Thanks, Jim. That Marine can sing! I listened to the speeches, too. Adm Mullen's use of the Gettysburg dedication speech of Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain was very fitting, and inspiring. Secretary Gates and President Bush did very well, also.

The story of the youngest casualty, a 21 yea old Navy Petty Officer, and his fmily, made my eyes wet. With his mother's blessing, his father quit his job, moved to Washington, and for nine months worked on the Pentagon recovery. He visited the site of his son's death every day.

The brother of another casualty, in Atlanta, said he and his family were going to the ceremony not to mourn, but to celebrate the victory and his brother's life. If more people had that attitude, we'd be a lot better off. Stan