Thank you for sending this. There should be no place where this is not welcome. And any place that does not welcome a message like this is not deserving of the freedoms that it enjoys. Cleve
At 11:58 PM 4/6/2003, you wrote: >(cut headers from my email) >Subject: 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 probab! ly 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 sometimes forgets to 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 atop mountains of dead bodies, and helped to create 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 c! ountry free for >over 200 years. > >He has asked nothing in return, except our friendship and >understanding. > >Remember him, always, for he has earned our respect and admiration >with his blood. > >For our Military > > >Prayer wheel for our military...please don't break it Please send this >on after a short prayer. > >Prayer Wheel > >"Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands. Protect them as they >protect us. > >Bless them and their families! for the selfless acts they perform for >us in our time of need. Amen." > >Prayer Wheel: When you receive this, please stop for a moment and say >a prayer for our ground troops in Afghanistan and Iraq, sailors on ships, and >airmen >in the air, This can be very powerful.... Just send this to all the people in >your address book. Do not stop the wheel, >please.... Of all the gifts you could give a US Soldier, Sailor, Marine or >Airman, prayer is the very best one. > > > >_______________________________________________ >General mailing list >[email protected] >http://brlug.net/mailman/listinfo/general_brlug.net
