Many times during my Marine Corps career I had the good fortune and distinct pleasure to socialize with and serve alongside soldiers, sailors, Marines and citizens of the British Empire. As a recon team leader I called in air strikes on (opposing force) elements of the Royal Marines' 45 Commando, while serving as MSG Detachment Commander in Canberra, Australia I invited the Defense Attache' of the British High Commission to be our guest of honor at a Mess Night celebrating Independence Day (no small bit of irony there), and I have consumed more than a bit of English ale in the pubs of Portsmouth and Plymouth. On every occasion I was impressed by the stoic nature of the Brits, and by the incredibly civilized society they have built. It is because of the latter that I join all civilized people of the world in condemning the cowardly and barbaric attacks on London and mourn the losses suffered by our British friends - and because of the former I know our friends across the Big Pond will display their famed "stiff upper lip" and prevail against the terrorists. This is the worst attack against the Crown since the Nazis launched the Blitz, and it calls to mind the words of Sir Winston Churchill - words which are as true now as they were when he first spoke them:

"I have, myself, full confidence that if all do their duty, if nothing is neglected, and if the best arrangements are made, as they are being made, we shall prove ourselves once again able to defend our Island home, to ride out the storm of war, and to outlive the menace of tyranny, if necessary for years, if necessary alone....We shall go on to the end, we shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our Island, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender, and even if, which I do not for a moment believe, this Island or a large part of it were subjugated and starving, then our Empire beyond the seas, armed and guarded by the British Fleet, would carry on the struggle, until, in God's good time, the New World, with all its power and might, steps forth to the rescue and the liberation of the old."

The words "United We Stand" do not apply only to Americans - they apply to all who love freedom. We stand with our British friends on this day, and will do so until the world is safe for our children and our children's children.

Semper Fi,
Andy Bufalo
MSgt USMC (Ret)

Received via email, from Seamus