"We
should
just leave
Iraq alone.
I don't
think
they are
hiding
any
weapons.
I think
it is
all a
ploy to
increase
the president's
popularity
and pad
the budget
of our
military
at the
expense
of social
security
and
education.
We are
just asking
for another
9-11 and
I can't
say when
it
happens
again
that we
didn't
deserve
it."
Their
words
brought
to mind
the war
protesters
I had
watched
gathering
outside
our base.
Did no
one appreciate
the sacrifice
of brave
men and
women
who leave
their
homes
and family
to ensure
our freedom?
I
glimpsed
at the
tables
around
me and
saw the
faces
of some
of those
courageous
men, looking
sad as
they listened
to the
ladies
talk.
"Well,
I for
one, think
it is
a travesty
to invade
Iraq and
I am
certainly
sick of
our tax
dollars
going
to train
the professional
baby
killers
we call
a military."
Professional
baby killers?
As I thought
about
what a
wonderful
father
my husband
is and
wondered
how long
it would
be before
he was
able to
see his
children
again,
indignation
rose up
within
me. Normally
reserved,
pride
in my
husband
gave me
a boldness
I had
never
known.
Tonight,
one
voice
would
cry out
on behalf
of the
military.
One shy
woman
would
stand
and let
her pride
in our
troops
be known.
I made
my way
to their
table,
placed
my palms
flat on
it and
lowered
myself
to be
eye level
with
them.
Smiling
I said,
"I
couldn't
help overhearing
your conversation.
I
am sitting
over her
trying
to enjoy
my dinner
alone.
Do you
know why
I
am alone?
Because
my husband,
whom I
love dearly,
is halfway
across
the
world
defending
your right
to say
rotten
things
about
him. You
have the
right
to your
opinion,
and
what you
think
is none
of my
business,
but what
you say
in my
hearing
is and
I will
not sit
by and
listen
to you
run down
my country,
my
president,
my husband,
and all
these
other
fine men
and women
in here
who
put their
lives
on the
line to
give you
the freedom
to complain.
Freedom
is expensive
ladies,
don't
let your
actions
cheapen
it."
I must
have been
louder
than I
meant
to be,
because
about
that time
the
manager
came over
and asked
if everything
was all
right.
"Yes,
thank
you."
I replied
and then
turned
back to
the ladies,
"Enjoy
the rest
of
your meal."
To my
surprise,
as I sat
down to
finish
my steak,
a round
of applause
broke
out in
the restaurant.
Not long
after
the ladies
picked
up their
check
and scurried
away,
the manager
brought
me a huge
helping
of apple
cobbler
and ice
cream,
compliments
of the
table
to my
left.
He told
me
that the
ladies
had tried
to pay
for my
dinner,
but someone
had beaten
them to
it. When
I asked
who, he
said the
couple
had already
left,
but
that the
man had
mentioned
he was
a W.W.II
vet and
wanted
to take
care
of the
wife of
one of
our boys.
I turned
to thank
the soldiers
for the
cobbler,
but they
wouldn't
hear
a word
of it,
retorting,
"Thank
you, you
said what
we wanted
to say
but
weren't
allowed."
As I drove
home that
night,
for the
first
time in
while,
I didn't
feel
quite
so alone.
My heart
was filled
with the
warmth
of all
the patrons
who had
stopped
by my
table
to tell
me they
too were
proud
of my
husband
and that
he would
be in
their
prayers.
I knew
their
flags
would
fly a
little
higher
the next
day. Perhaps
they would
look for
tangible
ways
to
show their
pride
in our
country
and our
troops,
and maybe,
just maybe,
the two
ladies
sitting
at that
table
next to
me would
pause
for a
minute
to appreciate
all the
freedom
this great
country
offers
and what
it
costs
to maintain.
As for
me, I
had learned
that one
voice
can make
a
difference.
Maybe
the next
time protesters
gather
outside
the gates
of the
base
where
I live,
I will
proudly
stand
across
the street
with a
sign of
my
own. A
sign that
says "Thank
you!"
Lori Kimble
is a 31
year old
teacher
and proud
military
wife.
She is
a
California
native
currently
living
in Alabama.
A
friend
sent this
to me
and I
sent it
to my
son Chris.
He assked
me to
add it
here for
others
to read.
"As
a soldier
proudly
serving
for his
Country,
Army,
Family,
and Friends
in the
country
of Iraq.
I am proud
to read
all the
remarks
that all
of
you have
written
about
the wonderful
website
my mother
made for
me. I
wish that
I could
hear from
more people
like you
who care
and are
thankful
for what
me and
my fellow
soldiers
are doing
here.
I am proud
of my
Country,
and very
proud
of what
we are
doing
for the
country
of Iraq.
It makes
me happy
to know
that American's
back home
do care
about
us. I
wish that
they would
show American's
like you
on the
news instead
of
the American's
they prefer
to show,
the one's
protesting
what we
are
doing
here.
My mother
sent me
a great
e-mail
that I'm
going
to ask
her to
put on
my web-page.
It almost
brought
a tear
to my
eye. I'm
going
to
put it
at the
bottom
of this
e-mail
for you
all to
read.
I hope
it
touches
your heart
the same
way it
did mine.
Thank
you for
your kind
words.
GOD BLESS
THE USA.
Spc Christopher
M. Ansley
U.S. Army"
Each
time someone
chooses
to express
there
opinion
about
the war
I hope
some one
reminds
them of
all the
brave
men and
women
that serve
there
country
proudly
fighting
to defend
our country
and keep
it free.
I hope
like this
woman
we all
have the
courage
to stand
up and
defend
the soilders
who so
willingly
defend
us.
I'm proud
to be
the mother
of 3 son's
who serve
in the
Armed
Forces.
Spc Alex
Ansley
United States National Guard
Spc Christopher
M. Ansley
U.S. Army
(Iraq)
Spc
John A
Proctor
U.S. Army
(Iraq)
This
story
comes from the
Inspiration List
