As long as there is breath in our bodies we have hope. Hope is a good resource; it helps us store up for the next battle. The definition for hope is: to cherish a desire with anticipation. (Merriam-Webster)  When we equip ourselves with the proper tools we can win. With the proper tools in the natural sense a lot of buildings, skyscrapers, and monuments wouldn't have been built without someone using the tools of the trade to build them. The Virginia War Memorial is a shrine of memory of all those who had died in the World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Persian Gulf. There are a total of eleven thousand six hundred and thirty-four names engraved onto stone and glass walls of all those who died as an end result of the World War II, Korea, Vietnam, and  Persian Gulf.   In World War
II the total of lives lost were nine-thousand three hundred and ninety eight, The Korea War lost eight-hundred and fifty, The Vietnam War one-thousand three hundred and seventy nine, and the Persian Gulf War lost lives of seven. These names are alphabetically positioned first by the cities and counties in Virginia where they lived. Many of us faced many hard knocks, troubles and heart aches. Some of the past conditions have left us at a standstill. It's as though it immobilizes us, our pickup and go just left our bodies. We can't change the past, we have to press onward. It has touched my heart that all these men and women fought for our freedom. This should make us more aware that we need to do all we can for the Lord. Reach all we can, keep the faith; so our names will be engraved in that Book of Life and Heaven will be our reward. Stay Strong Friends!