Live for your country, die to yourself; live for yourself, die to your country.

As day is to a sword, night is to a shield.

The American flag doesn't give her glory on a peaceful, calm day. It's when the winds pick up and become boisterous, do we see her strength. When she unfolds her hand, and shows her frayed fingers, where we see the stretch of red-blood lines of man that fought for this land. The purity of white stripes that strips our sins, and the stars of Abraham's covenant, broad in a midnight blue sky. The rights our forefathers established. As it waves high in the currents of freedom, where the Torch of Liberty shines over the sea, does she give meaning to unity. When we strive as one nation, or when it drops half-mast, to a fallen soldier.

Love has no fear, willing to take on anyone. But how much we fear love!

We are soon approaching a refined holiday, "Merry Mas," where Christ will be taken out of its context.

Through the Service to America Medals, we give the best within government their due respect, and honor them for making a very real difference in the lives of people across our country and around the world. There is nothing more critical to government's success than attracting the best and brightest to serve.