The average age of the Canadian military man is 19 years. He is a >short haired, tight-muscled kid who, under normal circumstances is >considered by society as half man, half boy. Not yet dry behind the >ears, not old enough to buy a beer, but old enough to die for his >country. He never really cared much for work and he would rather wax his >own car than wash his father’s; but he has never collected unemployment >either. > >He’s a recent High School graduate; he was probably an average student, >pursued some form of sport activities, drives a ten year old jalopy, and >has a steady girlfriend that either broke up with him when he left, or >swears to be waiting when he returns from half a world away. He listens >to rock and roll or hip-hop or rap or jazz or swing and155mm howizzitor. >He is 10 or 15 pounds lighter now than when he was at home because he is >working or fighting from before dawn to well after dusk. > >He has trouble spelling, thus letter writing is a pain for him, but he >can field strip a rifle in 30 seconds and reassemble it in less time in >the dark. He can recite to you the nomenclature of a machine gun or >grenade launcher and use either one effectively if he must. He digs >foxholes and latrines and can apply first aid like a professional. He >can march until he is told to stop or stop until he is told to march. > >He obeys orders instantly and without hesitation, but he is not without >spirit or individual dignity. He is self-sufficient. He has two sets of >fatigues: he washes one and wears the other. >He keeps his canteens full and his feet dry. He sometimes forgets to >brush his teeth, but never to clean his rifle. He can cook his own >meals, mend his own clothes, and fix his ownhurts. If you’re thirsty, >he’ll share his water with you; if you are hungry, his food. He’ll even >split his ammunition with you in the midst of battle when you run low. > >He has learned to use his hands like weapons and weapons like they were >his hands. He can save your life - or take it, because that is his job. >He will often do twice the work of a civilian, draw half the pay and >still find ironic humor in it all. He has seen more suffering and death >then he should have in his short lifetime! > >He has stood atop mountains of dead bodies, and helped to create them. >He has wept in public and in private, for friends who have fallen in >combat and is unashamed. He feels every note of the National Anthem >vibrate through his body while at rigid attention, while tempering the >burning desire to ‘square-away’ those around him who haven’t bothered to >stand,remove their hat, or even stop talking. In an odd twist, day in >and day out, far from home, he defends their right to be disrespectful. > >Just as did his Father, Grandfather, and Great-grandfather, he is >paying the price for our freedom. Beardless or not, he is not a boy. He >is the Canadian Fighting Man that has kept this country free for over >200 years. > >He has asked nothing in return, except our friendship and >understanding. Remember him, always, for he has earned our respect and >admiration with his blood. And now we even have woman over there in >danger, doing their part in this tradition of going to War when our >nation calls us to do so. As you go to bed tonight, remember this shot. >A short lull, a little shade and a picture of loved ones in their >helmets > >Prayer wheel for our military… please don’t break it. >Please send this on after a short prayer. > >Prayer Wheel > >“Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands. Protect them as they >protect us. Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they >perform for us in our time of need. Amen.” > >Prayer : When you receive this, please stop for a moment and say a >prayer >for our ground troops in Afghanistan, sailors on ships, and airmen in >the air, and for those in Iraq. > >There is nothing attached… This can be very powerful… Of all >the gifts you could give a Canadian Soldier, Sailor, or Airman, prayer >is the very best one. > >I can’t break this one, sorry This is a ribbon for soldiers fighting in >everywhere. Pass it on to everyone and pray.