Three years ago, I stood at attention in my service dress uniform in the oppressive Texas heat as my commander presented the perfectly folded flag to SMSgt Ramirez's widow. SMSgt Ramirez was my NCOIC.  I was his captain.  Over the years, we had served together in the Balkans and in the Persian Gulf.  We had been together in Iraq the previous year.  I will forever honor his memory and treasure those experiences.

I appreciate how the images of military funerals were treated with dignity by this talented young woman.  Shiz, thank you for sharing it.

No one can ever estimate the terrible suffering incident to these wars across the globe. Lives numbered in the millions have been lost. The terrible wounds of war have left bodies maimed and minds destroyed. Families have been left without fathers and mothers. Young people who have been recruited to fight have, in many instances, died while those yet alive have had woven into the very fabric of their natures elements of hatred which will never leave them. The treasure of nations has been wasted and will never be recovered. The devastation of war seems so unnecessary and such a terrible waste of human life and national resources. We ask, will this terrible, destructive way of handling disagreements among the sons and daughters of God ever end?
President Hinckley introduced his message in this month's Ensign with those words.  You can read his entire message here.