To serve and protect.

The news media portrays our military as those who have a tendency to "accidentally kill" civilians in the countries that we fight in. We always hear about those stories: US Marines and Army bombing civilian housing causing many women and children to die.

How many times have you heard this story on CNN- A soldier or marine protecting a child from a country where we are "fighting terrorism?" How many images have you seen of people in other countries dying, blaming the United States for their sorrows? Countless probably.

Next time you see one of those stories, think of this image. This photo is a story I hear often from my family members and significant other who have been there- too often without a camera to be seen. This is a US Marine, protecting a father and his child during a gunfight in Afghanistan. And remember our military members' oath that they take when enlisting to serve and protect. Not only their fellow citizens, but others throughout the world.

Now tell me: Which type of story are you going to be looking for on the news?

-Lizz Palmer

Image by: Goran Tomasevic/Reuters
Link: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35463651/from/ET/?beginSlide=9