This boy flying the helo is one of the memories, the heros that we remember with a lump in our throat on Memorial Day. He was shot down in Iraq after this photo was taken. He was smiling, happy, and anxious to secure our freedom, when I talked with him six hours before the planes crashed into the World Trade Center in New York City.

Do we consider where we might be without his gift of freedom? I walked down the street today without a second thought of the danger of being shot from a hidden snipper or a coffee can blowing up on the side of the road.

           But really, don't they all belong to us?

WE STAND BEFORE HEROES

I just noticed the other night that it was the 39th anniversary of my Naval career. Most who know me know that I served on active duty in the 60’s and reenlisted in the Navy Reserves in 1987 after being out for 20 years.  I couldn't let my son enlist into the Marine Corps by himself. Later, my youngest son followed us in, and I have had some glorious years serving my country. 

Reflecting on this last week, some things have occurred to me concerning my own career. One is, that as I recall, I have been on duty every major United States crisis since and including the Cuban missile crisis. My last active duty was last May as a Navy Photographer at the premier of the movie Pearl Harbor.

Just last Monday night at dinner I was sitting with Marine Corps pilots of Squadron HMM-268 on the USS Boxer. We were somewhere between Hawaii and San Diego steaming for the conclusion of their 6 month cruise, which included weeks in the middle east.  I was relating to them the disdain I felt when sitting at the premiere among hundreds of today’s military personnel, while Hollywood people, time after time, referred to the heroes of the past as they reacted to the attack at Pearl Harbor.

Without minimizing those heroes, of whom I met and had the privilege of photographing many, I had what has become a paralyzing thought.

I explained to those warriors that if this now were December 6, 1941, those service people of today that I sat with at the premier, and you Heroes that I sit with this night would be recognized for what you really are, should something as catastrophic as Pearl Harbor were to take place tomorrow.

Tomorrow, September 11, 2001 at 6:00AM, the Captain of the USS Boxer announced over the ships loud speaker that an aircraft had just crashed into the World Trade Center, committing what we now know to be an attack on the United States of America.

When the Squadron landed yesterday piloted and crewed by these who serve us, gathered with those that they love, after six months at sea they unanimously agreed that once they have hugged their wives, and have seen and kissed their kids, they are ready to get back out to the ship and return to serve they're country and protect us.

I had no idea that September 10, 2001 was in fact a mirror of December 6, 1941 and those warriors that I sat with were literally tomorrow's heroes.

Yesterday I watched as my youngest son the U.S. Marine Corps Sergeant, wearing loaded weapons, helped protect Camp Pendleton, and this morning as my oldest son, the U.S. Marine Corps Captain arrived at work at Camp Pendleton. I watched and was so proud to be an American and so thankful to have them at my side and around me.

We are so privileged to stand among the Captains who tomorrow could be remembered heroes, the Lieutenants who could be honored having given their all-next year on May 30th, or the Privates who may be given the Medal of Honor posthumously.

We all ask, "What can I do? How can I make a difference? Where can I help?"

Maybe I can offer an answer for you.  Find a Recruiting Station in your neighborhood, they’re everywhere, and just poke your head in for a moment and say “thank you” to those in uniform.

It’s a little hard to tell nowadays, because there aren’t as many uniforms.  Without too much effort, however, you can find those who serve in our Military. When they stand in front of you, you may be facing a hero. Showing them how much they are appreciated will make both of you feel proud to be an American.

Let’s let them know today how we feel.

They stand for us and,

WE STAND BEFORE HEROES.

Update...some of the pilots that I had spoken with that night have now given their lives for our freedom.

What would you most likely do if on your block there lived a family who had been faced with an attack of a rapist, a murderer, a man who was known to commit the most heinous acts against children and innocent people?  He had been to the first house owned by Mr. and Mrs. Kurd and their children, leaving devastation behind. The second house, occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Kuwait and their children, he also visited, and, as with the first house on the block, he vacated, after burning and stealing and committing cruel deeds against that neighbor. Now he seems to have plans of moving on to even the next house, and the next, and then possibly the next.

And your house, with your wife and your children and all of your family and those whom you love, live in the last house of that block. And it is evident that Mr. Hussein, as did his predecessors Mr. Hitler and Mr. Hiro Hito, wants to work his way all the way down the block.

That is the very reason that I stand with my President, my Commander and Chief, and my two sons, Capt. Jeffrey Dinsmore, USMC and Sgt. Daniel Dinsmore, USMC.

We live in the last house on the block. We will stop him before he gets this far.