Prayerful thought

I recently remembered why I volunteered to go to Vietnam.

It was while reading about the senseless deaths and destruction that the Taliban caused in Pakistan by shooting more than 100 children and teachers. The incident immediately spurred a feeling in me as an American — a sense of compassion, the quest for justice and a realization that freedom is paramount.

My prayers are for the children, teachers and their families.

This story was originally published December 25, 2014 at 2:00 PM with the headline "Prayerful thought."