This post is for my dad and the rest of the soldiers in my family

Okay, this is for my dad, who was a veteran of the US Army for 21 years and served in, amoung other wars, WWII. And for my nephews who served and are serving in Iraq. And for the nephews that are too young yet to serve but carry AirSoft rifles around and make plans of one day serving in the military to protect freedom as their grandparents, uncles and aunt have done.

My father collects bald eagle pictures and figures. We have figurines of eagles in every room in the house (yes, even the bathroom) and pictures hang on almost every wall along side pictures of the family and ones that are just decorative. So this regal looking eagle to the right, with the flag behind him, caught my eye.

Another of the patriotic posters that caught my eye is the one shown below of Lady Liberty and her fallen twins. Of the reason two of my nephews went across the world and why one still risks his life in another country. There are many that protest the war in Iraq and those that question if the truth has been given on what happened in the days leading up to and following 9/11, but I do not believe that any mount of doubt or questions or anything makes it right to not support the young soldiers of this country in what they are facing.

We have a flag in our window with a service star on it. We are proud of our young soldier that is doing what he was asked to do. Is it right that he is there? I will not say one way or the other on that volatile subject. It is for every man and woman to believe as they feel in their hearts is right to feel. I will say that I will support any of the men and women that serve this country and go where they are told in a belief that it will keep those they love safe.

They say that the men and women of WWII did nothing less than save the world. Veitnam veterans are now respected where once they had been spit on (as I have heard some of our returning soldiers today are). What will history say of the young men and women of today? Will they someday be looked back on with respect and pride and have people proclaiming them to have done nothing less than saved the world?

America is not the only ones that stand and fight. We have allies that stand shoulder to shoulder with our soldiers to do what their countries ask of them just as our young men and women do what our country ask of them. What are they fighting for? Probably not very different things from what our troops fight for. The right to be who and what they are. The chance to help make the world a safer place for everyone. The right to see pretty young ladies in swim suits... oops. sorry about that. ;-) You know the soldiers (at least the guys) are thinking of the SI swimsuit issue though, right?

The next time you see a young man or woman in a military uniform, please, look them in the eye and give them a smile rather than a frown. They have placed everything they have, including their life, in harms way so that you have the right to spit on them if you want. But please. Don't.

Thank you.

And - in parting, just for the young men like my nephew that are serving their country -


God Bless the troops!

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