A Reminder About Our Students in The Armed Forces

A Reminder about our students serving in the Armed Forces:  when they return to our campuses, they will need our support, not our bureaucracy.

The average age of the military person is 19 years. They are short haired, tight-muscled kids who, under normal circumstances are considered by society as half adult, half child. Not yet dry behind the ears, not old enough to buy a beer, but old enough to die for their country. They have never collected unemployment.  They are recent High School graduates; probably an average student, and have a steady someone that either broke up with them when they left, or swears to be waiting when they return from half a world away.  They listen to rock and roll or hip-hop or rap or jazz or swing and 155mm Howitzers. They are 10 or 15 pounds lighter now than when they were at home because they are working or fighting from before dawn to well after dusk.  They have trouble spelling, thus letter writing is a pain for them, but they can field strip a rifle in 30 seconds and reassemble it in less time in the dark.  They can recite to you the nomenclature of a machine gun or grenade launcher and use either one effectively if they must.  They dig foxholes and latrines and can apply first aid like a professional.  They can march until they are told to stop or stop until they are told to march.  They obey orders instantly and without hesitation, but they are not without spirit or individual dignity.  They are self-sufficient. They have two sets of fatigues: They wash one and wear the other. They keep their canteens full and their feet dry.  They sometimes forget to brush their teeth, but never to clean their rifle.  They can cook their own meals, mend their own clothes, and fix their own hurts.

If you're thirsty, they'll share their water with you; if you are hungry, their food.   

They'll even split their ammunition with you in the midst of battle when you run low.  They have learned to use their hands like weapons and weapons like they were their hands. They can save your life - or take it, because that is their job.

They will often do twice the work of a civilian, draw half the pay and still find ironic humor in it all. They have seen more suffering and death than they should have in their short lifetime. 

They have stood atop mountains of dead bodies, and helped to create them.  They have wept in public and in private, for friends who have fallen in combat and are unashamed. 

They feel every note of the National Anthem vibrate through their body while at rigid attention, while tempering the burning desire to 'square-away' those around them who haven't bothered to stand, remove their hat, or even stop talking.

In an odd twist, day in and day out, far from home, they defend their right to be disrespectful.

Just as did their Parents, Grandparents, and Great-grandparents, they are paying the price for our freedom.

They are not "just" boys or girls. They are the American Fighting Men and Women that have kept this country free for over 200 years.

They are white, black, yellow and brown; European and African; Korean, Vietnamese, Chinese and Japanese; Irish and Italian; Polish and German; Croatian and Serbian; Far East Indian and American Indian; and even Arab, Palestinian and Jew as well as many other descents, multiple religions and beliefs.    

They have asked nothing in return, except our friendship and understanding. 

Remember them, always, for they have earned our respect and admiration with their sweat and blood.

Please pause for this short prayer or moment of silence if you object to prayer. 

“Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands. Protect them as they protect us.  Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they perform for us in our time of need. Amen."