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> An Email From My Long-time Friend, Sandra
sin
post Aug 30 2006, 02:40 PM
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RIP
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Posts: 402
Joined: 20-April 05
From: Roswell, New Mexico
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Note: I received the following in an email from my longtime friend, Sandra. She is a good friend of mine, we met in seventh grade, where we shared several classes and were 'band nerds' together, right up through our highschool years. After 9-11, she joined the Army, went through bootcamp, and was shipped overseas. While there, she met a man who would eventually become her husband. She also tore out her knee and received an honorable medical discharge (I believe she was stationed in Germany at the time). She returned to the States and married the man who is now her husband and she lives on base, stateside, in Fort Drum, NY. She patiently awaits his safe return. Not long after they were married, he was deployed to the Middle East. I post this for Sandra, for the safe return of her husband, and for the safe return of our soldiers, who have proudly chosen to serve our country and protect the freedoms we know today. I will always support my soldiers, even if I don't agree with their assignments. This war hurts because I've lost some friends to it, but I still stand behind their decision to do what they do. If it wasnt for them, my world would not be as safe as it is now. If you would like, please feel free to pass this on.

Thanks,
Nic


WIFE'S REQUEST

I was sitting alone in one of those loud, casual steak houses that you
find all over the country.

You know the type--a bucket of peanuts on every table, shells littering
the floor, and a bunch of perky college kids racing around with long
neck beers and sizzling platters.

Taking a sip of my iced tea, I studied the crowd over the rim of my
glass. My gaze lingered on a group enjoying their meal.

They wore no uniform to identify their branch of service, but they were
definitely "military:" clean shaven, cropped haircut, and that "squared
away" look that comes with pride.

Smiling sadly, I glanced across my table to the empty seat where my
husband usually sat.

It had only been a few months since we sat in this very booth, talking
about his upcoming deployment to the Middle East.

That was when he made me promise to get a sitter for the kids, come
back to this restaurant once a month and treat myself to a nice steak.

In turn he would treasure the thought of me being here, thinking about
him until he returned home I fingered the little flag pin I constantly
wear and wondered where he was at this very moment.

Was he safe and warm?? Was his cold any better?? Were my letters
getting through to him?

As I pondered these thoughts, high pitched female voices from the next
booth broke into my thoughts.

"I don't know what Bush is thinking about. Invading Iraq . You'd think
that man would learn from his old man's mistakes. Good lord.

What an idiot! I can't believe he is even in office. You do know, he
stole the election."

I cut into my steak and tried to ignore them, as they began an endless
tirade running down our president.

I thought about the last night I spent with my husband, as he prepared
to deploy. He had just returned from getting his smallpox and anthrax
shots.

The image of him standing in our kitchen packing his gas mask still
gives me chills.

Once again the women's voices invaded my thoughts.

"It is all about oil, you know. Our soldiers will go in and rape and steal all the oil they can in the
name of 'freedom'.

Hmmm!? I wonder how many innocent people they'll kill without giving it
a thought?? It's pure greed, you know."

My chest tightened as I stared at my wedding ring. I could still see
how handsome my husband looked in his "mess dress" the day he slipped
it on my finger.

I wondered what he was wearing now. Probably his desert uniform,
affectionately dubbed "coffee stains" with a heavy bulletproof vest
over it.

"You know, we should just leave Iraq alone.? I don't think they are
hiding any weapons. In fact, I bet it's all a big act just to increase
the president's popularity.

That's all it is, padding the military budget at the expense of our
social security and education.

And, you know what else?

We're just asking for another 9-11. I can't say when it happens again
that we didn't deserve it."

Their words brought to mind the war protesters I had watched gathering
outside our base.

Did no one appreciate the sacrifice of brave men and women, who leave
their homes and family to ensure our freedom??

Do they even know what "freedom" is?

I glanced at the table where the young men were sitting, and saw their
courageous faces change.

They had stopped eating and looked at each other dejectedly, listening
to the women talking.

"Well, I, for one, think it's just deplorable to invade Iraq , and I am
certainly sick of our tax dollars going to train professional
baby-killers we call a military."

Professional baby-killers?? I thought about what a wonderful father my
husband is, and of how long it would be before he would see our
children again.

That's it!? Indignation rose up inside me. Normally reserved, pride in
my husband gave me a brassy boldness I never realized I had.

Tonight one voice will answer on behalf of our military, and let her
pride in our troops be known.

Sliding out of my booth, I walked around to the adjoining booth and
placed my hands flat on their table.

Lowering myself to eye level with them, smilingly said, "I couldn't
help overhearing your conversation.

You see, I'm sitting here trying to enjoy my dinner alone.

And, do you know why?

Because my husband, whom I love with all my heart, is halfway around
the world defending your right to say rotten things about him."

"Yes, you have the right to your opinion, and what you think is none of
my business.

However, what you say in public is something else, and I will not sit
by and listen to you ridicule MY country, MY president, MY husband, and
all the other fine American men and women who put their lives on the
line, just so you can have the "freedom" to complain.? Freedom is an
expensive commodity, ladies.

Don't let your actions cheapen it."

I must have been louder that I meant to be, because the manager came
over to inquire if everything was all right.

"Yes, thank you," I replied.

Then, turning back to the women, I said, "Enjoy the rest of your meal."

As I returned to my booth applause broke out.? I was embarrassed for
making a scene, and went back to my half eaten steak.

The women picked up their check and scurried away.

After finishing my meal, and while waiting for my check, the manager
returned with a huge apple cobbler ala mode.

"Compliments of those soldiers," he said.? He also smiled and said the
ladies tried to pay for my dinner, but that another couple had beaten
them to it.

When I asked who, the manager said they had already left, but that the
gentleman was a veteran, and wanted to take care of the wife of "one of
our boys."

With a lump in my throat, I gratefully turned to the soldiers and
thanked them for the cobbler.

Grinning from ear to ear, they came over and surrounded the booth.

"We just wanted to thank you, ma'am.

You know we can't get into confrontations with civilians, so we
appreciate what you did."

As I drove home, for the first time since my husband's deployment, I
didn't feel quite so alone.

My heart was filled with the warmth of the other diners who stopped by
my table, to relate how they, too, were proud of my husband, and would
keep him in their prayers.

I knew their flags would fly a little higher the next day.

Perhaps they would look for more tangible ways to show their pride in
our country, and the military who protect her.

And maybe, just maybe, the two women who were railing against our
country, would pause for a minute to appreciate all the freedom America
offers, and the price it pays to maintain it's freedom.

As for me, I have learned that one voice CAN make a difference.

Maybe the next time protesters gather outside the gates of the base
where I live, I will proudly stand on the opposite side with a sign of
my own.

It will simply say, "Thank You!"

To those who fought for our Nation: Freedom has a flavor the protected
will never know.

GOD BLESS AMERICA !

Please pray for God's protection of our troops and HIS wisdom for their
commanders.

"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.? I ask this in the name of Jesus, our Lord and
Savior."

When you receive this, please stop for a moment and say a prayer for
our ground, air and navy personnel in every area of the middle east.

There is nothing attached....

Of all the gifts you could give to anyone in the US Military, be it Air
Force, Army, Navy, Marines or National Guard, Prayer is the very best
one.....Amen!


--------------------
graceful insanity is beautiful when accomplished -- come into the closet
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maxnmike
post Aug 30 2006, 11:45 PM
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the closet father
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Posts: 260
Joined: 20-April 05
Member No.: 8



Good for her, she did what many wish they could do.

Good luck and godspeed to all the men and women in the military who do what they do so that we can do what we do without fear or worry. We owe them everything but regrettably seldom show or tell them so.

To all those who have served and those who do serve... Thank You
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