This poem was written by

Corporal Joshua Miles and all the boys from
3rd Battalion 2nd Marines, Kuwait. Josh sent it home to his parents and asked them to get it out to everyone they could

Thanks, "Wish You Were Here"

For all the free people that still protest – 

You're welcome. We protect you and you are protected by the best.

Your voice is strong and loud,

but who will fight for you? No one standing in your crowd.

We are your fathers, brothers, and sons,

 wearing the boots and carrying guns.

We are the ones that leave all we own,

to make sure your future is carved in stone.

We are the ones who fight and die.

We might not be able to save the world, but, at least we try.

We walked the paths to where we are at

and we want no choice other than that.

So when you rally your group to complain,

take a look in the back of your brain.

In order for that flag you love to fly

wars must be fought and young men must die.

We came here to fight for the ones we hold dear.

If that's not respected, we would rather stay here.

So please stop yelling, put down your signs,

 and pray for those behind enemy lines.

When the conflict is over and all is well,

be thankful that we chose to go through hell.

How long has it been since you read the words to this beautiful song?

Our National Anthem

O say, can you see
By the dawn's early light
What so proudly we hail'd
At the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars
Thro' the perilous fight
O'er the ramparts we watch'd
Were so gallantly streaming?
And the rockets' red glare
The bombs bursting in air
Gave proof thro' the night
That our flag was still there
O say, does that
Star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free
And the home of the brave?

On the shore dimly seen
Thro' the mists of the deep
Where the foe's haughty host
In dread silence reposes
What is that which the breeze
O'er the towering steep
As it fitfully blows
Half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam
Of the morning's first beam
In full glory reflected
Now shines on the stream
'Tis the star-spangled banner
O, long may it wave
O'er the land of the free
And the home of the brave!

And where is that band
Who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war
And the battle's confusion
A home and a country
Should leave us no more?
Their blood has wash'd out
Their foul footsteps' pollution
No refuge could save
The hireling and slave
From the terror of flight
Or the gloom of the grave
And the star-spangled banner
In triumph doth wave
O'er the land of the free
And the home of the brave

O thus be it ever
When free-men shall stand
Between their lov'd home
And the war's desolation
Blest with vict'ry and peace
May the heav'n-rescued land
Praise the Pow'r that hath made
And preserv'd us a nation!
Then conquer we must
When our cause it is just
And this be our motto
"In God is our trust!"
And the star-spangled banner
In triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free
And the home of the brave!

~ Francis Scott Key ~

It's because of men and women like Joshua Miles that our Star Spangled Banner still waves over  our great land of the free. I give many  thanks to all of them and pray  they all return home with victory and their precious  lives. Men and women like these are what make me proud to be an American.