Pres. Uchtdorf salutes U.S. military personnel

Speaking earlier to the congregation, Richard Kramer said his son felt awkward when people would see him in uniform and thank him for his service to the country. "He said, 'I haven't done anything. It's the ones who are over there that have died for their country that they should be thanking.' "

A combined quartet from the Army, Air Force, Navy and Marines performed "America the Beautiful."

"Sometimes we see a competition between the different branches of the armed forces, but this combined quartet showed how unity creates harmony," President Uchtdorf said.

Lt. Col. Mark L. Allison, state chaplain of the Utah National Guard, who organized the fireside, said after the meeting, "These are lions of liberty and defenders of light. I wanted us to all get together and rub shoulders and be counseled by a prophet of the Lord."

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