This started out as a character study 2 weeks ago. As I was working on it again today, it morphed into something decidedly different. For the last month, the area where I live has been populated by a National Guard unit from Idaho and Montana. They started shipping out on Friday. Army guys have been literally everywhere you go from the mall to Wal-Mart to the movies. I've always had strong feelings about the war in Iraq and on terrorism, and as I was writing this, those feelings came out for the very first time on paper.
It's in first person, something new for me. It's talking about Vietnam, obviously, but the words of the narrator to his son just as easily apply to the war in Iraq. We can't forget all of the men and women in Iraq right now fighting to give the Iraqi people the kind of freedom we take for granted. In my own little way, this is a tribute to every soldier who has ever fought in defense of, or in protection of, the United States of America. You will never know how much everyone truly appreciates your sacrifices on our behalf.