Welcome to a day in my life. I can't guarantee that this will be an exciting read for anyone. My life is filled with all the mundane activities of a stay-at-home-mom just trying to raise her three sons to be the best men they can be.

Monday, November 01, 2010

When I was thinking about blogging this morning, I was going to do a meaningless post on my weekend, what I did and didn't do, our halloween, how many kids we had at our door ... you know, all fairly meaningless stuff.
Then, I got this email from my friend, Janet. (thank you Janet!) Maybe you've received it too.

I have a nephew who is currently fighting in Afganistan and so this really hit home. With Rememberance Day just around the corner, I really felt I needed to come and post it here. As I write this, a commercial came on TV about Rememberance Day. The slogan at the end says "This year, make Rememberance Day less about something you feel, and more about something you do."

Here's the email:

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 a 155mm howitzer.

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 than he should have in his short lifetime.


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 CANADIAN Fighting Man that has kept this country free for over 142 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.

And now we even have women over there in danger, doing their part in this tradition of going to War when our nation calls us to do so.

As you go to bed tonight, remember this shot. A short lull, a little shade and a picture of loved ones in their helmets.

A Prayer wheel for our military...pass 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.'

When you see this, please stop for a moment and say a prayer for our troops in Afghanistan , sailors on ships, and airmen in the air. Of all the gifts you could give a CANADIAN Airman, Soldier, or Sailor, prayer is the very best one.
Thank you, Janet, for the reminder to remember all those who are fighting, and who have ever fought for our Country. I will continue to remember Jason, and all the other soldiers who are fighting for the rest of us.

10 comments:

  1. I got the same email and while it didn't strike as close to home for me as for you, it did make me stop and think about all the men and women who have put their lives on hold for our country. My thoughts are with them all and with their families.

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  2. Wow, this was so touching and I was glad that they showed some women as well towards the end. I hope they all come home safe and sound and that one day we will have no wars.

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  3. Makes me think, makes me cry a little to think about what they do for us and inspires me to find something to give back a little.

    Have you ever made cards for the troops?

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  4. What a great idea Joy! You have no idea what it means to the troops when anonymous random letters and cards arrive. Jason have friends and family send them to others in his platoon, people they have never met. He says that they all look forward to it. You know, if over the next couple of weeks, different Christmas cards were made, I could grab them at Barb's crop and send them off. If they go by the end of November, they would arrive before Christmas. We could even suggest that everyone at the crop make just 1. That would give many. Just a thought.

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  5. Thank you for posting this. I think I will nick it and repost.

    My grandfather served in WWII - I have grown up being taught to respect our soldiers, and why we should.

    If you find out anything about sending cards to the troops (where, how, etc) - please come share that info over at Scrapbook Star, as I've never found solid info on how we can do this for our Canadian troops.

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  6. Wow! We tend to forget what's happening over there. A touching post and may they all come home safe and sound.

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  7. That was very touching - thank you for shring it. We always take forgranted our warm beds and freedom.

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  8. Very touching! Thanks for sharing it. I'm actually working on a digital card for the troops. It will be available on my site soon!

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  9. I have not gotten this as an e-mail, but have seen it many times. Could you please send it to me as an e-mail. I have many friends who have have loved ones overseas and I really think that they would appreciate this one.

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  10. This is definitely a moving email. We have a close friend that has served in Afghanistan and plans on returning for another duty. Thanks for posting this and reminding us what we need to remember.

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