Being that we are able to celebrate our Independence Day due to the brave men and women in our military, laying down their lives so we may continue to celebrate, I found the following very appropriate. Let me state first and foremost, that if anyone finds what I have written offensive in any manner, you have my permission to stick your head back UP where you pulled it from and continue to ignore what's going on around you. If not for our brave military, you wouldn't even have the right to do that. For those that think we should just all lay down our guns and be "peace loving", well, to you I say, ......... please, please, buy yourself a one-way ticket to whichever foreign country you think we should be "peaceful" with and go preach your dribble to them. THIS IS AMERICA. THE HOME OF THE BRAVE AND LAND OF THE FREE. I will NEVER, I repeat NEVER back down from defending our rights or the rights of our military troops. With that being said, and if you "peace lovers" have the guts,........read on. For all those red-blooded Americans out there, I have no doubt you will continue to read what follows. May GOD bless our troops and watch over them, .......... wherever they are.
AMEN, TO ALL YOU READ BELOW
If you read this,you WILL pass it on. You just won't be able to stop yourself.
The average age of the military man is 19 years. He is a short haired,
tight-muscled kid who, under normal circumstances is considered by society
as half man, half boy. Not yet dry behind the ears, not old enough to buy a
beer, but old enough to die for his country. He never really cared much for
work and he would rather wax his own car than wash his father's, but he has
never collected unemployment either.
He's a recent High School graduate; he was probably an average student, pursued some form of sport activities, drives a ten year old jalopy, and has a steady girlfriend that either broke up with him when he left, or swears to be waiting when he returns from half a world away. He listens to rock and roll or hip-hop or rap or jazz or swing and a 155mm howitzer.
He is 10 or 15 pounds lighter now than when he was at home because he is working or fighting from before dawn to well after dusk. He has trouble spelling, thus letter writing is a pain for him, but he can field strip a rifle in 30 seconds and reassemble it in less time in the dark. He can recite to you the nomenclature of a machine gun or grenade launcher and use either one effectively if he must.
He digs foxholes and latrines and can apply first aid like a professional. He can march until he is told to stop, or stop until he is told to march. He obeys orders instantly and without hesitation, but he is not without spirit or individual dignity. He is self-sufficient.
He has two sets of fatigues: he washes one and wears the other. He keeps his canteens full and his feet dry. He sometimes forgets to brush his teeth, but never to clean his rifle. He can cook his own meals, mend his own clothes, and fix his own hurts.
If you're thirsty, he'll share his water with you; if you are hungry, his food. He'll even split his ammunition with you in the midst of battle when you run low. He has learned to use his hands like weapons and weapons like they were his hands.
He can save your life - or take it, because that is his job.
He will often do twice the work of a civilian, draw half the pay, and still find ironic humor in it all. He has seen more suffering and death than he should have in
his short lifetime.
He has wept in public and in private, for friends who have fallen in combat and is unashamed. He feels every note of the National Anthem vibrate through
his body while at rigid attention, while tempering the burning desire to
'square-away ' those around him who haven't bothered to stand, remove their
hat, or even stop talking.
In an odd twist, day in and day out, far from home, he defends their right to be disrespectful.
Just as did his Father, Grandfather, and Great-grandfather, he is paying the price for our freedom. Beardless or not, he is not a boy. He is the American Fighting Man that has kept this country free for over 200 years.
He has asked nothing in return, except our friendship and understanding.
Remember him, always, for he has earned our respect and admiration with his blood.
And now we even have women over there in danger, doing their part in this tradition of going to War when our nation calls us to do so.. As you go to bed tonight, remember this shot. . .
&nb sp; A short lull, a little shade and a picture of loved ones in
their helmets.
This is a Prayer wheel for our military... Please say this brief prayer for all our soldiers.
Prayer Wheel
'Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands.
Protect them as they protect us.
Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they perform for us in our time of need. Amen.'
When you read this, please stop for a moment and say a prayer for our ground troops in Afghanistan , sailors on ships, and airmenin the air, and for those in Iraq.
This can be very powerful. Of all the gifts you could give a Soldier, Sailor,
Coastguardsman, Marine, or Airman, prayer is the very best one (and if you
ask one of them what they need, the only thing they'll ask you for is a
prayer!).
Tags: Military Soldier Freedom Independence Day War Fight Love Faith God Hope Pra
