THE MILITARY

(To all of our Troops stationed at Home and to

those who are on Duty all around the World.)

MAIL CALL!

A LETTER FROM HOME

Dear One,

I worry about you now that you have joined the Service.

I am afraid. I think about you every minute of the day and

I don't know what I would do if something bad should

happen to you. I worry...

I am worried about you but I am also so very proud. With all

of your heart and mind, you have chosen to stand on the Front

Line of Battle and to protect everything that is good in our

Country. By your own efforts, and with your own blood and

tears if necessary -- you stand ready to defend us.

I am in the Park as I write this letter and I see some kids

playing, laughing, and running around on the grass; they

are carefree and living with no thought of Terrorists or

the Evil they can do, and they have no idea about our

Enemies thru out the World and the harm they might do

to us. They have this Time of Innocence, an unspoiled

childhood, thanks to you and the Service you are giving

to our Homeland.

There is a young couple walking by, they are so much in love,

holding hands and taking softly together, they have found

contentment in each other. They are probably making plans

for their Future, maybe even thinking about getting Married

and starting a Family ... Thanks to you, their Future is filled

with Hope and Promise, they have the Security needed to

Dream.

I feel the Sun shinning warm on my face and as I look up, I

see our Flag. Its bold colors stand out proudly against a

clear blue Sky. It is a true symbol of America, a blending

together of our many differences to form a greater Union

of Trust and Sharing. There is a gentle breeze lifting it and

causing it to wave above us; it still flies over a Land of

Freedom, a place where Liberty of Thought and Spirit is

more important than conformity to any narrow minded

dogma. Because of you, standing Guard Duty over us all,

our Democracy lives on, we do have our Freedom.

At home, your mother is doing fine. She is still just as pretty

as she ever was. She is such a kind and considerate soul,

we are so lucky to have her as a part of our lives. Right now,

she's in the kitchen baking bread, the wholesome smell of

it fills the whole house, I can't wait to have a slice of hot

fresh bread with butter on it. Maybe we'll get lucky and she

will make some chocolate chip cookies next, thick ones with

lots of chocolate chips in them, hey I can taste them already.

Me, I'm the same as ever. Sometimes, when I'm working, I try

to lift too much and I hurt my back, but other wise, I'm doing fine.

Just getting older.

I'm thinking about getting a new truck , a Ford Ranger. A red one.

They're not too expensive and I know a Dealership where I can

get a good deal. I'll take you for a drive when you get back, we

can go down to the old swimming hole and get in some fishing.

I have some new lures I would like to try out and it would be fun

to go fishing with you again.

Because of you protecting us, our lives go on as normal. We don't

have to worry about being attacked and all of the violence and

suffering that so torments other parts of the world is not to be seen

here. We are Safe and we can live in Peace -- thanks to you.

I can't wait to see you again.

We all miss you. We cherish every memory we have of you; the

sound of your voice, the way you walk, the things you would say;

so many little things that weren't important before, they have all

become so important now. Sometimes I think I see you standing

at the front door, waiting to come in... but it's just my imagination,

I guess I want you to return so badly that I can't help but to see you.

To imagine you being here with us again.

I wish I could be with you, to watch over you thru out the night. When

you are on patrol, I would gladly take the point and try to protect you

as much as possible. And when the Enemy fires at you, I would even

take the bullet into my own body, if only I could save you. You are the

light of my life, the center of my world, you mean everything to me.

I pray the Lord will watch over you and protect you until you have

come back to us again. God is with you and He is watching over you,

I hope you will let His Love circle around you and give you comfort

thru all of the trials you might face.

Let us trust in Him and His Mercy to bring you safely back home to

us again. We will pray for you.

Until you return to us, please remember -- you are all that really

matters to us, the reason for our lives -- We Love You.

The Folks Back Home