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Reflection
Contributed by
The_Phantom
on
Friday, 3rd April 2015 @ 11:06:36 AM in AEST
Topic:
EmotionalPoetry
|
As I sit here and reflect on the past 20 years, I find it hard to hold back the tears,
At the age of 18 I raised my right hand, and begun a journey to defend this land,
The urge to serve was too great, and so I ask my self, was it worth the pain,
The nights alone, the holidays missed, the tears that fell, the emptiness,
The battles I've fought, the friends I've lost,
The blood that spilled, the scars that will never heal,
Everyday I put on my uniform, accepting the fact I may never come home,
Served with the greatest men and women the world will never know, some paid the ultimate price while others came home,
I followed my orders, completed my tasks, fought for this Country and felt the backlash,
I've cried myself to sleep, gone days with little to eat,
Fought the face of terror, and prayed for peace,
A child in a man's body, I made the choice to enlist in the Army,
Not sure what was in store, in 1998 I was sent to war,
Bosnia needed our help, The President sent the 1st CAV, I could have got out, but I put on my gear cause I wanted to help,
Genocide, and sniper alley, mass burial sites, three ethic groups unable to comprehend the reality,
Heading home in 1999, Kosovo kicks off, and we are rerouted mid flight,
Again I found myself in another's war, hoping to bring peace to a Nation scorn,
When the towers fell in 2001, the innocent lives lost angered every American,
2009 I was called upon again, Afghanistan was the mission and in we went,
The fire fights, and IEDs, a different kind of enemy, but one that we needed to end,
Protest after protest and that was your right, but remember, the only reason you were able to do that, was cause we fight,
Now at the end of my career, I consider myself lucky I'm still alive and able to reflect on the past 20 years,
As the day draws near, and I take this uniform off for the very last time, I see that 18 year old boy in the mirror,
I take a deep breath and look him in the eye, and I tell him... thank you,
I ask him, if you had to do it all over again, would you?
That young boy looks me right in my eyes and without hesitation... Yes sir I would...
Copyright ©
The_Phantom
... [
2015-04-03 11:06:36]
(Date/Time posted on
site)
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Re: Reflection
(User Rating: 1 )
by Former_Member on
Friday, 3rd April 2015 @ 11:53:57 AM AEST
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a Message)
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Great poem. It sucked me right in and I could not stop reading it.
Thank you for your courage, strength, and especially for serving this country.
Tim |
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Re: Reflection
(User Rating: 1 )
by Former_Member on
Friday, 3rd April 2015 @ 02:02:31 PM AEST
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a Message)
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for freaking twenty years, nonetheless!!! |
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Re: Reflection
(User Rating: 1 )
by ladyfawn on
Friday, 3rd April 2015 @ 04:35:31 PM AEST
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matt, you have had an amazing and blessed career and
life, always unselfishly giving and protecting others, now
is your time to enjoy family, friends, peace, and
happiness- i wish these things for you in absolute
abundance! thank you for your service to our great
country, for sharing your beautiful poetry, and thank you
for being my friend! blessings,
hugs n' love nessa
@->>->>-- |
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Re: Reflection
(User Rating: 1 )
by freckle on
Friday, 3rd April 2015 @ 08:59:18 PM AEST
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First, thank you for serving our country and for serving it for as long as you did. While I personally, did not serve, I have generations of family members that have, and have as proudly.
Second, thank you for being able to share your thoughts in this reflection poem. You looked deep and in your heart, re-felt each emotional memory...it comes across clearly and brings us, just a small taste of what YOU, sir, sacrificed.
Best wishes and every happiness in your retirement! Namaste |
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Re: Reflection
(User Rating: 1 )
by Chrissylee on
Saturday, 4th April 2015 @ 08:12:22 AM AEST
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| you've definately served your country with pride and honour and you hanging up your uniform is well earnt. You've seen alot more than the rest of us who haven't served but you can walk away with your head held high and pride in your heart, and you can certainly take inspiration and give much view with your words written in your poems... as always so well written |
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Re: Reflection
(User Rating: 1 )
by Waynster on
Sunday, 5th April 2015 @ 03:37:40 PM AEST
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Hello my brother in arms! Combat Veteran here as well and I thank you for your service and thank you for sharing this poem. You shine light on what a soldier goes through, as not everyone understands the life! Thank you for sharing this with us all. Keep on writing and welcome to the civilian world. I have been in it since 1994 and every day I miss the military life. I don't miss the war, but it was an honor to wear the uniform and serve with pride! We will forever be Soldiers.
Wayne |
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