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May 26, 2006
This Memorial Day Weekend...Letters From War
This coming Monday is Memorial Day here in the U.S. This day is an honored time to remember the great men and women who served and serve our country.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memorial_Day
I ask, this Memorial Day, that you forget your like or dislike of the war that is going on, your love or hatred for our current administration, your adoration or disdain for our capitalist society. I ask that, instead, you would think about every man and woman over there right now. Think about their reasons for being there. Think about what they feel they are fighting for. They are fighting for freedom...theirs, ours, freedom for the Iraqis.
I am far from being a patriot. I have serious issues with our government and I think we are in our current military activity for all the wrong reasons. Instead of railing against it, I want to take the time to kneel and pray. Not pray that we will win or lose, not pray that we will kill more of them than they will of us. I will pray that, in the end, our brave men and women will come home safe and sound, and they will be wiser for what they have gone through. I will pray that the Iraqis will experience peace and freedom. I will pray that God, who can make good out of every situation, will use this awful time to teach all of us something about how we should live and how we should treat one another.
I heard a song this morning on the way to work. It was playing, and over it were audio clips from families that have loved ones in Iraq.
The song is called Letters from War, and it was written and recorded by Mark Schultz, who I had never heard of until this morning.
Here is a link to a site with the song, in video form, to be viewed on line or downloaded.
And finally, here are the lyrics:
Letters from War
She walked to the mailbox
On that bright summers day
Found a letter from her son
In a war far away
He spoke of the weather
And good friends that he'd made
Said I'd been thinking 'bout dad
And the life that he had
That's why I'm here today
And that the end he said
You are what I'm fighting for
It was the first of his letters from war
She started writing
You're good and you're brave
What a father that you'll be someday
make it home
make it safe
She wrote every night as she prayed
Late in December
A day she'll not forget
Oh her tears stained the paper
With every word that she read
It said "I was up on a hill
I was out there alone
When the shots all rang out
And bombs were exploding
And thats when I saw him
He came back for me
And though he was captured
A man set me free
And that man was your son
He asked me to write to you
I told him I would, oh I swore"
It was the last of the letters from war
And she prayed he was living
Kept on believing
And wrote every night just to say
You are good
And you're brave
what a father that you'll be someday
Make it home
Make it safe
Still she kept writing each day
Then two years later
Autumn leaves all around
A car pulled in the driveway
And she fell to the ground
And out stepped a captain
Where her boy used to stand
He said "mom I'm following orders
From all of your letters
And I've come home again",
He ran into hold her
And dropped all his bags on the floor
Holding all of her letters from war
Make it home
Make it home
Make it home
Here's his actual web site:
http://markschultzmusic.com
The more I listen to this song I think of how much my parents love me , and how supportive they've always been to me. Then I think that those men and women fighting for our freedom have parents that are just like that. They live every day writing..."You're good and you're brave. What a father that you'll be someday. Make it home. Make it safe."
So to all of our men and women fighting across the sea...please...Make it home. Please make it safe. God bless you all. Your service is appreciated and you are loved.
Posted by Mike at May 26, 2006 5:53 PM
Comments
Good stuff Mike...except that I would disagree with you saying you are far from being a patriot..you question our government, you doubt our leaders...that is exactly what Americans do....it's part of the foundation this country was built on....and the way you write so honestly about your support of our troops.... yeah...you're a patriot.. I think Bush is borderline criminal...I think Cheney is nuts...AND I think I'm a patriot....
I couldn't agree with you more... this country's greatest heroes are it's troops....
Posted by: Bill at May 26, 2006 10:49 PM
I used to have a book called 'War Letters' or something like that. It was a bunch of letters that soldiers would send to their families or girlfriends/wives. Some were really sad. At the end of the letter it would tell you what happened to the soldier after the war. Some died, and some came back and led happy lives. Good Book. The auther was someone that wrote for new york times or something, but I can't find evidence to support that theory.
Posted by: Chris Hattery at May 27, 2006 9:01 AM
I agree with you Bill. I want our troops to come home, and be with their spouses, children, and parents. I watched the "Today" show the other morning, after the press conference with Tony Blair and President Bush. Some of the troops agree with Bush, and some don't. I don't think that you have to agree with the administration in order to be a patriot. I think you have to love this country. Plain and simple. Do I agree with the war? No. Do I want the troops to come home, and for the Iraqis to have a free and peaceful government? ABSOLUTELY! The sooner we can do that, the better off we all will be. I praise the troops and have the utmost respect and gratitude for everything they have done over there. Come home soon, ladies and gentleman. We miss you. 
Posted by: Robyn at May 27, 2006 12:17 PM
Beautifully written Mike! I too agree with Bill that you are a true patriot!! I don't think "borderline" is correct as I believe that GW Bush and his associates are the most dangerous people the United States of America has faced in many years. He and his can't be out of office quickly enough for me! I'd like to see them brought up on criminal charges for scoffing at our constitution and doing as they please in spite of it!
Posted by: macdad ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://merelyadequate.net/nav-commenters.gif)
at May 28, 2006 1:25 PM
You made me cry. I agree with Robyn. I don't think that you have to agree with the administration in order to be a patriot. I think you have to love this country. Plain and simple. Well Said!
Posted by: Laurie at May 29, 2006 1:53 PM
Don't believe in that narrow definition of what a patriot is...that is blind allegiance not patriotism you're thinking of.
Posted by: sally at June 2, 2006 9:06 PM
just came by to say hello, as usual. this time I'll also say ThankYou...for a nice post.
Posted by: meg at June 4, 2006 3:02 PM
As I read this tears were running down my face. I thought for sure "he" wasn't coming home, and was so relieved the way the song ended. Your thoughts of this topic are right on Mike. I'm proud of you for sharing, and thank you for enlightening us with your ideas.
I love you!!!!
Posted by: mom at June 7, 2006 8:13 AM
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