Good morning. I received this email from two cousins, Ronald and Rosa (Artrella). Ironically, a good friend Kim has a Daughter named Treasure who has just been deployed to Afghanistan. She is the youngest of four and is in the National Guard. Please Read this:
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 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.
A short lull, a little shade and a picture of loved ones in their
helmets.
Prayer wheel for our military ... please don't
break it Please send this on after a short prayer.
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 receive this, please stop for a moment and say a prayer for our
ground troops in Afghanistan, sailors on ships, and airmen in the air, and
for those in Iraq, Afghanistan and all foreign countries.
There is nothing attached.... This can be very powerful.
Of all the gifts you could give a US Soldier, Sailor, Coast Guardsman,
Marine, or Airman, prayer is the very best one.
At the top right is the entire Garden
I hope you are having a great Independence Weekend. No work tomarrow , yay ! All the nuts are out shooting off what sounds like cannons. Just be careful and safe ! It was in the high 80’s here in Cleveland, man was it hot. I’d probably melt if I was down south like some of you are. That picture above is in front of the Terminal Tower, which you can’t see because of the fireworks. I couldn’t find a better shot. I’m going to break out the grill in the morning so maybe I’ll show you how the western ribs turn out. Happy 4th, and 5th !
