Stop calling Soldiers heroes. It stops us from seeing them as human.

I know I'm not a hero but I do believe there are some in the military who can truly be called that especially those who have received the Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross or Silver Star.

The Soldier, Sailor, Marine, Airmen and Coast Guardsmen are a much better representation of what a hero should be for our young children to emulate and look up to. They are much better examples then those they watch on TV. Examples like CPO Christopher "Chris" Kyle USN, Sergeant Dakota Meyer USMC, Specialist Ty M. Carter USA, Lieutenant Michael P. Murphy USN, Sergeant Ryan M. Pitts USA, Lance Corporal William Kyle Carpenter USMC, Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael A. Monsoor USN, 1st LT Thomas J. Cahill, Jr. USAF. I could go for ever but these men are our heroes. And I thank god our country has these men and women who go above and beyond what anyone should have to. So if people want to associate our men and women in the military as heroes then I say so be it.

SGT Barrie,

Every person, including our heros, has some personal good, bad, and ugly characteristics.

That said, anyone, draftee or volunteer, who takes the oath, picks up or crews a weapon, stands their post, advances and attacks any armed enemy forces, penetrates a live fire zone, and/or is otherwise exposed to substantial risk of injury/death in order to gather intelligence, target our enemies, and/or protect our troops, civilians, and/or allies is my hero. In particular, anyone wounded or killed while in action or protecting others is my hero. Self sacrifice is heroism to me.

While I appreciate honorable brave actions behind many awards, some awards are too political.

I personally believe in action. To quote Gladiator (2000) "What we do in life, echoes in eternity"

Warmest Regards, Sandy

. . . . . . . . . .

Maximus: Five thousand of my men are out there in the freezing mud. Three thousand of them are bloodied and cleaved. Two thousand will never leave this place. I will not believe that they fought and died for nothing.

Marcus Aurelius: And what would you believe?

Maximus: They fought for you and for Rome.

Marcus Aurelius: And what is Rome, Maximus?

Maximus: I've seen much of the rest of the world. It is brutal, cruel and dark, Rome is the light.

Marcus Aurelius: Yet you have never been there. You have not seen what it has become. I am dying, Maximus. When a man sees his end... he wants to know there was some purpose to his life. How will the world speak my name in years to come? Will I be known as the philosopher? The warrior? The tyrant? Or will I be the emperor who gave Rome back her true self? There was once a dream that was Rome. You could only whisper it. Anything more than a whisper and it would vanish... it was so fragile. And I fear that it will not survive the winter. Maximus, let us whisper now, together you and I.

Marcus Aurelius: When was the last time you were home?

Maximus: Two years, two hundred and sixty-four days and this morning.

Marcus Aurelius: There is one more duty that I ask of you before you go home.

Maximus: What would you have me do Caesar?

Marcus Aurelius: I want you to become the protector of Rome after I die. I will empower you to one end alone, to give power back to the people of Rome and end the corruption that has crippled it.

[Maximus looks amazed and sad]

Marcus Aurelius: Do you accept this great honor that I have offered you?

Maximus: With all my heart, no.

Marcus Aurelius: Maximus, that is why it must be you.

. . . . . . . . . .

Commodus: Why doesn't the hero reveal himself and tell us all your real name?

Maximus: My name is Gladiator. [turns away from Commodus]

Commodus: How dare you show your back to me! Slave, you will remove your helmet and tell me your name.

Maximus: My name is Maximus Decimus Meridius, commander of the Armies of the North, General of the Felix Legions and loyal servant to the TRUE emperor, Marcus Aurelius. Father to a murdered son, husband to a murdered wife. And I will have my vengeance, in this life or the next.

[Commodus trembles in disbelief]

Quintus: Arms!

[Praetorians point their spears at the gladiators while the Colosseum crowd chants for them to live. Commodus shakes his head and motions the crowd for silence. He then raises his fist and reluctantly gives the thumbs-up signal]

. . . . . . . . . .

Lucilla: Today I saw a slave become more powerful than the Emperor of Rome.

. . . . . . . . . .

[ After fighting and killing the Emperor Commodus in the Coliseum, as Maximus lays dying . . . . ]

Quintus: Maximus, what are your orders?

Maximum: Quintus, free my men, Senator Gracchus is to be reinstated. There was a dream that was Rome. It shall be realized. These are the wishes of Marcus Aurelius.

Lucilla: Is Rome worth one good man's life? We believed it once. Make us believe it again. He was a soldier of Rome. Honor him.

Gracchus: Who will help me carry him?

[Gladiators and Senators surround Maximus to carry him out of the arena . . . .]

Juba (burying Maximus' two small statues of his wife and son in the dirt of the Colosseum where he had died): Now we are free. I will see you again, but not yet. Not yet.

. . . . . . . . . .