The Soldiers Story
It was hot May night, the shells had stopped for the night allowing the soldiers to nestle down and rest their weary muscles and bones. As they set about making ready for bed, two soldiers stood guard on the perimeter. When about midnight, the place was quiet, they checked their duties and settled in for the night.
In the middle of the camp stood a lonely flagpole, the flag gently swayed with the colors of the red, white and blue. The stars were a bit dulled out, there were some tares here and there revealing how much battle that little flag had seen recently.
The watchman to the north looked out over the lands surrounding them, when a little noise came to his ears making him stand at the ready. When he called, "Who's there?!" in a hoarse little whisper, a tiny little figure came into view.
A child, dirty and ragged, came to the soldier's eyes. But the soldier was wary, he asked, "Little boy, what are you doing out so late, why are you here?" The little boy stared at the soldier but said nothing. After a few minutes of silence, the soldier came cautiously over to the little child, ready for anything the child may do.
Finally the boy put his hand up to his lips, "Quiet, or they will hear." He said in broken English. This gave the soldier pause, looking around, he saw no one in sight, so he asked again, "What are you doing out so late, why are you here?" This time the boy hung his head.
"I came to meet you, for I was always told how brave the American Soldiers were, I had to see for myself. But you are just ordinary men, nothing spectacular, look," The boy pointed towards the tattered and ragged old flag on the pole in the middle of the camp. "Even your flag is torn and old. Nothing I have seen makes me believe the stories I've heard about you." The soldier gave the boy a look of sadness, but quickly took the boy by the shoulder, kneeling to the child's level and spoke carefully.
"Little boy, you see us here in this camp, battered and worn," The soldier began, "because we are at war. You are right that our flag is tattered," He gestured towards the flag, "but it is still flying. This flag, my country, I will always stand and fight for. Because," He said with a half smile, "I too have family I wish to protect and whom I love." At this boy shook his head, "But sir, your own country, it is not so great anymore, it has caused much harm to my home."
The soldier pulled the boy closer, looking him in the eyes. "True, your nation is battered by mine; true too that my nation is not what it once was. However, that matters not." This surprised the boy, who looked stunned and shocked by the soldiers remark. "Why does it not matter?" The boy asked.
The soldier smiled, "Because, my country is still the bravest, greatest, most free country of them all. As long as I have people whom I love within the heart of her," The soldier stood up and pointed to the flag pole, "and wherever Old Glory flies - battered or not - I will always answer the call to arms. I will fight for my rights, freedoms, my loves." With that the soldier returned to his duties leaving the boy to ponder what he had just told him.
The next day the soldier was killed in a cross fire. After the battle, when the dead were being collected and cleared, the boy came to the soldiers platoon. He held in his small hands a paper medal and an american flag. Without a word, the soldier's comrades watched the little boy place these two things in the soldiers pocket on his shirt, then salute in the American way.
When a soldier came and asked the boy why he had done this, the boy said through his tears, "Because he loved me enough to die for me."
Written by: Kathryn D. Freeman
** I have the original copy do not reproduce or copy thank you :) **
Happy memorial day to you all. Veterans and Current soldiers THANK YOU!
UPDATE:
I have a job at RadioShack now. I am also going to be looking for a second job, along with going to school in the fall :) God willing that is!!!
I've got a lot to do, well, good night. May God's grace shine upon you as you walk through life - may His peace go with you wherever you go, God bless.
