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Wednesday, December 9, 2009

This is a serious post --

I got an email that there were 2009 soldiers on the waiting list for an angel.  I just checked, and still, there are 1962.  Ok.  Let's talk.

I have spoken to so many soldiers that needed a kind word or just some indication that the bullsh** that they're going through is not for nothing -- not for an ungrateful bunch of candy-asses and know-nothings.

I don't usually speak like this, but for goodness sake, go to http://www.soldiersangels.org/ and adopt a soldier.  If you only knew the heart-wrenching stories that I have heard, you would do it.  These are REAL PEOPLE, just like you and me.  They're not super-heroes, although they do turn out to be.  They're not immune from the cold and the heat.  They have feelings, and they miss their families.  They need root canals, for pete's sake!!!  They cry.  And most important of all, they put their lives on the line every day for YOU and ME!!!  And we don't deserve it.  It is our right, but it should feel like a privilege.  But to most of us, we just think we deserve it.  And in that respect, we are wrong.  It's ALL OF OUR FIGHT.  Not just the enlisted, or their families, who are so heavily impacted.

I heard from a soldier this week who said this:

"I had to tell my wife last night before anyone could get to her that my truck in the convoy got hit with a roadside bomb last night. Everybody was ok but definealtely a wake up call. First time for me and again I hang out the top of the vehicle, so a pretty scary moment. I had to tell my wife because if not she would here it from someone else who would blow it out of proportion and she would have a fit. "

Let me tell you something about this man.  This is a family man, wife and three children, salt of the earth, who joined the army because, due to the recession, it was the only way he could be responsible for his family.  And he was almost killed. 

I'm standing here and challenging each one of you to decide that your minor inconveniences are NOTHING in the grand scheme of things.  I know we all like to complain and whine.  But I'm DONE, I tell you, and don't any of you DARE whine in my presence.  I won't have it, and that's just the way it is.

I have adopted three soldiers.  I pray for them every day.  And send them really lame stuff.  It's lame, and I'm not ashamed.  But they KNOW that someone is caring a great deal about what they do.

And if you don't care about why you are living in a free democracy, maybe it's just time you started thinking of something other than yourself.

As I said, I don't often speak like this.  But desperate times call for desperate measures. 

Hugs.

2 comments:

plfairy14 said...

After reading this post I adopted another soldier.

MaryBeth said...

Hooray for Sylvia!!!