Ma'amIt really brought home to me how the little things can make such a difference when you're so far from home. We've got so many men and women out there who probably wonder, at times, if we here at home remember what they're doing for us.
No need to thank me, reading about people living normal lives kept me sane for a 15 month deployment. So I should be thanking you. Seeing people able to have those freedoms that we gave up to serve reminds me of why I do my job. Good luck with the truck search and thank you.
Brian
Regardless of whether you agree with what's been going on, or the timetable for pulling out of Iraq, or anything that they've been ordered to do, the fact remains that they're out there, serving their country. They're out there serving us.
We didn't ask them to, they volunteered.
So when there are such simple ways to make things easier for them, to make them smile, or just to make a crappy day a little bit better, why would anyone refuse?
You don't have to start a blog, either. Organizations such as Soldier's Angels have programs for sending care packages to specific soldiers who have been submitted to their organization. These soldiers may have been submitted by family who can't give their soldier the support that they would like to, or by friends, or fellow soldiers. You can send care packages, or write letters, or just donate some money to the organization to help them with their projects.
There are other organizations out there, like Any Soldier and I'm sure you can find others if you look.
Personally, I signed up for the letter writing team at Soldier's Angels.
Go tell a soldier that you appreciate them, just because you do. We shouldn't save that sort of thing for Veteran's Day.
And to reader Brian- I know I said it already, but again, thank you for your service. And thank you for reminding me that the little, normal, everyday things are sometimes the most important.
*Soldier's Angels and Any Soldier did not provide me with any compensation for this post. So go spit up a rope, FCC.
3 comments:
Very nice post. As a retired GI, I know exactly what Brian was saying. Also, you are spot on about supporting the troops; there are many many ways to do so. Honestly, the thing that means the most to vets is a simple thank you.
"We didn't ask them to, they volunteered." That is one sentence the whole country needs to read.
Thanks for your support.
Here's a link to a blog written by Major Shane Degriess(sp?) aka Zombie Killer 6. He's friends of some gun bloggers as well. He's currently in command of a team in Afghanistan.
Baen's Bar (baen-KratsKeller@bar.baen.com) has been supplying them with free books and other goodies.
http://milpros.blogspot.com/
He makes a good point. It always helped to find that there is a "normal" and that fact that people are blissfully enjoying their freedoms. The fact that most take them for granted, and do not realize the sacrifice that is made to ensure them, is often reward enough.
It's foreign to me that they can remain in touch with normal. When we went to sea, once the submarine submerged, our world only existed with the confines of the hull. All else ceased to be. I can't quite explain it, but that's how it was.
I am still taken aback when people, upon finding that I am retired Navy, stop to thank me for my service. That means more than any recognition I received while on active duty.
Thank you.
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