THE MARINE

We all came together,
Both young and old.
To fight for our freedom,
To stand and be bold.

In the midst of all evil,
We stand our ground,
And we protect our country
From all terror around.

Peace and not war,
Is what some people say.
But I'll give my life,
So you can live the American way.

I give you the right
To talk of your peace,
To stand in your groups,
And protest in our streets.

But still I fight on.
I don't bitch, I don't whine.
I'm just one of the men
Who is doing your time.

I'm harder than nails,
Stronger than any machine,
I'm the immortal soldier,
I'm a U.S. MARINE!

So stand in my shoes,
And leave from your home.
Fight for the people who hate you,
With the protests they've shown.

Fight for the stranger,
Fight for the young,
So they all may have,
The great freedom you've won.

Fight for the sick,
Fight for the poor.
Fight for the cripple,
Who lives next door.

But when your time comes,
Do what I've done.
For if you stand up for freedom
You'll stand when the fight's done.

©Copyright March 23, 2003 by Aaron M. Gilbert

HEY DAD, DOWN HERE,

Do me a favor and label this "THE MARINE" and send it to everybody on your distribution list. Even leave this paragraph in it. I want this rolling all over the U.S. I want every home reading it, every eye to see it, and every heart to feel it. So can you please send this out for me? I would but I am sorta on the USS SAIPAN and my e-mail time isn't that long.

You know what Dad, I wondered what it would be like to truly understand what JFK said in his inaugural speech, "In the long history of the world, only a few generations have been granted the role of defending freedom in its hour of maximum danger. I do not shrink from this responsibility - I welcome it."

Well, now I know. And I do, Dad, I welcome the opportunity to do what I do. Even though I have left behind a beautiful wife, and I will miss the birth of our first born child, I would do it 70 times over to fight for the place that God has made for my home.

I love you all and I miss you very much. I wish I could be there when my wife has our child, but tell her that I love her, and Lord willing, I will be coming home soon.

Semper Fi
Aaron

Author’s Note: Unlike some communists in our country, I love the land in which I live, and all the freedoms that are given to me. I revel in the fact that we live in a place were we can have our own religion, pray our own prayers, or choose not to do either, and no matter what your preference, you will not be persecuted by the government; you will not be shot, nor hung, nor publicly humiliated for having your own beliefs.

In fact, that is what they teach children at school. Can you believe that! Our country actually teaches our children to think for themselves, and to be individuals. WOW, that is a horrible deal: freedom to do whatever you want within reason; freedom to pursue what ever kind of education or profession you want. Yeah, maybe all those anti war protestors are right - maybe we should stop fighting for it all since we have it so bad.

WAKE UP! Everything that you have was given to you on a silver platter. Most of you didn't even pay for it. You were just born and, BANG, here it is, your freedom. But no, not me: not the men before me nor the men to come. Many have died; many husbands have left their wives to be widows in order to fight for that flag. Many fathers have left their children forever, in order that those children can grow up with the assured freedom that he earned for them.

MANY YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN HAVE AND WILL DIE. Think about that: they die! Are you ready to have some person whom you don't know, take your life; take you away from everything that you love; from all that you know, forever...?

WE ARE!

Corporal Aaron M. Gilbert
United States Marine Corps
USS Saipan, Persian Gulf
March 23, 2003