Soldier

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There is much truth and honor and pride to this! Only in America is this true! God bless our military folks and our country! God bless President Bush!
God bless you!
Chris

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 155mm Howitzers. 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-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 then he should have in his short lifetime. He has stood atop mountains of dead bodies, and helped to create them.

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.

Now Picture This I want you to close your eyes and picture in your mind the soldier at
Valley Forge, as he holds his musket in his bloody hands.

He stands barefoot in the snow, starved from lack of food, wounded from months of battle
and emotionally scarred from the eternity away from his family surrounded by nothing
but death and carnage of war.

He stands tough, with fire in his eyes and victory on his breath. He looks at us now in
anger and disgust and tells us this...

I gave you a birthright of freedom born in the Constitution and now your children
graduate too illiterate to read it. I fought in the snow barefoot to give you the freedom
to vote and you stay at home because it rains.

I left my family destitute to give you the freedom of speech and you remain silent
on critical issues, because it might be bad for business.

I orphaned my children to give you a government to serve you and it has
stolen democracy from the people.

It's the soldier not the reporter who gives you the freedom of the press.

It's the soldier not the poet who gives you the freedom of speech.

It's the soldier not the campus organizer who allows you to demonstrate.

It's the soldier who salutes the flag, serves the flag, whose coffin is draped with the
flag that allows the protester to burn the flag!!!

"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."

Please stop for a moment and say a prayer for our U.S. ground troops in Iraq
and Afghanistan, - AND all over this world.

OF ALL THE GIFTS YOU COULD GIVE A SOLDIER, PRAYER IS THE
VERY BEST ONE!!

SUPPORT AMERICA
Please

Speak out. Stand tall as an American. Display your flag, wear your red, white and blue, light your candles and show the world that we are One and we will support each other, our military troops throughout the world and our President, whatever his decision.
Unite. Don't attack your fellow Americans. They are just as devastated as you are by the terrorist attack.
Pray for those that died, for those that lost someone, for the rescuers, our armed forces and for all the world. Pray, even if you've never prayed before, even if you're not religious. God knows we need all the help we can get.
Participate in rallies, in vigils, in charitable organizations, in support groups. Don't let apathy win.
Obliterate hatred within your own community. Obey the laws of your nation.
Rally to support your government. You might not agree with everything they do but Now is not the time to be divided.
Take time to think, to cry, to mourn, to remember. And resolve to make tomorrow better in your own little part of the country.
Avenge your country, your people. Arm yourself with knowledge. Brains will win, brawn will die.
Make time to help. If you don't have money to give, give of your time or give blood. Many will shed their blood for us before this is over.
Educate your children. This is their future. Make it better by the decisions you make now. Don't let them wonder, don't let them worry, don't let them hate. Tell them the truth and help them understand what they can do.
Remember September 11, 2001. Hold it in your heart and hold it in your memory to strive to be a better American, a better person, everyday, not just for now.
Invest in your country. Invest your heart, your soul, your money, your time. We have so much, it's time to give something back.
Commit to the cause. Commit to making violence, crime and terrorism unacceptable, Always, everywhere.
Accept The United States of America as Your country, Your home, Your family. No one and nothing is perfect. But we can all strive for perfection. We all need each other and we all need to be there for each other. Now is the time to show we can be the best of what Americans can be.

God Bless You and God Bless The USA!
Chris
The Women of Substance

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