If they were you and you were them

What I wouldn’t give to hear their voices again and feel the strength of their embrace.

The good -natured ribbing of all my flaws, and the oaths we took at the threshold of the battlefield.

I remember the silence when they were in pain because they would not leave the team, even when injured, and the sharing of every care package, pay, and love.

Yes, love. The love we gained by our solemn creed never to leave a man behind and to protect our brothers with our lives.

We may have been far from home, alone, and following our country’s orders into battle, but we had the endurable friendship of those at our side.

We had each other, even to the door marked THIS WAY TO ETERNITY.

It was the life we lived, and I will remember them.

Join me in honoring more than the 58,000 of my brothers and sisters who never made it home. A prayer will do, or a nodding of the head. Thank you.

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