I spent many years in the military, four years in the Marine Corps and three years in the Army. I have seen a lot of exciting and dangerous places. I have seen the sacrifices that our fighting men and woman have made to make this country what it is. I have seen a country that is quick to forget those sacrifices and it makes me mad. How can the very country that we fight and die for forget us so easily? I guess it's the fact that many have never served and even fewer know what we have to endure. Every time, I see a military bumper sticker it makes me proud to know that I have brother's and sister's everywhere.
It doesn't matter if you were a grunt or a clerk we all had a job to do and we did it well. For those that are still serving, I want to say thank you for carrying on the traditions and values that the military teaches. The only thing that kind of disturbed me when I was in, was that most people came in for the bonus money. I know a lot of people like myself who didn't get any kind of a bonus, we were just honored to be part of that great bother and sisterhood of the military. I heard people say when the balloon went up on 9/11 "I didn't come in for this, I came in for the college money." I simply shook my head and walked off, a lot of people in the military do not understand or care to learn our proud history.
For those that do please, try to instill in the one's that do care our values. I only hope that this generation of troops are not treated like the Vietnam Vets. To me that has always been the greatest slap in the face to our men and women in uniform. The title of this article should say it all. Our veterans past, present and future should be treated with the utmost respect and dignity. They should not be sleeping on the streets or in their cars, they should have the best medical and mental health care in the world. If you see a veteran today walk up and shake his or her hand and say thank you. Because, if it weren't for him or her you wouldn't have the freedoms that you so richly enjoy today.
When you go to bed tonight say a prayer that god watches over our troops deployed abroad. We do not choose the war's we fight, we simply follow the orders we're given. So before you protest the war remember your right to protest was given to you by the same people you're protesting. We don't ask for much other than for our country to show the same pride in us, that we show in it. I am no longer in the military but, I have family that is and irregardless of what I think about the war, I will always support them 100%. I did a tour in Iraq before I got out and I can say I worked alongside some of Americas finest men and women in uniform. Whether their active duty or reserves they are still our troops, so support them like you would your favorite Presidential wannabe. I think we as a nation owe them that much and a lot more.
