Dont cry for me, I fought for freedom
I chose this path,

Dont cry for me, I dont want to die
but I will if it keeps you alive

Dont cry for me my friend
because of us so many more will live

Dont cry for me I did what was asked of me
I served for you and you for me

Dont cry for me I made it home
I lie in peace in Arlington


~Michele

that poem DID make me cry. thank you for posting it.

Thank you, I wrote that because of my friends that I have lost while I was in the service.

Prayers and thoughts with you all

Fresh ~~
I did'nt cry....I think I was so proud of my son and his friends for taking part in this commemeration as it was optional for them. As cold as it was out there at 8 am this morning...I think everyones hearts were warmed....it was beautiful altogether.

Salute!

Thank you to all of our Veterans that are serving and have served our Country!!

I support our troops!!!!

Proud American

This is a cut-paste of a poem I wrote back In April of 96,after going to the funeral of LCPL John Philip Martini, USMC. I never had the honor of meeting him, but worked with his caliber for the 8 1/2 yrs I was in.

This poem is dedicated to him, my Dad James, Uncles Jack and Carl, who all served in WWII, my bestest buddies Dave, and Ralph, who served in Nam, By buddy Gibby, who served in Korea, and my fellow jsh vets,
grannithands
Jason118
karmafury
beachdog50
don4169
soldierforamerica
sweetsassymolassy

and those that haven't seen, or haven't responded to this thread.

Dear Diary

Soldier writing in his diary:
Before I lay down for the night, I hope that everyone's safe at home.
I have talked to God more in the past few months than I have in my lifetime. I ask
for him to keep an eye on Mom and Dad, and my sisters Janice and Dianne too. I ask Him for
guidance so that I may do my job the way that I was trained to do: swiftly and accurately,
and to try to make a difference in these trying times. I pray to Him each night to keep
an eye on my Brothers and Sisters here too, both those that I see everyday, those that I
see from time to time, and those that I may never meet at all. I ask for Him to give
guidance to my leaders, so that they make good decisions for us to follow, and for us to
follow them correctly. I pray that the devil, disguised in a cloak, will leave this foreign
land, and let these people enjoy what we have at home- FREEDOM. But mostly, I pray for Him
to keep an eye of my Brothers here- Johnson,Saunders,Siok,Serrano,Masood,Lee,Chin,
Cullen,Johannson,and SGT. Ruiz. They are my Family here,and they are the people that can
save me when my time comes.
Momma-I know that that I'm your only son, but if I should die here, know that I have BROTHERS.


Mother writing in her diary:
Dear Lord, I pray for you to watch over our son Calvin,and to give us strength if something
were to happen to him. You know that we have been there where he is now, but that was
35 years ago,and thousands of miles away. It was a similar situation, and we were just kids
then, just as Cal is now.He's a bit older than we were,James and I being 22 then, but in
combat age doesn't matter to hostility.We hope that if he's hurt, You in Your wisdom,
will give the nurses and doctors the skills to help him,and to heal him. If in Your wisdom,
it's time to call Cal Home, we pray that he goes quickly and without suffering.
We hope that his passing will serve as a reminder to his buddies to watch each-others
backs more closely. He's talked to us in letters, and over the phone about how his squad does
everything together, and that they are known as Ruiz' Rambling Raiders. I pray that you give
Sgt.Ruiz the heart to do what's right, and that his leaders, including Cal, trained him well.

That should have read April 06, not 96

Bless You All

Thanks for being there for all of us

For all Vets. My hat is off!

Not in the military, but I'll salute my brother and brother in law.

Air Force
442nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron

Keep those bad ass A-10's a flying


P.S. Congrats to my brother on busting your ass and passing your boards your dream of becoming a Dr. has came true.

Honorably Discharged

E-5, US Army
11B10,
3rd and 4th ID!

Thanks to my brothers!!

US Navy Medical under Honorable Conditions. For the civies, I didn't die as ordered.