on a completely other note...

I watched "Taking Chance" the other day ... and bawled my eyes out. [You can learn more about the movie if you haven't heard of it here.]

I guess now I know, when I need a good cry, I should watch a movie about coming to grips with losing our youth to a senseless war.

I guess another piece that was truly moving was to see how much we love our service people even when we disagree with the war, we still love our troops.

In that spirit, I want to honor of all of those fallen in war. Here's is one more to remember, Ronnie who we lost on 10/23. Here is the link, but I don't know how long it will last, so I am going to post the full text as well:

An Alta Loma High School graduate serving as an Army combat engineer in the Middle East died Saturday.

Spc. Ronnie J. Pallares was killed in Andar district, Ghazni, Afghanistan when insurgents attacked his unit using a roadside bomb, according to a Department of Defense news release. He was assigned to the 27th Engineer Battalion, Fort Bragg, N.C.

This was Pallares' first deployment, officials said.

"He was exceptionally friendly and extroverted; just the kind of guy that earns valued friends wherever he goes," said Capt. Jeffery Donaldson, his company commander, in a written statement. "In a closely-knit combat unit like ours, Specialist Pallares was a friend to everyone, executing his own tasks with well-trained proficiency."

Donaldson went on to say Pallares was loved by his family, friends and leaders.

"I've literally never seen a group so happy to promote someone as when his platoon put the rank on his chest. Everybody was looking forward to witnessing the incredible potential of Ronnie Pallares - a fact that makes his early passing so much more painful," Donaldson said.

Pallares enlisted in the Army immediately after graduating high school in 2008. He served as a combat engineer during route clearance operations, officials said.

During his service, Pallares received the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, NATO Medal,

Combat Action Badge and Parachutist Badge, according to the news release.

In honor of Pallares' service, flags at the capitol building in Sacramento were flown at half-staff Monday.

"Serving in the armed forces is a noble calling that Specialist Ronnie Pallares bravely answered. He faced danger to defend our freedoms and we honor his courage and commitment to our country. AS they mourn this tragic loss of a young life, Maria (Shriver) and I offer our deepest condolences to Ronnie's family, friends and fellow soldiers," Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said in a written statement.