The American Soldier

(written while on the way home from deployment to the Gulf, after seeing a news report about Americans picketing against the military [not war, the military] at a funeral for men and women who had fallen in battle)

I, am an American Soldier,
I defend my country against harm, be it immediate or imminent.

I, am an American Soldier,
I am Christian, Muslim, Buddhist, Pagan, Islamic, and Atheist.

I, am an American Soldier,
I am Caucasian, Hispanic, African, Latin, Oriental, European, and Native American.

I, am an American Soldier,
I am 18, 24, and 55 years old, and many ages in between.

I, am an American Soldier,
I have a boyfriend, a mother, a father, children, husband, and wife waiting for me to return home to them.

I, am an American Soldier,
I have seen friends die in battle to protect the freedom of people known and unknown.

I, am an American Soldier,
I feel that we are right, I feel that we are wrong, I obey those that I work under, and I work for what is right and good in the world.

I, am an American Soldier,
I have feelings, and those feelings can be hurt, just like anyone else’s.

I, am an American Soldier,
I have morals, convictions, and fight for what I believe in…

FREEDOM