This is just a forward I got from my friend in the Airforce, I thought it pretty interesting, has me Pegged anyway.
Enjoy
>> You may have seen this one before, but........
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>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
>>a 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."
>>
>>
>>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....
>>
>>
>>Of all the gifts you could give a Canadian Soldier, Sailor,
>>Or Airman, prayer is the very best one.
Enjoy
>> You may have seen this one before, but........
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>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
>>a 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."
>>
>>
>>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....
>>
>>
>>Of all the gifts you could give a Canadian Soldier, Sailor,
>>Or Airman, prayer is the very best one.
