"Young One" (a Poem for the Ones That Serve and Give Us Their All)

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The "Young One"...Graduated from High School...on a Bright, Late Spring Day...

He signed up for Military Duty...Ahead of time...and was promptly sent away.

Began to train for combat...to serve in case of conflict...

But conflict's are for certain...you should know just what to expect.

What would we do...if you did not sign-up...We'd all have to stick out our neck...

Yet you gallantly forged ahead to join..."Young One"...We look upon you with respect.

"Young One"...Train Real Hard...And Keep your head down low...

"Young One"...Be the Best you can...Learn all there is to know.

And should the fighting start...and you find yourself in range...

Remember to come home to us...while out in the field...in a far away place...new and strange.

You spent 18 years of your life...having a normal childhood...

Then we put you right into the flame...in a place where things are happening...that aren't good.

We send our best and our brightest...and our most brave...to do our bidding...

To fight enemies that are never seen (Jungles of Vietnam) ...insurgents with weapons cache's...well hidden (Fallujah, Iraq).

Into Battle the World's Problems...'Cause Diplomacy is out the window...Troops are deployed...

Time to use all the Young Ones...that serve our country...that are militarily employed.

Go to Guns...Prepare to Fire...This here is the "Real Deal"...No Backing Down Now.

Young One...Time to put it all on the line...Time to Fight Your Best For Us...The Best You Know How !

Time to put all the Military skills...you have learned...to the test...

Time to give it all you have...Time to give us all your very best.

Young One...With Your Whole Life Left Ahead...

Young One...Please Don't Come Back to us...Dead!

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The "Young One" flew into Dover...with a flag draped over him...

Of all the Ones that have paid the price...You are the Greatest One there's ever been.

Your family waits...with tear-soaked eyes...

Each one screams your name...as each one cries.

Your body returned back to them from a tragic war...

You have come back home to them...though they won't see you any more.

"Young One"...Why did you serve...Why did you die?

"Young One"...I try to understand...I promise you...I try!

So many places to go in life...So much to see...

But you signed up to join...and did so...So very admirably.

Years from now "Young One"...When we should have been fishing...or with you at a ball game...

I will be standing over your grave headstone...and silently calling out your name...

For the times I would have been at your wedding...or sharing the birth of your daughter or son...

I will now be looking out across any empty graveyard...and thinking about all you've done.

"Young One!"... "Young One!" ...I scream out..."Where did you go?"

"Young One...You gave Everyone your Best...And Excelled at Everything You Needed to Know!"

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On this Memorial Day...2010, Please let me Honor those that have served with this quiet picture reminder of the "Young Ones" who represent our Military Forces and have each served us well. Each Picture was taken from the Internet at random...only as a reminder to how "Young" each one is that has served us. No names have been used as a solemn reminder...some of these have Fallen in Service to us and some were obviously Wounded in Service to us. Special Mention: Pfc. Leroy Sandoval Jr. (USMC): Died while providing covering fire for his Platoon.

Please Remember their Service to Us.

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