Where were you 5 years ago today? What were you doing?

How did you learn of the news? 

A tribute to our military: 

__________________________

 
 Your alarm goes off, you hit the snooze and sleep for another 10 minutes.
 
 He stays up for days on end.
 __________________________
 
 You take a warm shower to help you wake up.
 
 He goes days or weeks without running water.
 __________________________
 
 You complain of a "headache", and call in sick.
 
 He gets shot at, as others are hit, and keeps moving forward.
 __________________________
 
 You put on your anti war/don't support the troops shirt, and go meet up with your friends.
 
 He still fights for your right to wear that shirt.
 __________________________
 
 You make sure you're cell phone is in your pocket.
 
 He clutches the cross hanging on his chain next to his dog tags.
 __________________________
 
 You talk trash on your "buddies" that aren't with you.
 
 He knows he may not see some of his buddies again.
 __________________________
 
 You don't feel like helping out your dad today, so you don't.
 
 He does what he is told.
 __________________________
 
 You walk down the beach, staring at all the pretty girls.
 
 He walks the streets, searching for insurgents and terrorists.
 __________________________
 
 You complain about how hot it is.
 
 He wears his heavy gear, not daring to take off his helmet to wipe his brow.
 __________________________
 
 You go out to lunch, and complain because the restaurant got your order wrong.
 
 He does not get to eat today.
 __________________________
 
 Your maid makes your bed and washes your clothes.
 
 He wears the same things for months, but makes sure his weapons are clean.
 __________________________
 
 You go to the mall and get your hair redone.
 
 He doesn't have time to brush his teeth today.
 __________________________
 
 You are angry because your class ran 5 minutes over.
 
 He is told he will be held an extra 2 months.
 
 He does as he is told.
 __________________________
 
 You call your girlfriend and set a date for that night.
 
 He waits for the mail to see if there is a letter from home.
 __________________________
 
 You hug and kiss your girlfriend, like you do everyday.
 
 He holds his letter close and smells his love's perfume.
 __________________________
 
 You ditch class to go to a movie.
 
 He goes where he is told.
 __________________________
 
 You roll your eyes as a baby cries.
 
 He gets a letter with pictures of his new child, and wonders if they'll ever meet.
 __________________________
 
 You criticize your government, and say that war never solves anything.
 
 He sees the innocent tortured and killed by their own government and remembers why he is fighting.
 __________________________
 
 You hear the jokes about the war, and make fun of the men like him.
 
 He hears the gun fire and bombs.
 __________________________
 
 You see only what the media wants you to see.
 
 He sees the bodies lying around him.
 __________________________
 
 You are asked to go to the store by your parents. You don't.
 
 He does what he is told.
 __________________________
 
 You stay at home and watch tv.
 
 He takes whatever time he is given to call and write home, sleep, and eat.
 __________________________
 
 You crawl into your bed, with down pillows, and try to get comfortable.
 
 He crawls under a tank for shade and a 5 minute nap, only to be woken by gun fire.
 __________________________
 
 You sit there and judge him, saying the world is a worse place because of men like him.
 
 If only there were more men like him
 
 __________________________
 John A. Minton
 Community Relation Officer 
 Fort Campbell, Kentucky  
 

HT: Military