A young priest in West Virginia e-mails:

I am not in the military, although I would like to serve them in some way in the future (as a chaplain); however, while I was in seminary, I would visit a Navy base (support site, actually) and help out at Mass. This was the most desired apostolate in our seminary because you got to spend time with families (they would host us for the weekend) and because it was like visiting a parish once a month for a year. This opportunity to serve the people of our armed forces was great, and I hope to do so again.
Now, the wrinkle — this was while I was in seminary in Rome, and these Americans were serving overseas. They managed to have a little oasis of Americana in the midst of the nanny states of Western Europe, and we fellow Americans were grateful.
And, I agree – having lived in Europe for 4 years, I am now more proud to be an American. God Bless you and God Bless all the people serving our country in the military, especially those serving overseas.