To the music of the Light Cavalry Overture horse lover Vivian Q. "Big Rod" Rodriguez has raked in yet another honor from the Secretary of the Army Francis J. Harvey. It came In the form of an Army "Freedom Team" pin symbolizing the partnership between the Army, her soldiers, their families and veterans "partnership as old as  the Nation itself," the letter from Harvey read.  "It is a partnership American has always been able to depend on.

As our partner, we hope that you will wear this pin with pride, as a statement of our shared commitment to support America's soldiers." America has always called upon the Army to do   the hard jobs  and her army has always answered the call. We are a free nation, a nation looked  upon by billions of people around the world as the standard bearer of freedoms guaranteed by  our great country in the Army, the Army National Guard and the Army Reserve.

  We are an Army of  tradition. Our greatest tradition is service to our country and in that service we ask our soldiers to carry tough missions around the world.  Today, answering the nation's call may take them into harm's way in our global war on terrorism, a war that touches us all and one we cannot afford to lose. "Big Rod" served in the horse Cavalry through conflicts dating back to World War II.  He even has a building named after him in Eagle Pass.