02/22/2024
I Scott Smith have seen this passed around a time or two, and I decided to add a little to it... just my thoughts, from my feelings...
To understand a Military Veteran you must know:
* We left home as teenagers or in our early twenties for an unknown adventure which looking back was Bad Ass!!!
* We loved our country enough to defend it and protect it with our own lives and still do!
* We said goodbye to friends and family and everything we knew and learned how to drive really fast and shoot guns!!!
* We learned the basics and then we scattered in the wind to the far corners of the Earth and got to see some amazing cultures and really feel what it means to be American, and Free!
* We found new friends and new family, Battle Buddies that will be there for at the drop off a hat globally!!! I Love You Battles!!!
* We became brothers and sisters regardless of colour, race or creed, some of you need to read this one again...
* We had plenty of good times, and plenty of bad times, the bad will haunt us forever, so give us a little more time, that's all...
* We didn’t get enough sleep, got a lot of catching up to do, we're tired boss...
* We smoked and drank too much, not sure where this one came from...
* We picked up both good and bad habits, habits we cannot break
* We worked hard and played harder, knees, back, neck, etc.
* We didn’t earn a great wage, but we Loved what we did, and would do it again at a moments notice!!!
* We experienced the happiness of mail call and the sadness of missing important events, missed the birth of my 1st born, that doesn't often happen, but it does, we miss so much, and we feel guilty for even serving and being away from our family growing up in pictures and phone calls, this pains us.
* We didn’t know when, or even if, we were ever going to see home again, some did not, and no we have the survivors guilt, can you even imagine that???
* We grew up fast, and yet somehow, we never grew up at all... take a sec with this one...
* We fought for our freedom, as well as the freedom of others.
* Some of us saw actual combat, and some of us didn’t, for both of us, this was tragic
* Some of us saw the world, and some of us didn’t.
* Some of us dealt with physical warfare, most of us dealt with psychological warfare, some of us dealt with both and more...
* We have seen and experienced and dealt with things that we can’t fully describe or explain, as not all of our sacrifices were physical, the Non visible wounds are the worst as you can imagine, there's no explanation for the as the pain is greatly different from each one of us.
* We participated in time honored ceremonies and rituals with each other, strengthening our bonds and camaraderie, you see we were IN the Military, we didn't work for the Military.
* We counted on each other to get our job done and sometimes to survive it at all, we depended on each other as you depend on oxygen! Now we're Veterans and we don't have that, so again, take your time with us...
* We have dealt with victory and tragedy, but only remember the tragedy somehow...
* We have celebrated and mourned and yet we continue to mourn, why is that??? Because these were NOT friends we lost, they were BLOOD...
* We lost a few along the way.
* When our adventure was over, some of us went back home, some of us started somewhere new and some of us never came home at all.
* We have told amazing and hilarious stories of our exploits and adventures.
* We share an unspoken bond with each other, that most people don’t experience, and few will understand.
* We speak highly of our own branch of service, and poke fun at the other branches.
* We know however, that, if needed, we will be there for our brothers and sisters and stand together as one, in a heartbeat.
* Being a Veteran is something that had to be earned, and it can never be taken away.
* It has no monetary value, but at the same time it is a priceless gift.
