Over 16,532,686 people are on fubar.
What are you waiting for?
To you, yes you too over there trying to be humble and modest, as a fellow veteran I salute you and call you my brothers and sisters. Sealed in a bond of common goals, shared dreams and yes true grit. Ours is a family of dysfunction and satisfaction at the same time. We say things like "oh-330 formation" and chow time and bulkhead or scuttlebud. We spend countless hours doing more than most do in a week or even longer it seems. We pour blood sweat and tears, most times our own into this concept of freedom and love of country. We stand firm on the ideal that we are a part of something greater and willingly lay it all on the line for the ones we left behind. Or even the ones coming after we leave this place.
We wear the uniform like true warriors of by gone eras and feel a sense of pride knowing that we did what others could not or even would not. We dared to be brave. We challenged our reflections to never give up or give in when that bunk was looking pretty good. We toss a few cold ones back with our battle buddies. We say our prayers at service and in a fox hole. We have each others 6s and 12s. At the drop of the hat we will show up when our beloved battle buddies are looking down the barrel of their own gun or down to the end of a bottle. We extend our hearts to our comrades families as well and guard them ever more as a team against the evil we willingly face day or night be it foreign or domestic
We have a deeper, soul reaching understanding at times at least of the phrase, for God and country. We bear nicnames like Jarhead, grunt, squid, flyboy, etc... and we rib on each other almost as a professional courtesy and respect earned after fighting side by side in Hell. We signed a contract knowing what it may entail and in many cases wish we could go back and do it again and again.
So you there, soldier, sailor, airman or Marine... my fellow veterans before me and here now, Stand tall if you are able and be recognized for all that you have done and given up. Be saluted by those worth fighting for. Be warmly welcomed by those worth serving for and never... never forget that you are deserving of the title Hero.
