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november38577

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+ 8	My Knight Came To Me On Crutches
+ 6	To The Soldiers & Those They Defend...
+ 11	Suspended Passion (Alternate ending)
+ 5	Suspended Passion
+ 8	Feeling the Pain

To The Soldiers & Those They Defend...

NonFiction

Created on 3-14-07

Views(95)

Story Rating G

I don't care if you agree with the war, the politics, or the president. It's not about who said what or when. It's about those who can't defend themselves. Those who are too weak, too young, too old, or too helpless. Those who can stand up for themselves & others... to them & their families. To their friends. Their neighbors. To everyone.... Women & men are instructed to go to foreign lands on a moment's notice, say their "Goodbye's" to all they can, pack their things, & not know if they will ever see those people again once they turn to walk away. My sister,"B", is married to a United States Army Soldier who is currently surving his country. Together, they have two young children. Their eldest is in first grade and she is doing well for herself there. Their second is a little boy who is too young yet for school but a split image of his father. "B" has to look at their children every day and explain to them why Daddy is not home yet. She tucks them in by herself. She kisses all the boo-boo's and reads all the bedtime stories. She signs all the report cards and washes all the laundry. She cleans the house by herself as the children do as kids tend to, and flood their toys out soon thereafter. She, yet again, cleans it up alone. She cooks all the meals and cleans all the dishes. She takes care of the vehicles and makes sure the oil is changed on time. She is the accountant and the doctor. She is the lawyer and the judge in the house. And after the day is done, she retires to her bed, alone. She touches the sheets he had wrapped himself up in when he was Home and beside her, kissing her and telling her "Goodnight. I love you." She tells herself 'This isn't forever' as she hears his voice in her head every night. She lies by herself and stares at the empty pillow where "D" used to lay his head everynight. She wishes for him to be safe, but does not know where he is. She stares at the stars and hopes he makes a wish of protection on the same bright one, although he is half a world away. As she does the laundry and walks with the kids in the commissary, he sleeps in his tent in the midst of a sandstorm and hears distant cracks of guns firing across the desert. His day is her night, but he never stops dreaming of her face. He never stops thinking of their children's laughs and he can't shake her "I love you." from his mind-and he doesn't want to. He carries the family portrait in the top of his helmet as he'd patrol the broken cities of a foreign place, one he must strangely come to know as his temporary 'house'. The Goodbye is hard as hell to have rip it's way from the lips as the camoflouge uniform and bags packed stand at attention to be Gone. They don't do it for their own glory & they sure as hell don't do it for their own benefit. So-ask yourselves, "Why do They do It?" One answer that seems to satisfy most? "Just... Because." Next time you encounter anyone from the Service, be sure to shake their hand and tell them honestly, "Thank You." Because they sacrifice more than most of us will ever be willing to think about living without. Next time you encounter a family member of someone from the Service, do the same. Freedom isn't Free, people. People's existence on this Earth has Ended so your's won't have to. Regardless of who you are-RECOGNIZE THE SACRIFICES THEY MAKE-DAILY!

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On March 28th 2007 dureall Said :

	stands and applauds on this work I think the topic speaks for it's self, the writing skill makes this all so much more vivid. Thank you Mal for this wonderful story.

On March 27th 2007 tufrthnails Said :

	Hey you got me. Can't help it my eyes water everytime I think of all the things my wife done on her own will I was gone for 18 months. The toughest job in the army is being a soldiers wife. I thank God that my son was not old enough to ask mom where is daddy. He was born while I was deployed. And as far as Freedom beeing free anyone who thinks it is should take a look at the countless marriages that have been lost because of it. Nevermind the soldiers lives that have been lost. I wasn't home from overseas serving my country for a week before I had some ****** telling me I was wrong for fighting in the war and that I was going to hell. I personally thank every person who has family deployed for the sacrifice they are making.

On March 16th 2007 hooahmomma Said :

	Thank you Mal. I loved it. SO true. D had talked briefly about EOD - but I really don't want him doing that - I worry enough as it is! Thanks for putting this out there. I know people support the troops and that's great - but people sometimes forget about the families they leave behind and our sacrifices as well as theirs! Love ya Sis!

On March 15th 2007 Wolfjay6 Said :

	Right on! I spent two years in Iraq in the Navy as EOD (Explosive Ordinance Disposal). Not many people understand this stuff. But everyone must remember that my friends, brothers, and sisters are still fighting over there for us to write and speak like this. Again...thank you.

On March 14th 2007 november38577 Said :

	Feel free to leave comments but be Real. Be mature & respectful. It will all be taken personally. If this is too difficult a request, than DON'T comment! mal

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