I’d like to think I have always been ‘patriotic,’ I mean, what a normal person who has never personally been affected by war is, but is very in tune with worldly issues. I am one of those who love and support the troops, but never agreed with some of the reasons they were going and doing the things they were in the first place. But we won’t get involved with my feelings on President Bush.
While I am very excited that this day, my Independence Day, I am getting the amazing chance to travel to India for three weeks I was a bit bummed about missing out on all the festivities back home. The BBQ, fireworks, drinking, etc…But then I got a call yesterday morning that really put all my feelings in place. It’s not where you are or where you aren’t, but who you have in your heart and what you think about.
I have always considered myself lucky. I mean, I have never really had to face any huge traumas and when the war escalated over four years ago and I never lost anyone personally close to my heart, and still haven’t. The generation ahead of us had a lot of good friends leave after high school to fight a battle that made hearts ache across the country.
But I received a phone call from an extremely old friend letting me know not to worry and his trip to Iraq “won’t be as bad as it sounds.” To which I replied, “OK, but still, no one wants to hear your going to Iraq for possibly 10 months.”
So this Fourth of July is dedicated to all the friends and family we have overseas or back on American soil that we don’t see everyday, or even in over 5 years. You will always be in our hearts and thoughts. Thank you for doing what you do, so I can do what I do.
That’s honor.
"A veteran is someone who, at one point in his life wrote a blank check Made payable to "TheUnitedStatesofAmerica " for an amount of "up to and including my life." That is Honor, and there are many people in this country who no longer understand it"
-Bryce Ford, US Marine
May the wind always be at your back and the sun upon your face
-Bryce Ford, US Marine
May the wind always be at your back and the sun upon your face
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