THE CANADIAN MILITARY

Canadian military

• The average 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 cared much for work
• He would rather wax his own car than wash his father's
• He has never collected unemployment either.
• He's a recent High School graduate
• He was probably an average student
• Pursued some form of sport activity
• Drives a ten year old jalopy
• He has a steady girlfriend that either broke up with him when he left or swears to be waiting when he returns form half a world away.

• He listens to rock and roll or hip-hop or rap or jazz or swing and 155mm howitzer.
• 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 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 own hurts.
• If you are 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 humour in it all.
• He has seen more suffering and death then he should have in his short lifetime.
• He has stood atop mountains fo dead bodies, and helped to create them.
• He has wept in public and 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 A short lull, a little shade and a picture of loved ones in their helmets

Prayer wheel for our military

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."

Please stop for a moment and say a prayerfor our ground troops in Afghanistan, sailors on ships, and airmen in the air, and for those in Iraq. Of all the gifts you could give a Canadian Soldier, Sailor, or Airman, prayer is the very best one.

May God keep watch our our brave men and women. Please take a few moments on Saturday to remember the sacrifces these people are making for the greater good.