"For all to cherish"

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Birth of a Sailor

A young man or woman grows up and heads out their
senior year thinking thoughts of the future
and knows not what to think for the thoughts
and distractions of the world around them
occupy their thoughts for the moment..the thoughts
of cheerleading practice or a basketball game,
when one day they don a cap of graduation and their
future has arrived and no decisions are firm.
To many a person has down this road travelled
while a few along the way have had a dream and
decided while young, what will await them.
To some it was college, to some to labor, and to
others yet a silver spoon and laziness of life and many
small stops will await their spending. They may labor
for a while at convenience stores or supermarkets
or a while as tradesman helpers before one day they
have their great awakening that their money hath not
fullfilled them. Neither their job. For their money
passed down did not a dream buy, but only the wonderment
of what lie ahead at the dead end they cannot see. Some
like myself being fortunate not to have been fed by the silver
spoon took a path unknown into labor for fear of the
crowds in college, of failure or lack of confidence
with the masking of alcohol for a small portion of
life while the inner soul was calling out "there has
to be more to life." When as suddenly as a storm
that grew in the West with blossoming thunderheads
tall there was a lightning struck down, an idea of
"being someone" in a very different way, might be the answer
from God above. Stopping long enough to hear the
whisper from God above may be the answer to the questions
of heart, but one has to go to his or her closet, his or her
inner room to hear it and block out the business that
surrounds his or her fate. For reasons not known 1 visit
to a Navy recruiter in 1979 for myself or be it 2013 is like
an answered prayer to a future or an adventure that
would promise a room and board and possibility of
something different, out of the norm, of helping one's
self while making a difference of helping others
by protecting them and still being rewarded by
and income that only keeps him humble but full
in stomach. The sea that lies ahead is still in
the dream state or the land where he or she may end up
only on the horizon but travel where they may, life
worth living has found this person. Roadblocks, bridges
and conflicts await them. Loneliness from family and
tears shed for his brother or sisters in arms. Only
the Lord above knows his or her true course but the dream
and direction are in the form of "Orders" and flights
and the waterways. A sailor in uniform is a picture
in the making when the contract is signed and one who
is nervous takes the oath to defend the greatest land
that God above has created. Yes it is true his or her life
may be lived or it may be taken, but one thing is known
for sure and that it will not be in vain and not all are
were cut from this cloth and in boot camp he or she will
learn what cloth they are made of. Whether cotton, wool or
canvas a sailor is being born on that day
and there isn't anyone or anything that can defeat
him or her. Only in his or her own mind will he or she survive
or fail. Some call it boot camp and some call it hell. Greater
challenges will await for this is the testing ground
to separate the wheat from the chaff. A true sailor's
mind is learning what it is like to have nothing and
become something. He or She may not know exactly what
foe they will face but out of camp they look up and
see the same sky and stars at night as the civilian
does while they have the freedom of going home at
night to their loved ones and to see that same painting in
the sky that the Sailor will navigate. The stars pointing
them in the direction of the will of their leaders
and of God above. All they need do is ask him for
the compass. The compass is given and the Sailor is
now navigating a dark ocean that at daybreak sees
the glorious Sun perching skyward that spreads the
love of life, the love of family,though far away, the love of duty
to his or her country. Yes a sailor is born in boot
camp and matures around the globe. Whenever or wherever duty
calls, he or she risks their lives so we can live
in the moment at least free from foreign enemies
that want to take us to another land or take their
own lives to a place that doesn't exist by taking
the Sailor's life. Bravery is something the Sailor
may not be born with but learns to acquire. I, after
years of age have ridden me with ailment and pain
will always be proud of the decision I made so long ago to
go to my closet and listen for the still small voice
that beckoned me to become a Sailor. I thank the Lord
everyday he gave me a (son) child that would look
up to me and give his life for others. The calling
that only the few will hear. Thank you God for my
young man (or woman) and all of those that listened
to their calling. Both present and past and those
that paid that ultimate price and gave all they could
give to their fellow man. Thank you God for our military
and especially to _____________ for protecting
me in my old age and for the country I live in. The
greatest country on the face of God's Earth. Thank God
today that a Sailor was born in boot camp...

from a proud father and former sailor whose son made the choice to serve

Remember our Veterans. May God bless them and their families

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I just want to thank those that took time to read this little story of my personal experience and that this journey we call life is only so temporary. This story could apply obviously to anyone's children no matter what their road but I believe so much in my heart of hearts that those that serve and those that served deserve just a little extra love. It is so difficult sometimes to deal with the loneliness of space or distance between loved ones. Then add to the fact that you know that at any given time that the order could come that would lead them into harms way. We are all on that road to harm and will all succumb to it, but to take the leap of faith and service to do what these young men and women and those of the past do and did is beyond any other traverse in life. When I was young I probably like many, took Veterans day for granted. But just like any illness or problem someone encounters in this life, unless you take that path or have that illness you just don't understand what it feels like.

Thank you to all of your family members for protecting the rest of us!