They come by air to a foreign land
The heat and the dust bums their skin
They come not to fight but to lend a hand
In their hearts they carry freedom on their shoulders
They carry weapons in their eyes you can see honor
They leave behind their wives, husbands, children, mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters,
Aunts, uncles, cousins, girlfriends, boyfriends, the safety of their home, their jobs, home
cooked meals, holidays with their family and friends, seeing the birth of their children.
They follow in the foot steps of their ancestors before them, many will not return, but
they will persevere and in the end their honor and bravery, and the freedom they carry in
their hearts will rise up. The ones that have gone before them and have not returned are
there beside them shoulder to shoulder, heart to heart reminding them that freedom is not
free. So this holiday season when you are celebrating with family and friends doing the
things you are free to do, please remind yourself of the reason you can do these things
and in your heart honor the men and women who have made that possible for you.