Remember our Troops Bitches

[SJA]

The embers glowed softly,
And in their dim light,
I gazed round the room and
I cherished the sight.

My wife was asleep,
Her head on my chest,
My daughter beside me,
Angelic in rest.

Outside the snow fell,
A blanket of white,
Transforming the yard
To a winter delight.

The sparkling lights
In the tree I believe,
Completed the magic
That was Christmas Eve.

My eyelids were heavy,
My breathing was deep,
Secure and surrounded by love
I would sleep.

In perfect contentment,
Or so it would seem,
So I slumbered, perhaps,
I started to dream.

The sound wasn't loud,
And it wasn't too near,
But I opened my eyes
When it tickled my ear.

Perhaps just a cough,
I didn't quite know,
Then the sure sound of footsteps
Outside in the snow.

My soul gave a tremble,
I struggled to hear,
And I crept to the door
Just to see who was near.

Standing out in the cold
And the dark of the night,
A lone figure stood,
His face weary and tight.

A soldier, I puzzled,
Some twenty years old,
Perhaps a Marine,
Huddled here in the cold.

Alone in the dark,
He looked up and smiled,
Standing watch over me,
And my wife and my child.

"What are you doing?"
I asked without fear,
"Come in this moment,
It's freezing out here!

Put down your pack,
Brush the snow from your sleeve,
You should be home
On a cold Christmas Eve!"

For barely a moment
I saw his eyes shift,
Away from the cold
and the snow blown in drifts..

To the window that danced
With a warm fire's light
Then he sighed and he
Said "Its really all right,

I'm out here by choice.
I'm here every night."

It's my duty to stand
At the front of the line,
That separates you
From the darkest of times.

No one had to ask
Or beg or implore me,
I'm proud to stand here
Like my fathers before me.

My Gramps died at 'Pearl
on a day in December,"
Then he sighed, "That's a Christmas
'Gram always remembers."

My dad stood his watch
In the jungles of 'Nam',
And now it is my turn
And so, here I am.

I've not seen my own son
In more than a while,
But my wife sends me pictures,
He's sure got her smile.

Then he bent and he carefully
Pulled from his bag,
The red, white, and blue...
An American flag.

"I can live through the cold
And the being alone,
Away from my family,
My house and my home.

I can stand at my post
Through the rain and the sleet,
I can sleep in a foxhole
With little to eat.

I can carry the weight
Of killing another,
Or lay down my life
With my sister and brother..

Who stand at the front
Against any and all,
To ensure for all time
That this flag will not fall."

"So go back inside," he said,
"Harbor no fright,
Your family is waiting
And I'll be all right."

"But isn't there something
I can do, at the least,
"Give you money," I asked,
"Or prepare you a feast?

It seems all too little
For all that you've done,
For being away from
Your wife and your son."

Then his eye welled a tear
That held no regret,
"Just tell us you love us,
And never forget.

To fight for our rights back at home
While we're gone,
To stand your own watch,
No matter how long.

For when we come home,
Either standing or dead,
To know you remember
We fought and we bled.

Is payment enough,
And with that we will trust,
That we mattered to you
As you mattered to us.


WE ALL NEED TO PRAY FOR OUR

MILITARY PERSONNEL EVERY NIGHT

 

[TheUnlikelyToad]

Pray you say...

What is this in which you speak?

 

[delta314]

> I was sitting alone in one of those loud, casual steak
houses
> that you find all over the country You know the type--a bucket of
> peanuts on every table, shells littering the floor, and a bunch of
> perky college kids racing around with longneck beers and sizzling
> platters.
>
> Taking a sip of my iced tea, I studied the crowd over the rim

> of my glass. My gaze lingered on a group enjoying their meal. They
> wore no uniform to identify their branch of service, but they were
> definitely "military:" clean shaven, cropped haircut, and that
> "squared away" look that comes with pride.
>
> Smiling sadly, I glanced across my table to the empty seat
> where my husband usually sat. It had only been a few months since we
> sat in this very booth, talking about his upcoming deployment to the
> Middle East. That was when he made me promise to get a sitter for the
> kids, come back to this restaurant once a month and treat myself to a
> nice steak. In turn he would treasure the thought of me being here,
> thinking about him until he returned home to me.
>
> I fingered the little flag pin I constantly wear and wondered

> where he was at this very moment. Was he safe and warm? Was his cold
> any better? Were my letters getting through to him? As I pondered
> these thoughts, high pitched female voices from the next booth broke
> into my thoughts.
>
> "I don't know what Bush is thinking about. Invading Iraq.
> You'd think that man would learn from his old man's mistakes. Good
> lord. What an idiot! I can't believe he is even in office. You do
> know, he stole the election."
>
> I cut into my steak and tried to ignore them, as they began
> an endless tirade running down our president. I thought about the last

> night I spent with my husband, as he prepared to deploy. He had just
> returned from getting his smallpox and anthrax shots. The image of him

> standing in our kitchen packing his gas mask still gives me chills.
>
> Once again the women's voices invaded my thoughts. "It is all

> about oil, you know. Our soldiers will go in and rape and steal all
> the oil they can in the name of 'freedom'. Hmph! I wonder how many
> innocent people they'll kill without giving it a thought? It's pure
> greed, you know."
>
> My chest tightened as I stared at my wedding ring I could
> still see how handsome my husband looked in his "mess dress" the day
> he slipped it on my finger. I wondered what he was wearing now.
> Probably his desert uniform, affectionately dubbed "coffee stains"
> with a heavy bulletproof vest over it.
>
> "You know, we should just leave Iraq alone. I don't think
> they are hiding any weapons. In fact, I bet it's all a big act just to

> increase the president's popularity. That's all it is, padding the
> military budget at the expense of our social security and education.
> And, you know what else? We're just asking for another 9-ll. I can't
> say when it happens again that we didn't deserve it."
>
> Their words brought to mind the war protesters I had watched
> gathering outside our base. Did no one appreciate the sacrifice of
> brave men and women, who leave their homes and family to ensure our
> freedom? Do they even know what "freedom" is?
>
> I glanced at the table where the young men were sitting, and
> saw their courageous faces change. They had stopped eating and looked
> at each other dejectedly, listening to the women talking.
>
> "Well, I, for one, think it's just deplorable to invade Iraq,

> and I am certainly sick of our tax dollars going to train professional

> baby killers we call a military."
>
> Professional baby killers? I thought about what a wonderful
> father my husband is, and of how long it would be before he would see
> our children again.
>
> That's it! Indignation rose up inside me. Normally reserved,
> pride in my husband gave me a brassy boldness I never realized I had.
> Tonight one voice will answer on behalf of our military, and let her
> pride in our troops be known.
>
> Sliding out of my booth, I walked around to the adjoining
> booth and placed my hands flat on their table. Lowering myself to eye
> level with them, I smilingly said, "I couldn't help overhearing your
> conversation.
>
> You see, I'm sitting here trying to enjoy my dinner alone.
> And, do you know why? Because my husband, whom I love with all my
> heart, is halfway around the world defending your right to say rotten
> things about him."
>
> "Yes, you have the right to your opinion, and what you think
> is none of my business. However, what you say in public is something
> else, and I will not sit by and listen to you ridicule MY country, MY
> president, MY husband, and all the other fine American men and women
> who put their lives on the line, just so you can have the "freedom" to

> complain. Freedom is an expensive commodity, ladies. Don't let your
> actions cheapen it."
>
> I must have been louder that I meant to be, because the
> manager came over to inquire if everything was all right. "Yes, thank
> you," I replied. Then turning back to the women, I said, "Enjoy the
> rest of your meal."
>
> As I returned to my booth applause broke out. I was
> embarrassed for making a scene, and went back to my half eaten steak.
> The women picked up their check and scurried away.
>
> After finishing my meal, and while waiting for my check, the
> manager returned with a huge apple cobbler ala mode. "Compliments of
> those soldiers," he said. He also smiled and said the ladies tried to
> pay for my dinner, but that another couple had beaten them to it. When

> I asked who, the manager said they had already left, but that the
> gentleman was a veteran, and wanted to take care of the wife of "one
> of our boys."
>
> With a lump in my throat, I gratefully turned to the soldiers

> and thanked them for the cobbler. Grinning from ear to ear, they came
> over and surrounded the booth. "We just wanted to thank you, ma'am.
> You know we can't get into confrontations with civilians, so we
> appreciate what you did."
>
> As I drove home, for the first time since my husband's
> deployment, I didn't feel quite so alone. My heart was filled with the

> warmth of the other diners who stopped by my table, to relate how
> they, too, were proud of my husband, and would keep him in their
> prayers. I knew their flags would fly a little higher the next day.
>
> Perhaps they would look for more tangible ways to show their
> pride in our country, and the military who protect her. And maybe,
> just maybe, the two women who were railing against our country, would
> pause for a minute to appreciate all the freedom America offers, and
> the price it pays to maintain it's freedom.
>
> As for me, I have learned that one voice CAN make a
> difference. Maybe the next time protesters gather outside the gates of

> the base where I live, I will proudly stand on the opposite side with
> a sign of my own. It will simply say, "Thank You!"

 

[SJA]

Pray you say...

What is this in which you speak?

I posted that part just for you TUT

Nice story Delta. I think that myself and at least two others whom I work with have been in similar situations (albeit it did not end with apple pie ala mode nor was the language that kind). Whether you agree or disagree with the Govt's decisions to deploy our troops you cannot deny our soldier's sacrifices (especially when they are not home with their families as we are for the holidays). Think of them during your moments of joy over these next couple weeks and appreciate their jobs as they affect all of us in one way or another.

 

[DmitryWI]

:clap2:

 

[gixxman]

I live in Canada so we have none..damm...but really props too all troops..the few here in Canada and u guys protecting our asses...sorry we don't want to spend the money!!!

 

[motiv8er]

Hey Guys,
I am at work with my eyes swelling. Thanks. Very good messages indeed.

 

[houseman]

I live in Canada so we have none..damm...but really props too all troops..the few here in Canada and u guys protecting our asses...sorry we don't want to spend the money!!!

Has nohing to do with money. Has more to do with our troops being spread thing to begin with.

Canadians and those int he US will bitch about Canada not supporting the Iraq war by sending troops. We don't send troops because we got a lot of our troops over in Afghanastan.

But we do have troops in Iraq. JTF2

 

[gixxman]

true... poli sci major here but thats not the only problem...many many more in regards to the D&D