"There are prayers that help us last through the day,
or endure the night. There are prayers of friends
and strangers that give us strength for the journey.
And there are prayers that yield our will
to a will greater than our own."

President George W. Bush

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 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 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 may forget to floss or 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 amidst dead bodies,
some of which he helped to create,
and felt both terrified and thankful
that he wasn't one of 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, respect, and understanding.

Remember him always,
for he has earned our respect and admiration with his blood.
 

Think about it......
Could you?
Would you?
Do this for your Country?
 

God Bless Them All!