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Canadian military
The average age of the Canadian military man
is 19 years. He is a short haired, tight-muscled kid who, under normal
circumstances is considered by society as half man, half boy. Not yet dry
behind the ears, not old enough to buy a beer, but old enough to die for his
country. He never really cared much for work and he would rather wax his own
car than wash his father's; but he has never collected unemployment either.
He's a recent High School graduate;
he was probably an average student,
pursued some form of sport activities, drives a
ten year old jalopy,
and has a steady girlfriend that either broke
up with him when he left,
or swears to be waiting when he returns from
half a world away.
He listens to rock and roll or hip-hop or rap
or jazz or swing and 155mm howitzer.
He is 10 or 15 pounds lighter now than when he
was at home
because he is working or fighting from before
dawn to well after dusk.
He has trouble spelling, thus letter writing is
a pain for him,
but he can field strip a rifle in 30 seconds
and reassemble it in less time in the dark.
He can recite to you the nomenclature of a
machine gun or grenade launcher and use either one effectively if he must.
He digs foxholes and latrines and can apply
first aid like a professional.
He can march until he is told to stop or stop
until he is told to march.
He obeys orders instantly and without
hesitation,
but he is not without spirit or individual
dignity. He is self-sufficient.
He has two sets of fatigues:
he washes one and wears the other.
He keeps his canteens full and his feet dry.
He sometimes forgets to brush his teeth, but
never to clean his rifle.
He can cook his own meals, mend his own
clothes, and fix his own hurts.
If you're thirsty, he'll share his water with
you; if you are hungry, his food. He'll even split his ammunition with you
in the midst of battle when you run low.
He has learned to use his hands like weapons
and weapons like they were his hands.
He can save your life - or take it, because
that is his job.
He will often do twice the work of a civilian,
draw half the pay
and still find ironic humour in it all.
He has seen more suffering
and death then he should have in his short
lifetime.
!
He has stood atop mountains of dead bodies,
and helped to create them.
He has wept in public and in private,
for friends who have fallen in combat and is
unashamed.
He feels every note of the National Anthem
vibrate through his body
while at rigid attention, while tempering the
burning desire to
'square-away' those around him who haven't
bothered to stand,
remove their hat, or even stop talking.
In an odd twist, day in and day out, far from
home,
he defends their right to be disrespectful.
Just as did his Father, Grandfather, and
Great-grandfather,
he is paying the price for our freedom.
Beardless or not, he is not a boy. He is the Canadian Fighting Man
that has kept this country free
for over 200 years.
He has asked nothing in return,
except our friendship and understanding.
Remember him, always,
for he has earned our respect and admiration
with his blood.
And now we even have woman over there in danger,
doing their part in this tradition
of going to War when our nation calls us to do
so.
As you go to bed tonight, remember this shot..
A short lull, a little shade
and a picture of loved ones in their helmets
Prayer wheel for our military... please don't
break it. Please pass this on after a short prayer.
Prayer Wheel
"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. Amen."
Prayer :
When you receive this, please stop for a moment
and say a prayer
for our ground troops in Afghanistan, sailors
on ships,
and airmen in the air, and for those in Iraq.
There is nothing attached....
This can be very powerful.......
Of all the gifts you could give a Canadian
Soldier, Sailor,
or Airman, prayer is the very best one.
I can't break this one, sorry
This is a ribbon for soldiers fighting in
everywhere.
Pass it on to everyone and pray.
