For my bothers that fell 14 years ago today

[Guest RET.SSG.Fire56=US=]

When I am called to duty, God,

wherever flames may rage,

give me strength to save a life,

whatever be its age.

Help me embrace a little child

before it is too late,

or save an older person from

the horror of that fate.

Enable me to be alert,

and hear the weakest shout,

quickly and efficiently

to put the fire out.

I want to fill my calling,

to give the best in me,

to guard my friend and neighbor,

and protect his property.

And if according to Your will

I must answer death's call,

bless with your protecting hand,

my family one and all.

 

 

author unknown.

[Guest Nomad501]

I too shall say something.

 

Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. Psalm 23:4

 

Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. John 15:13

 

In Your Honor

 

Unselfishly, you left your fathers and your mothers,

 

You left behind your sisters and your brothers.

Leaving your beloved children and wives,

 

You put on hold, your dreams-your lives.

On foreign soil, you found yourself planted

 

To fight for those whose freedom you granted.

Without your sacrifice, their cause would be lost

 

But you carried onward, no matter the cost.

 

Many horrors you had endured and seen.

 

Many faces had haunted your dreams.

You cheered as your enemies littered the ground;

 

You cried as your brothers fell all around.

 

When it was over, you all came back home,

 

Some were left with memories to face all alone;

Some found themselves in the company of friends

 

As their crosses cast shadows across the land.

 

Those who survived were forever scarred

 

Emotionally, physically, permanently marred.

Those who did not now sleep eternally

 

'Neath the ground they had given their lives to keep free.

 

With a hand upon my heart, I feel The pride and respect; my reverence is revealed

In the tears that now stream down my upturned face

 

As our flag waves above you, in her glory and grace.

Freedom was the gift that you unselfishly gave

 

Pain and death was the price that you ultimately paid.

Every day, I give my utmost admiration

 

To those who had fought to defend our nation.

~ Author Unknown ~

 

 

In Vietnam, Korea and World Wars Past

 

Our Men Fought Bravely so Freedom Would Last

 

Conditions Where Not Always Best They Could Be

 

Fighting a Foe You Could Not Always See:

 

From Mountain Highs to Valley Lows

 

From Jungle Drops to Desert Patrols

 

 

 

Our Sinewy Sons Were Sent Over Seas

 

Far From Their Families And Far From Their Dreams

 

They Never Wrote Letters Of Hardships Despair Only Of Love,

 

Yearning That One Day Soon:

 

They Would Come Home, They Would Resume

 

And Carry On With The Rest of Their Lives

 

 

 

The P.O.W.¹S Stood Steadfast Against the Indignities And Cruelties Of War

 

They Could Not Have Lasted as Long as They Did If They Had Relinquished Their Hope That Some Day:

 

They Would Come Home, They Would Resume

 

And Carry On the Rest Of Their Lives

 

 

 

Medics, Nurses, and Chaplains Alike

 

Did What They Needed To Bring Back Life

 

They Served Our Forces From Day Into Night

 

Not Questioning If They Would Survive:

 

They Mended Bones And Bodies Too,

 

They Soothed the Spirits of Dying Souls

 

 

 

And for Those M.I.A¹S, Who Were Left Behind

 

We Echo This Message Across the Seas

 

We Will search For as Long As It Takes

 

You're Not Forgotten And Will Always Be:

 

In Our Hearts, In Our Prayers, In Our Minds For All Time

 

 

 

A Moment of Silence, a Moment of Summons

 

Is Their Deliverance of Body And Soul

 

To a Sacred Place That We All Know Deep In the Shrines of Our Soul:

 

In Our Hearts, In Our Prayers In Our Minds For All Time

 

 

 

 

I stood and I watched as a mother cried,

when she had heard that her son had died.

He didn't die because he was sick,

or he didn't die because he was in a wreck.

He died doing what he felt was right.

 

I watched a father try to hold back his tears,

His son had lived only a scant 19 years.

His son had died nine thousand miles away,

And what was there left for a father to say?

He got down on his knees and said a prayer,

His brave son knows his father did care.

 

I stood and watched as a little girl cried.

She didn't understand why her brother had passed on;

Why he never again played with her on the lawn.

Looking at the little girl's tears I knew,

That her big brother died fighting for you and me.

~ Author Unknown ~

 

And now my own little piece:

 

I was born September 24th, 1997. My birthday is in 13 days. I love the fact I will be 18. But no matter the joy I feel for my coming of age, I will always remember what happened this fateful day 14 years ago. I was almost four years old, too young to understand why my mom did not come home from here duty shift on base. She was organizing muster reports for her command when the second plain hit. I was in daycare. 11 years later, I decided to fight for my country. November 11th, 2012 was the day I made that decision. I am now making my words become actions, I shall follow in the footsteps of those who have come before me. I shall defend my country as did my forefathers. I pray for those families that felt the sharp pain of being told that someone in those towers they loved was killed. I shall never forget. I shall always remember. I shall never let my guard down. No matter the cost I will fight and if need be die for my country to prevent this from happening.

 

To all those serving,

To all those who have gone before,

And to all those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice,

You have another brother coming to fight for you and your safety.

 

Never forget. Never forgive.