A Soldiers Blog

THEY ARE OUR SOLDIERS

They carry the weight of the world as easy as they
carry the gear on
their back.



They are missed at Sunday dinners and spend birthdays
overseas.



The eat MRE's and dream of home-cooked meals and
family.



Their leave is never long enough and goodbyes come too
soon.



They have responsibilities that we could never imagine
and that
creates places within them where we are not welcome.



Places that only the soldier, one arms length away,
would understand.



They make friendships that even years later causes
their eyes to
light up and their speech to become more rapid as they
tell their
stories.



They are our heroes.



They sacrifice to serve.



They defend us from enemies seen and unseen and at
times, they defend
us from ourselves.



Indoor plumbing, a real bed, and laundry rooms are
unknown luxury in
a war zone and take on a whole new importance.



They long remember the smell of the cot and can feel
the grit from
ever-present sand.



They carry pictures of their children and families
alongside
magazines of live ammo.



They are a paradox of gentleness and warrior.



They bleed red, white, and blue, and they cry real
tears.



They carry guilt for those they left behind and guilt
for what may
await them.



The letters they send are never long enough or
frequent enough.



The letters we send them are never long enough or
frequent enough.



So each letter is read and reread until they can
recite each line by
heart.



It matters not what branch they chose to serve in.



They are the brotherhood of proud men and women.



They are in our prayers and in our hearts.



They are our soldiers.



They have earned the right to be our heroes.



May we earn the right to call ourselves Americans and
give them the
respect and support they deserve.