Are you a Soldier/Marine for life? I am a life member of my local VFW post.

I'm going to confess to a very unmanly inclination to tear up when I hear the USAA tagline: "We know what it means to serve". Regardless of whether we were drafted or volunteered, we served and we felt the pride that comes from serving. That's why I believe that so many veterans continue to serve in their communities when they leave active duty.

I'd rather not enumerate the ways in which I've served my community and my nation since I left the service. I'll limit myself to saying that I've been a volunteer in one effort or another more years than not, and I've always been repaid in pride and satisfaction. Although in many of those years I was struggling and couldn't contribute money, I always had time and talent to share.

Let me add in closing that we don't need no stinking federal government to organize, fund, or supervise our service. Indeed, I can't think of anything that would interfere more than the federal government taking a hand in it. They've screwed up everything else they've touched, haven't they?

I am a Lifetime member of the VFW, I am also a member of the American Legion, Marine Corps League, Disabled American Veterans and a local organization called the Mansfield (TX) Area Marines. I would like to be more active in all of these organizations, but due to my disabilities from Agent Orange, I can't do as much as I was once able to do.