We reserve our deepest respect and admiration for those who volunteer for service and give their lives to help keep our nation secure.

The church through its Catholic Charities provides an extraordinary service to the commonwealth by placing many special needs children every year in homes. That's a service I hope we will continue to be able to avail ourselves of.

That said, your values will not always be the object of public admiration. In fact, the more you live by your beliefs, the more you will endure the censure of the world.

Instead of just giving lip service to improving our schools, I will actually put the kids first and the teachers union behind in giving our kids better teachers, better options and better choices for a better future.

The American culture promotes personal responsibility, the dignity of work, the value of education, the merit of service, devotion to a purpose greater than self, and at the foundation, the pre-eminence of family.

Reforming the way the state works with businesses and providing incentives for employers will help preserve and create new jobs in Massachusetts.