From JayPMarine
This is a poem sent from a Marine. For those who read it, his letter to his dad is at the bottom of the page. It makes one truly thankful for ALL of our troops!

THE MARINE
By Corporal Aaron M. Gilbert
USS Saipan in the Persian Gulf

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 protect our country from 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 group and protest in our streets

But still I fight on. I don’t bitch or 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 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 we’ve won.

Fight for the sick. Fight for the poor.
Fight for the cripple who lives next door.
When your time comes, do what I’ve done.
If you stand up for freedom you’ll stand when the fight’s done.

Corporal Aaron M. Gilbert, USMC

“Hey, Dad:

“Do me a favor. Label this “The Marine” and send it to everyone on your distribution list. Even leave this paragraph in it, I want this rolling all over the U.S. I want everyone at home reading it, every eye to see it and every heart to feel it.
So can you please send it out? I would but my e-mail time is sort of limited.

“You know, Dad, I wondered what it would be like to truly understand what JFK said in his inaugural speech - “When the time comes to lay down my life for my country, I do not cower 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 will miss the birth of our first-born child, I would do it seventy times over to fight for the peace that God has made for my home.

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

“Semper Fi.

“Aaron”

Please keep Aaron, his wife and unborn child in your prayers, and pass this along to those on your list.