Friday, December 18, 2009

Soldier, Sailor, Airman, Marine: "Some stand watch while you sleep"

Some stay up for 16 hours;
he stays up for days on end...


Some take warm showers to wake up;
he goes days or weeks without running water...

Some complain of a 'headache' and call in sick;
he gets shot at as others are hit, and keeps moving forward...


Some put on their "anti-war/don't support the troops shirts" and go meet up with friends;
he still fights for their right to wear that shirt...

Many check their pocket to make sure they've remembered the cell phone;
he clutches the cross hanging on his chain next to his dog tags...

Some talk trash about 'buddies' that aren't along for the fun;
he knows he may not see some of his buddies again...

Some walk down the beach staring at all the pretty girls;
he patrols the streets, searching for insurgents and terrorists...

Some complain about how hot it is;
he wears his heavy gear, not daring to take off his helmet to wipe his brow...

Some go out to lunch and complain because the restaurant got the order wrong;
he doesn't get to eat today or goes for stretches without a hot meal.

For some a maid makes the bed and washes the clothes;
he wears the same uniform for weeks, but makes sure his weapons are clean.

Some go to the mall and get their hair redone;
he doesn't have time to brush his teeth today.

Some get angry because a class ran five minutes overtime;
he's told he will be held over an extra two months.

Some call the girlfriend and set a date for tonight;
he waits for the mail to see if there is a letter from home...

Some hug and kiss girlfriends and wives every day;
he holds his letter close and smells his love's perfume.

Some roll their eyes at the sound of a baby's cries;
he gets a letter with pictures of his new child, and wonders if they'll ever meet...

Some criticize the government and say that war never solves anything;
he sees the innocent tortured and killed by their own people and remembers why he is fighting...

Some hear the jokes about the war and make fun of men like him;
he hears the gunfire, bombs and screams of the wounded.

Some see only what the media want them to see;
he cannot avert his gaze from the broken bodies lying around him.

Some are asked for help by parents or family and refuse;
he does exactly what he is told even if it puts his life in danger.

Some stay at home and watch TV;
he uses whatever time he is given to call, write home, sleep, and eat.

Those at home crawl into their soft beds with down pillows, and get comfortable;
he tries to sleep but is awakened by mortars and helicopters all night long.
REMEMBER our troops: they are living and dying for us far from home and family.
Lest we forget: it is a very little thing we do to pray for and support them in word and action.

Wishing a safe and peaceful Christmas to our military deployed to Afghanistan, Iraq, and other places in harm's way unknown to us.

God bless them and their families.

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