This Really Bothers Me

I have a lot of friends in various branches of the military. A lot of people in my family have served in the military. I have 3 friends in the Marines, 5 in the Navy, and 5 in the Army, and I know there are more it is just way too early in the morning to try to remember them all. They all mean a lot to me and I know they mean a lot to their families. I hate when I hear about people standing outside of a military base protesting our troops. It is NOT their fault we are in a war. They are just doing their jobs. It is their job to protect you and your family. It is because of them you can stand outside a military base protesting them. It is because of them you are able to go on with your life and not see or worry about the things they see and worry about every second of every day.

My ex who is stationed in NC right now is worried about going to Iraq. He's a Marine. He's trained not to worry about surviving or about having to kill. But he is worried about surviving and he is worried about knowing he will kill someone. He is being trained not to think about things. He will admit he's scared only to me and his mom. Trust me, we are scared too. But I can't let him know that. I'm the one who has to be strong when he's not. I'm the one who can't let him know that I'm worried he's gonna come home in a freaking box instead of walking off that plane.

So the thing that bothers me is that people who are protesting our troops. They have no idea what our troops and their friends and families are going through. They don't know half of the things I think about or worry about because of my friends and family members serving. It bothers me when people don't respect our troops. If you can't stand behind them, please feel free to stand in front of them. I want you to think about the last time you actually took time out of your day to think about why you have all the freedoms you do and why you can sit in your office or home on your computer reading this without worrying that someone is going to bomb the crap outta your town.

My great grandfather served in WWII. I never asked him about it. I had so many questions about it. Was he scared? What was it like? But I had heard stories about how bad things were. I couldn't ask him to relive that. He passed away a few weeks ago. As I sat at the cemetary while they played taps I cried for the first time since he passed. At first I was angry that he suffered so long before passing. Then I became sad. I know I will never hear taps again without crying. I have one of the shell casings from the 21 gun salute that he earned.

I remember my 8th grade trip to D.C. and going to Arlington National Cemetary. I knew that every person in that cemetary had protected me. I just didn't fully understand it till I was at my great grandfathers funeral. I think at his funeral I cried for him, I cried for all of the others who protect me, and I cried for thier friends and families.

The friends and families of our troops go through so much. The wives/husbands and girlfriends/boyfriends sit at home waiting on his/her call cause they don't know if or when they will hear from him/her again. The friends worry about them. The mothers have it the worst. It is their little boys and girls out there.

So the next time you think about protesting our troops, think about all they left behind to protect you. Think about their mothers. Think about their families. Think about their friends. And if you still feel the same, please go stand in front of them. See if you can do what they do.

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