Roger’s Rangers, Mosby’s Rangers, Darby’s Rangers, Merrill’s Marauders and the 75^th Ranger Regiment are names of famous American Special Operations units that trace their history from the American Revolutionary War to current operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

And the argument goes on! Sitting on one side of the table are the President and his civilian advisors trying to understand military operations so they can make a decision on what the US should do about Afghanistan going forward. On the other side sit the military Generals and Admirals who have devoted their lives to studying and fighting wars.

Nathan Colbert, son of Rockwall residents Michael and Kelly Colbert, graduated from Rockwall High School in 2003 and then did what many young men and women do today; he started his education in the North Texas Community College system.

Jonathan Aslan, whose mother, Mary Akin teaches first grade at Dobbs Elementary School in Rockwall, and whose father Masoud works for Lockheed Martin of Fort Worth in Greenville, graduated from Rockwall High School in May of 2002.

Jonathan Aslan, whose mother, Mary Akin teaches first grade at Dobbs Elementary School in Rockwall, and whose father Masoud works for Lockheed Martin of Fort Worth in Greenville, graduated from Rockwall High School in May of 2002.

Joe Saba, currently living in Rowlett, graduated from Bryan Adams High School in Dallas. After attending a local junior college and working for several years at the Coca Cola bottling plant, in January of 1989 he made the decision to join the Army since he had “always wanted to fly helicopters and the Army sure had a lot of them.”

When a veteran dies, the military honors that serviceman or woman with burial honors. These honors include the presentation of a flag to the next of kin, a graveside honor guard, a rifle or cannon salute, and the playing of taps on a bugle. The honors are presented by an honor guard from a nearby military installation or by veterans groups.

Clayton Hendon, son of Griffin and Missie Hendon, grew up in near-by Dallas, and graduated from Lake Highlands High School in 2003. Appointed by Dick Armey to West Point, he arrived there later in the summer and started his four-year education leading up to an appointment as a Second Lieutenant in the US Army.

Sergeant Ben Weston, grandson of Joann Claycomb of Royse City and son of Jan and Ben Weston, formerly of Rockwall, is a Squad Leader in Company C, 1-17^th Infantry, 5th Stryker Brigade, based in Fort Lewis, Washington. But today, after serving a tour in Iraq, he is stationed in southern Afghanistan.