I
have never served my country in time of war or peace.
I have never had to leave home for a foreign country and risk life and
limb.
I have never had to look in the eyes of my loved ones as I left for
foreign soil, knowing that it may be the last look.
I have never trained in a grueling mental and physical environment of
boot camp.
I AM NOT A VETERAN.
I
have never had to march for hours and days, never knowing my destination
in a foreign land.
I have never looked down the gun barrel of an enemy.
I have never had to sleep in a foxhole in the cold, wet night with the
ever-present threat of the enemy.
I have never had the stomach aching, mind numbing affect of having to
kill an enemy, a fellow human being.
I AM NOT A VETERAN.
I
have never felt the hair rise on the back of my neck as I crept through
hostile territory with the threat of a hidden enemy taking my comrade’s
life, or mine.
I have never had to see the consequences of a bomb, a mine, or a grenade
separating my comrades from their life and limb.
I have never had to hear the wounded cry for help or feel the warmth of
a fellow soldier’s blood as I told him to “hang on”, until medical help
arrived.
I have never had to lie to a fellow comrade saying, “everything will be
all right”, when I knew he was about to die.
I AM NOT A VETERAN.
I
have never had to take command of my men when, through death by
attrition, I was next in line.
I have never had to write a letter home knowing that it could be my last
and trying to put in all the words to describe
how much I missed everyone, without letting them be afraid that
this could be my last letter.
I have never had to meet a comrade's family and describe their loved
one’s last words and how bravely they fought.
I have never received a Purple Heart, a Bronze or Silver Star, or any
ribbon at all, nor have I earned one.
I AM NOT A VETERAN.
I AM AN AMERICAN. An American who swells with pride and not afraid to let a tear well in my eye when I see my flag, hear the Star Spangled Banner, or cite the Pledge of Allegiance. I am an American who understands the price paid so that I can write, speak or yell with the freedom of speech, who believes in the inalienable right to live in the manner to which I choose and choose my leaders by vote.
I am an American who never forgets where this freedom comes from. Freedom that comes from the blood, sweat, tears and ever-present service of our veterans. I am whom the veterans fought for. They may never know my name, but I, (insert your name), am here to proclaim my undying allegiance to the truest of all American’s, the ones who put it all on the line, the Veterans.
May God Bless All Veterans.
written by Roland Via 2002
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"GOD BLESS AMERICA"