Our hearts and prayers go out to the family and friends of the December A&M graduate. His death is a loss for them, for his school, the community and, indeed, the country, which needs brave young people such as Zachary to volunteer to serve us in our nation's armed services.

In the aftermath of Monday's crash, Zachary's friends spoke volumes about their lost comrade. "He would do anything for you," one friend remembered. "... He's the type of friend everybody should have and everybody should want to be," another said.

Our prayers also go out to those who were injured in the crash. May God bless them as they heal from the terrible crash.

Monday's accident also reminds us that military service always carries an element of danger. Even routine assignments far from the battlefields of Iraq and Afghanistan carry risks.

Too often, we take for granted the brave young men and women who sign up to defend us. We minimize the risks, we avoid the snares and dangers they face.

The loss of 22-year-old Zachary Cook and the injuries to the others when that helicopter crashed remind us to be thankful each and every day that young Americans are willing to don a military uniform, to take up arms, to put their lives at risk so that all of us might remain free.

We are glad that they do and humbled by their service. May God bless each and every one of them.

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