Suzette Sutton, John Francis Swaine, Kristine M. Swearson, Brian David Sweeney, Brian Edward Sweeney, Madeline Amy Sweeney, Kenneth J. Swenson, Thomas Swift, Derek Ogilvie Sword, Kevin Thomas Szocik, Gina Sztejnberg, Norbert P. Szurkowski, Harry Taback, Joann Tabeek, Norma C. Taddei, Michael Taddonio, Keiichiro Takahashi, Keiji Takahashi, Phyllis Gail Talbot, Robert Talhami, Sean Patrick Tallon, Paul Talty, Maurita Tam, Rachel Tamares, Hector Tamayo, Michael Andrew Tamuccio, Kenichiro Tanaka, Rhondelle Cheri Tankard, Michael Anthony Tanner, Dennis Gerard Taormina Jr., Kenneth Joseph Tarantino, Allan Tarasiewicz, Michael C. Tarrou, Ronald Tartaro, Darryl Anthony Taylor, Donnie Brooks Taylor, Lorisa Ceylon Taylor, Michael Morgan Taylor, Paul A. Tegtmeier, Yeshauant Tembe, Anthony Tempesta, Dorothy Pearl Temple, Stanley Temple, David Tengelin, Brian John Terrenzi, Lisa M. Terry, Shell Tester, Goumatie T. Thackurdeen, Sumati Thakur, Harshad Sham Thatte, Michael Theodoridis, Thomas F. Theurkauf Jr., Lesley Anne Thomas, Brian Thomas Thompson, Clive Thompson, Glenn Thompson, Nigel Bruce Thompson, Perry A. Thompson, Vanavah Alexei Thompson, William H. Thompson, Eric Raymond Thorpe, Nichola Angela Thorpe, Sal Edward Tieri Jr., John p Tierney, Mary Ellen Tiesi, William R. Tieste, Kenneth Francis Tietjen, Stephen Edward Tighe, Scott Charles Timmes, Michael E. Tinley, Jennifer M. Tino, Robert Frank Tipaldi, John James Tipping II, David Tirado, Hector Luis Tirado Jr., Michelle Lee Titolo, Alicia N. Titus, John J. Tobin, Richard Todisco, Vladimir Tomasevic, Stephen Kevin Tompsett, Thomas Tong, Doris Torres, Luis Eduardo Torres, Amy Elizabeth Toyen, Christopher Michael Traina, Daniel Patrick Trant, Abdoul Karim Traore, Glenn J. Travers, Walter Philip Travers, Felicia Y. Traylor-Bass, James Anthony Trentini, Mary Barbara Trentini, Lisa L. Trerotola, Karamo Trerra, Michael Angel Trinidad, Francis Joseph Trombino, Gregory James Trost, William P. Tselepis, Zhanetta Valentinovna Tsoy, Michael Patrick Tucker, Lance Richard Tumulty, Ching Ping Tung, Simon James Turner, Donald Joseph Tuzio, Robert T. Twomey, Jennifer Tzemis, John G. Ueltzhoeffer, Tyler V. Ugolyn, Michael A. Uliano, Jonathan J. Uman, Anil Shivhari Umarkar, Allen V. Upton, Diane Marie Urban, John Damien Vaccacio, Bradley Hodges Vadas, Renuta Vaidea, William Valcarcel, Felix Antonio Vale, Ivan Vale, Benito Valentin, Santos Valentin Jr., Carlton Francis Valvo II, Pendyala Vamsikrishna, Erica H. Van Acker, Kenneth W. Van Auken, Richard B. Van Hine, Daniel M. Van Laere, Edward Raymond Vanacore, Jon C. Vandevander, Barrett Vanvelzer, Edward Vanvelzer, Paul Herman Vanvelzer, Frederick Thomas Varacchi, Gopalakrishnan Varadhan, David Vargas, Scott C. Vasel, Azael Ismael Vasquez, Arcangel Vazquez, Santos Vazquez, Peter Anthony Vega, Sankara S. Velamuri, Jorge Velazquez, Lawrence G. Veling, Anthony Mark Ventura, David Vera, Loretta Ann Vero, Christopher James Vialonga, Matthew Gilbert Vianna, Robert Anthony Vicario, Celeste Torres Victoria, Joanna Vidal, John T. Vigiano II, Joseph Vincent Vigiano, Frank J. Vignola Jr., Joseph Barry Vilardo, Sergio Villanueva, Chantal Vincelli, Melissa Vincent, Francine Ann Virgilio, Lawrence Virgilio, Joseph Gerard Visciano, Joshua S. Vitale, Maria Percoco Vola, Lynette D. Vosges, Garo H. Voskerijian, Alfred Vukosa, Gregory Kamal Bruno Wachtler, Mary Alice Wahlstrom, Gabriela Waisman, Courtney Wainsworth Walcott, Victor Wald, Kenneth Waldie, Benjamin James Walker, Glen Wall, Mitchel Scott Wallace, Peter Guyder Wallace, Robert Francis Wallace, Roy Michael Wallace, Jeanmarie Wallendorf, Matthew Blake Wallens, John Wallice Jr., Barbara P. Walsh, James Henry Walsh, Jeffrey P. Walz, Ching Wang, Weibin Wang, Michael Warchola, Stephen Gordon Ward, Timothy Ray Ward, James Arthur Waring, Brian G. Warner, Derrick Washington, Charles Waters, James Thomas Waters Jr., Patrick J. Waters, Kenneth Thomas Watson, Michael Henry Waye, Todd Christopher Weaver, Walter Edward Weaver, Nathaniel Webb, Dinah Webster, William Michael Weems, Joanne Flora Weil, Michael T. Weinberg, Steven Weinberg, Scott Jeffrey Weingard, Steven George Weinstein, Simon Weiser, David M. Weiss, David Thomas Weiss, Vincent Michael Wells, Timothy Matthew Welty, Christian Hans Rudolf Wemmers, Ssu-Hui Wen, John Joseph Wenckus, Oleh D. Wengerchuk, Whitfield West Jr., Peter M. West, Meredith Lynn Whalen, Eugene Whelan, Edward James White III, Adam S. White, James Patrick White, John Sylvester White, Kenneth Wilburn White Jr., Leonard Anthony White, Malissa Y. White, Wayne White, Leanne Marie Whiteside, Mark P. Whitford, Michael T. Wholey, Mary Catherine Wieman, Jeffrey David Wiener, Wilham J. Wik, Alison Marie Wildman, Glenn E. Wilkenson, John C. Willett, Louis Calvin Williams III, Brian Patrick Williams, Candace Lee Williams, David J. Williams, Deborah Lynn Williams, Crossley Richard Williams Jr., Kevin Michael Williams, Louie Anthony Williams, John P. Williamson, Donna Ann Wilson, William Wilson, David Harold Winton, Glenn J. Winuk, Thomas Francis Wise, Alan L. Wisniewski, Frank Thomas Wisniewski, David Wiswall, Sigrid Wiswe, Michael Wittenstein, Christopher W. Wodenshek, Martin P. Wohlforth, Katherine Susan Wolf, Jennifer Yen Wong, Siu Cheung Wong, Yin Ping Wong, Yuk Ping Wong, Brent James Woodall, James John Woods, Patrick J. Woods, Richard Herron Woodwell, David Terence Wooley, John Bentley Works, Martin Michael Wortley, Rodney James Wotton, William Wren, John Wayne Wright, Neil Robin Wright, Sandra Lee Wright, Jupiter Yambem, Suresh Yanamadala, Matthew David Yarnell, Myrna Yaskulka, Shakila Yasmin, Olabisi Shadie Layeni Yee, William Yemele, Edward P. York, Kevin Patrick York, Raymond R. York, Suzanne Youmans, Barrington Young, Jacqueline Young, Elkin Yuen, Joseph C. Zaccoli, Adel Agayby Zakhary, Arkady Zaltsman, Edwin J. Zambrana Jr., Robert Alan Zampieri, Mark Zangrilli, Christopher Rudolph Zarba Jr., Ira Zaslow, Kenneth Albert Zelman, Abraham J. Zelmanowitz, Martin Morales Zempoaltecatl, Zhe Zeng, Marc Scott Zeplin, Jie Yao Justin Zhao, Ivelin Ziminski, Michael Joseph Zinzi, Charles A. Zion, Julie Lynne Zipper, Salvatore Zisa, Prokopios Paul Zois, Joseph J. Zuccala, Andrew S. Zucker, Igor Zukelman

The Pentagon:

Paul W. Ambrose, Spc. Craig S. Amundson, Army, Petty Officer Melissa Rose Barnes, Navy, Master Sgt. Max J. Beilke, Army, Retired, Yeneneh Betru, Petty Officer Kris Romeo Bishundat, Navy, Carrie R. Blagburn, Col. Canfield D. Boone, Army National Guard, Mary Jane Booth, Donna M. Bowen, Allen P. Boyle, Bernard C. Brown II, Petty Officer Christopher L. Burford, Navy, Capt. Charles F. Burlingame III, Naval Reserve, Retired, Petty Officer Daniel M. Caballero, Navy, Sgt. Jose O. Calderon-Olmedo, Army, Suzanne M. Calley, Angelene C. Carter, Sharon A. Carver, William E. Caswell, Sgt. 1st Class John J. Chada, Army, Retired, Rosa Maria Chapa, David M. Charlebois, Sara M. Clark, Julian T. Cooper, Asia S. Cottom, Lt. Cmdr. Eric A. Cranford, Navy, Ada M. Davis, James D. Debeuneure, Capt. Gerald F. DeConto, Navy, Rodney Dickens, Lt. Col. Jerry D. Dickerson, Army, Eddie A. Dillard, Petty Officer Johnnie Doctor Jr., Navy, Capt. Robert E. Dolan Jr., Navy, Cmdr. William H. Donovan, Navy, Lt. Cmdr. Charles A. Droz III, Navy, Retired, Cmdr. Patrick Dunn, Navy, Petty Officer Edward T. Earhart, Navy, Barbara G. Edwards, Lt. Cmdr. Robert R. Elseth, Naval Reserve, Charles S. Falkenberg, Leslie A. Whittington, Dana Falkenberg, Zoe Falkenberg, Petty Officer Jamie L. Fallon, Navy, J. Joseph Ferguson, Amelia V. Fields, Gerald P. Fisher, Darlene E. Flagg, Rear Adm. Wilson F. Flagg, Naval Reserve, Retired, Petty Officer Matthew M. Flocco, Navy, Sandra N. Foster, 1st Lt. Richard P. Gabriel, Marine Corps, Retired, Capt. Lawrence D. Getzfred, Navy, Cortez Ghee, Brenda C. Gibson, Col. Ronald F. Golinski, Army, Retired, Ian J. Gray, Diane Hale-McKinzy, Stanley R. Hall, Carolyn B. Halmon, Michele M. Heidenberger, Sheila M.S. Hein, Petty Officer Ronald J. Hemenway, Navy, Maj. Wallace Cole Hogan Jr., Army, Staff Sgt. Jimmie I. Holley, Army, Retired, Angela M. Houtz, Brady Kay Howell, Peggie M. Hurt, Lt. Col. Stephen N. Hyland Jr., Army, Lt. Col. Robert J. Hymel, Air Force, Retired, Sgt. Maj. Lacey B. Ivory, Army, Bryan C. Jack, Steven D. Jacoby, Lt. Col. Dennis M. Johnson, Army, Judith L. Jones, Ann C. Judge, Brenda Kegler, Chandler R. Keller, Yvonne E. Kennedy, Norma Cruz Khan, Karen Ann Kincaid, Lt. Michael S. Lamana, Navy, David W. Laychak, Dong Chul Lee, Jennifer Lewis, Kenneth E. Lewis, Samantha L. Lightbourn-Allen, Maj. Stephen V. Long, Army, James T. Lynch Jr., Terence M. Lynch, Petty Officer Nehamon Lyons IV, Navy, Shelley A. Marshall, Teresa M. Martin, Ada L. Mason-Acker, Lt. Col. Dean E. Mattson, Army, Lt. Gen. Timothy J. Maude, Army, Robert J. Maxwell, Renée A. May, Molly L. McKenzie, Dora Marie Menchaca, Patricia E. Mickley, Maj. Ronald D. Milam, Army, Gerard P. Moran Jr., Odessa V. Morris, Petty Officer Brian A. Moss, Navy, Teddington H. Moy, Lt. Cmdr. Patrick J. Murphy, Naval Reserve, Christopher C. Newton, Khang Ngoc Nguyen, Petty Officer Michael A. Noeth, Navy, Barbara K. Olson, Ruben S. Ornedo, Diana B. Padro, Lt. Jonas M. Panik, Naval Reserve, Maj. Clifford L. Patterson Jr., Army, Robert Penninger, Robert R. Ploger III, Zandra F. Ploger, Lt. Darin H. Pontell, Naval Reserve, Scott Powell, Capt. Jack D. Punches, Navy, Retired, Petty Officer Joseph J. Pycior Jr., Navy, Lisa J. Raines, Deborah A. Ramsaur, Rhonda Sue Rasmussen, Petty Officer Marsha D. Ratchford, Navy, Martha M. Reszke, Todd H. Reuben, Cecelia E. (Lawson) Richard, Edward V. Rowenhorst, Judy Rowlett, Sgt. Maj. Robert E. Russell, Army, Retired, Chief Warrant Officer William R. Ruth, Army National Guard, Charles E. Sabin Sr., Marjorie C. Salamone, John P. Sammartino, Col. David M. Scales, Army, Cmdr. Robert A. Schlegel, Navy, Janice M. Scott, Lt. Col. Michael L. Selves, Army, Retired, Marian H. Serva, Cmdr. Dan F. Shanower, Navy, Antionette M. Sherman, Diane M. Simmons, George W. Simmons, Donald D. Simmons, Cheryle D. Sincock, Petty Officer Gregg H. Smallwood, Navy, Lt. Col. Gary F. Smith, Army, Retired, Mari-Rae Sopper, Robert Speisman, Patricia J. Statz, Edna L. Stephens, Norma Lang Steuerle, Sgt. Maj. Larry L. Strickland, Army, Hilda E. Taylor, Lt. Col. Kip P. Taylor, Army, Leonard E. Taylor, Sandra C. Taylor, Sandra D. Teague, Lt. Col. Karl W. Teepe, Army, Retired, Sgt. Tamara C. Thurman, Army, Lt. Cmdr. Otis V. Tolbert, Navy, Staff Sgt. Willie Q. Troy, Army, Retired, Lt. Cmdr. Ronald J. Vauk, Naval Reserve, Lt. Col. Karen J. Wagner, Army, Meta L. (Fuller) Waller, Spc. Chin Sun Pak Wells, Army, Staff Sgt. Maudlyn A. White, Army, Sandra L. White, Ernest M. Willcher, Lt. Cmdr. David L. Williams, Navy, Maj. Dwayne Williams, Army, Chief Petty Officer Marvin Roger Woods, Navy, Retired, Capt. John D. Yamnicky Sr., Navy, Retired, Vicki Yancey, Petty Officer Kevin W. Yokum, Navy, Chief Petty Officer Donald M. Young, Navy, Edmond G. Young Jr., Lisa L. Young, Shuyin Yang, Yuguang Zheng

United Airlines Flight 93:

Christian Adams, Lorraine G. Bay, Todd Beamer, Alan Beaven, Mark Bingham, Deora Bodley, Sandra W. Bradshaw, Marion Britton, Thomas Burnett, William Cashman, Georgine Corrigan, Patricia Cushing, Captain Jason Dahl, Joseph DeLuca, Patrick Driscoll, Edward Felt, Jane Folger, Colleen Fraser,, Andrew Garcia, Jeremy Glick, Kristin White Gould, Lauren Grandcolas, Wanda A. Green, Donald Greene, Linda Gronlund, Richard Guadagno, LeRoy Homer, Toshiya Kuge, Hilda Marcin, CeeCee Lyles, Waleska Martinez, Nicole Miller, Louis Nacke II, Donald Peterson, Jean Hoadley Peterson, Mark Rothenberg, Christine Snyder, John Talignani, Honor Elizabeth Wainio, Deborah A. Welsh

Yesterday morning I turned on CNN International (the only station I get that broadcasts exclusively in English) to learn of a horrendous church shooting in Tennessee. Naturally I was shocked, so I immediately went online to find more details. The details I found were quite disturbing..

On Sunday a gunman entered Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church and opened fire, wounding nine people, of which two have died. While a student at UT I drove by this church almost everyday.. I never imagined something like this could happen.

The slime responsible is a “man” named Jim Adkisson, a local nutcase who apparently disagreed the liberal stances taken by the TVUUC, was frustrated about his lack of employment, and who dislikes Christians in general.

I’ve also learned that this lunatic grew up in my hometown of Harriman. As if Roane County needed in any further negative publicity.

We should all keep the TVUUC and the victims of this shooting in our thoughts and prayers.

Blogging has been MIA for the past week as I have moved halfway across the world–literally. I am now living in Mokpo, South Korea, where I teach English to Korean kids. My profession makes me either an agent of globalization or of cultural imperialism, depending on your point of view.

My decision to come here was motivated by a desire for some change in my life, the chance to travel, an excellent job offer, and the opportunity to teach. My first week in the country has been very nice and gone much more smoothly than I expected. Although most of the people do not speak much English, they are very friendly and helpful.

I will blog in greater detail about my adventures as well as get back to discussing politics over the next few days. But rest assured this blog (as well as Podcast Appalachia) will continue!

Did I mention I’m moving to South Korea tomorrow?

We should all take a break from watching Super Tuesday results and say a prayer for the tornado victims in Tennessee, Mississippi, Kentucky, and Arkansas.

Glen Dean tagged me over a month ago, but I’m just now getting around to responding. Sorry for the delay, but here are my answers:

1) Link to the person that tagged you, and post the rules on your blog.
2) Share 7 facts about yourself.
3) Tag 7 random people at the end of your post, and include links to their blogs.
4) Let each person know that they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

I read on average three books a week.
2) I think Boone, NC is the greatest place in the world.
3) I can claim blood relation to Daniel Boone, Davy Crockett, William Henry Harrison, Stonewall Jackson, and Abraham Lincoln (I’m a genealogy nerd).
4) In college I worked in three different school newspapers at three different colleges.
5) My favorite TV shows are The Sopranos, Friday Night Lights, Coach, the X-Files, Newhart, The Drew Carey Show, and the various Star Treks.
6) I have no idea what I want to do with my life, but I have the vague feeling it should involve education.
7) I still haven’t decided if I want to “grow up”.

So I must choose seven people. They are: Adrienne Royer, Brian Hornback, Rob Huddleston, Stacey Campfield, Michael Silence, Joe Lance, and Marie Freeman

Wishing you and yours a splendid 2008!

Merry Christmas to you and your kin!

And if you need help getting into the Christmas spirit, this is always worth a read:

EDITOR’S NOTE: Eight-year-old Virginia O’Hanlon wrote a letter to the editor of New York’s Sun, and the quick response was printed as an unsigned editorial Sept. 21, 1897. The work of veteran newsman Francis Pharcellus Church, according to the Web site for the Newseum, located in Washington, D.C., has since become history’s most reprinted newspaper editorial, appearing in part or whole in dozens of languages in books, movies, and other editorials, and on posters and stamps.

Dear Editor:

I am 8 years old. Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus.

Papa says, “If you see it in The Sun, it’s so.’

Please tell me the truth - Is there a Santa Claus?

Viriginia O’Hanlon

115 West Ninety-Fifth Street

Virginia, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age.

They do not believe except [what] they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Virginia, whether they be men’s or children’s, are little. In this great universe of ours man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect, as compared with the boundless world about him, as measure by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge.

Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He exists certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy.

Alas! How dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus! It would be as dreary as if there were no Virginias. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal light which childhood fills the world would be extinguished.

Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies! You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the chimneys on Christmas Eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if they did not see Santa Claus coming down, what would that prove? Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that’s no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world.

You tear apart the baby’s rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the strongest man that ever lived, could tear apart. Only faith, fancy, poetry, love, romance can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, Virginia, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding.

No Santa Claus! Thank God he lives, and he lives forever. A thousand years from now, nay, ten times ten thousand years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.

I wish you all a very happy Thanksgiving. It’s fair to say that we all have very much to be thankful for even though we usually don’t realize it. Let’s all try to remember that, today and everyday.

I am back from New York. Regular blogging will now resume. Thank you for your patience. I will be posting pictures soon.

I should also note that this month marks the fourth anniversary of this blog. It doesn’t seem like four years have passed since I was an eager young College Republican at UT making my first voyage into the blogosphere. It’s been a great ride so far, and hopefully it won’t end for years to come.

Some reasons why.

Madeleine L’Engle has died. As a child I really enjoyed her classic A Wrinkle in Time, which is one of the most imaginative books out there. RIP.

I attempt to answer that question in my Master’s thesis, Who Reads Blogs: An Examination of Blog Readers. It isn’t exactly bathroom reading, but it is an attempt to better understand people who read blogs. Who knows; some of you might even enjoy reading it

UPDATE: This post is taking part in the Beltway Traffic Jam.

Happy Independence Day to everyone! Please remember those who protect our freedom.