Canadian Soldier

The average age of the  Canadian  military man is 19 years. He is a short

>haired, tight-muscled kid who, under normal circumstances is considered by

>society as half man, half boy. Not yet dry behind the ears, not old enough

>to buy a beer, but old enough to die for his country. He never really cared

>much for work and he would rather wax his own car than wash his father's;

>but he has never collected unemployment either. 

> 

>He's a recent High School graduate;

>He was probably an average student,

>Pursued some form of sport activities, drives a ten year old jalopy,

>And has a steady girlfriend that either broke up with him when he left,

>Or swears to be waiting when he returns from half a world away.

>He listens to rock and roll or hip-hop or rap or jazz or swing and155mm

>howizzitor.

>He is 10 or 15 pounds lighter now than when he was at home

>Because he is working or fighting from before dawn to well after dusk.

> 

>He has trouble spelling, thus letter writing is a pain for him,

>But he can field strip a rifle in 30 seconds

>And reassemble it in less time in the dark.

>He can recite to you the nomenclature of a machine gun or grenade launcher

>and use either one effectively if he must.

>He digs foxholes and latrines and can apply first aid like a professional.

>

>He can march until he is told to stop or stop until he is told to march.

> 

> 

>He obeys orders instantly and without hesitation,

>But he is not without spirit or individual dignity.  He is self-sufficient.

>He has two sets of fatigues:

>He washes one and wears the other.

>He keeps his canteens full and his feet dry.

>He sometimes forgets to brush his teeth, but never to clean his rifle.

>He can cook his own meals, mend his own clothes, and fix his ownhurts.

>If you're thirsty, he'll share his water with you; if you are hungry, his

>food.  He'll even split his ammunition with you

>In the midst of battle when you run low.

> 

>He has learned to use his hands like weapons

>And weapons like they were his hands.

>He can save your life - or take it, because that is his job.

>He will often do twice the work of a civilian, draw half the pay

>And still find ironic humor in it all.

>He has seen more suffering

>And death then he should have in his short lifetime.

>!

> 

> 

>He has stood atop mountains of dead bodies,

>And helped to create them.

>He has wept in public and in private,

>For friends who have fallen in combat and is unashamed. 

>He feels every note of the National Anthem vibrate through his body

>While at rigid attention, while tempering the burning desire to

>'square-away' those around him who haven't bothered to stand,

>Remove their hat, or even stop talking.

>In an odd twist, day in and day out, far from home,

> He defends their right to be disrespectful.

> 

>Just as did his Father, Grandfather, and Great-grandfather,

>He is paying the price for our freedom.  Beardless or not, he is not a

>boy. He is the Canadian Fighting Man

>That has kept this country free

>For over 100 years.

> 

> 

>He has asked nothing in return,

>Except our friendship and understanding.

>Remember him, always,

>for he has earned our respect and admiration with his blood. 

>And now we even have women over there in danger,

>doing their part in this tradition

>of going to War when our nation calls us to do so.

>As you go to bed tonight, remember this shot..

>A short lull, a little shade

>and a picture of loved ones in their helmets  

> 

>Prayer wheel for our military... please don't break it. Please send this on

>after a short prayer.

> 

>Prayer Wheel

> 

>'Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands. Protect them as they protect

>us.

>Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they perform for us

>in our time of need. Amen.' 

> 

> 

>Prayer :

>When you receive this, please stop for a moment and say a prayer

>for our ground troops in Afghanistan, sailors on ships,

>and airmen in the air, and for those in Iraq.

>There is nothing attached....

>This can be very powerful.......

>Of all the gifts you could give a Canadian Soldier, Sailor,

>or Airman, prayer is the very best one.

> 

>I can't break this one, sorry

>This is a ribbon for soldiers fighting everywhere. 

>Pass it on to everyone and pray.

 

Thanks Andrea M.