Happy Birthday USMC!

I am preparing to head to Seattle to participate in one of Focus on the Family’s Celebrate Family Tours. If you’re in the area, please know we’d love to have you join us.  We’ll be at the Lynnwood Convention Center in Lynnwood, WA. Doors open at 6:30 tomorrow night, November 11th. Admission is free. Bring the whole family! It would be a treat to meet you.

Just a few thoughts prior to departure:

• Today, November 10th, is the 235th birthday of the United States Marine Corps. Somebody once pointed out that while freedom is not free, the United States Marine Corps will pay most of our share. They were right; we’re deeply indebted to every man and woman in uniform, but especially to the great soldiers of the Corps. To all active duty personnel and veterans, Semper Fi!

• In light of the Marine Corps anniversary and tomorrow’s celebration of Veteran’s Day, today’s daily broadcast features an important discussion of the impact of PTSD: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. According to an expert on our panel discussion, approximately 300,000 of our troops are suffering from the condition. That takes my breath away. Multiply that number by several family members and you have a condition that is impacting millions of people.

What can we do about it? Pray! But you’ll also want to tune in to learn more.

• Of far less significance, I asked you yesterday if you thought pets went to heaven. Wow!  The reaction has been robust. There is still time to weigh in by clicking here. I’m enjoying your comments, though I’m not so sure that if dogs go to heaven cats don’t — or vice versa!  You know who you are.

Getting back to the United States Marine Corps, I’d like to close with a beautiful poem. I am told it was written by a young Marine Daniel Trump in 2008. I have never met him, but hope I might one day have the opportunity.

Always Faithful

From coast to coast
Through country fields
And majestic mountains high
The Eagle soars above our Nation
A great symbol in the sky

America in its spender
Protected by our brave
Stars and Stripe forever
Our citizens proudly wave

On November 10th a brotherhood born
So honorable and true
This nation blessed
To inherit such devoted men as you

Semper Fi, Do or Die
A passage shared between the best
As the few, the proud, the Marines
Give meaning to the test

Shoulder to shoulder, band of brothers
May God guide your way
And know with out a doubt
We are very proud of you today.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, events November 10, 2010 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura