This bit of fluff is in response to some negative remarks pertaining to our troops I received from various individuals:
September 16, 2004, my brother, Chad, turned blue, the official color of the Queen of Battle. September 17, 2004, he and his comrades graduated from boot camp at Fort Benning, home to the Infantry. The graduation was held inside due to the horridly nasty weather. Families and friends poured into the auditorium, filling all available seating. Even so, people continued to pour in, lining the walls, sitting on the floor even, just to share in their soldier's moment of glory. Nobody minded the crushing crowd or the stifling stillness of the heated air. Carefully arranged hair wilted, while painstakingly applied makeup began to run. It didn't matter. After all, we were about to see our soldiers for the first time in what seemed like ages.
As the ceremony progressed, our senses were filled with pride as we learned what our boys had accomplished during their journey to become the men they are today. Mothers and fathers alike shed tears of joy. We were all of one accord, no barriers were maintained. United we stood, viewing the face of our future in the faces of our loved ones.
The soldiers were obviously tired, having been awake for quite some time enjoying the company of their drill sergeants, but happiness shone brightly from their faces, their bearing proclaiming their pride in self and in country. The very air was heavy with heart-felt emotion, as our soldiers gave a wonderful rendition of the Soldier's Creed. Even now, a little over two years later, I am still overcome with the emotions induced by the vividly remembered moment. The cadence of their strong voices lifted in unison still echos in my memory:
I am an American Soldier.
I am a Warrior and a member of a team. I serve the people of the United States and live the Army Values.
I will always place the mission first.
I will never accept defeat.
I will never quit.
I will never leave a fallen comrade.
I am disciplined, physically and mentally tough, trained and proficient in my warrior tasks and drills. I always maintain my arms, my equipment and myself.
I am an expert and I am a professional.
I stand ready to deploy, engage, and destroy the enemies of the United States of America in close combat.
I am a guardian of freedom and the American way of life.
I am an American Soldier. --What a beautiful way to say "I'll stand in harm's way for you because your cause is my cause, your fight is my fight."
After graduation, my brother and many others moved to Fort Polk, which is located in Louisiana, to further their training as infantrymen before ultimately deploying to Afghanistan. Through regular correspondence and visits, I have been richly blessed with the opportunity to get to know many wonderful soldiers. These soldiers have become my boys. They're simply the best!
My boys are so very diverse, coming from all walks of life. Each is special in his own way. Each has proven himself worthy and deserving of respect. These men have warmed my heart and opened my eyes.
I must confess that before my boys, it never hit home for me. Sure, I felt compassion and stirrings of pride when the news mentioned our service members, but to be honest, it was all so very generic. Now, when I hear about a fallen soldier, I am reminded of my brother's smile, Brandon's infectious laughter, Joe's magnetic personality, Jonathan's hilarious impersonations, and Corey's total self-confidence. Now, those soldiers mentioned on the news have faces, names and personalities.
There are times I've had to grit my teeth and walk away, as my opinion is not shared by everyone. I've heard people openly ridicule my boys. Keep in mind that these people have never even passed my boys on a crowded street, yet they still try to convince me that my boys are monsters who lust after bloodshed, cruelty, and carnage. I steadily maintain that my boys are, without a doubt, the best!
In the beginning, such remarks caused tears to dim my vision. These days, the irony often makes me chuckle. The openly cruel condemnation of these men who dare to serve their country is allowable. After all, we live in America, a nation known for its democracy allocating certain inalienable rights to its citizens. Men, such as Chad, Brandon, Joe and the others make awesome sacrifices to insure that we, as Americans, have the freedom of opinion. It's much easier to express an opinion when one is allowed to have an opinion.
Many have told me that I am blinded by partiality, what with my brother being in the Army. This is not entirely incorrect. I readily admit that I am deeply fond of my brother and the other boys. I love and respect each one!
I find myself smiling at the wonderful memories that my boys have given me. They have all succeeded in winning my heart just by being their charming selves. My mind is filled with all the silly things that have endeared each boy to my heart. Joe bought me a Batman coloring book, complete with crayons, I might add. Brandon has graced me with his wit on more than one occasion. Corey equals smiles all around. Murillo is 'King of the Grill'. Chad loves green beans and Brandon's cold pizza. Jonathan is 'tall, dark, and handsome', if he does say so himself. Morrison's sketches are fabulous! Davis yanks on the controller when playing a video game...apparently, yanking left will make your character turn left much more quickly. Joe can actually carry on a conversation while playing a video game, which is more than impressive. Chad loves my turtle jokes, or, more to the point, he loves how I can't say the punch line because I'm too busy laughing. Brandon's eyes give voice to everything he doesn't say. Corey is the man with a plan. For all this and so much more, I adore my boys.
My boys aren't the monsters people believe them to be. They represent the best of America. They're your sons, your brothers, your nephews, your friends, your lovers, and your guardians. It is their blood which will blot out oppression, their feet which will blister from the many miles they will walk on our behalf, their death which will sustain our life, and their breath which will fan the fire of our freedom.
Special note: Every service member of every branch of the military, both past and present, has my deep appreciation and respect. To me, you will always be the world's greatest! Thank you!
