[Boats]

The Call to Duty

A call to duty is sent out
And the strong and the brave reply.
They do it for love of country,
So there's never a need to ask why.

They leave behind all that they love,
Their families, their homes and their lives,
Because to preserve these precious things
Is the goal for which each soldier strives.

So God bless our troops,
The courageous women and men,
Who fight to make sure
The bells of freedom peal again.

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How Do You Measure a Soldier's Sacrifice?

Female soldier; Copyright Elliot Burlingham at Dreamstime.com
How do you measure a soldier's sacrifice?
Is it by the number of friends and family left behind?
Is it by the months or years given in service?

How do you measure a soldier's courage?
Is it by the number of objectives completed,
Or by the number of bullets dodged or missions served?

How do you measure a soldier's honor?
Is it by the duty he or she volunteers for,
Or by the number of medals earned?

The simple truth is that these things are immeasurable,
As is this country's debt to all who serve,
And pay the price for freedom in this land.

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Tell Their Stories

Soldiers have died in distant lands,
Far from their homes and loving hands.
Tell their stories.

Troops missing in action and never returned,
Their ultimate destinies not yet learned.
Tell their stories.

Warriors come home with troubled minds,
Atrocities witnessed not quite left behind.
Tell their stories.

The rest return and pick up everyday lives,
As husbands and fathers, mothers and wives,
Tell their stories.

All our soldiers brave, strong and true,
If you want to honor them, here's what you do:
Tell their stories

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One Master

I signed a contract with the state
to use my body as they will.
My mind they did manipulate.
In the name of freedom, I would kill.

I never questioned right or wrong.
Obeyed all orders without thought.
I strove to be Army strong.
My loyalty and heart were bought.

The flag I served flew overhead.
My uniform bespoke my pride.
A true soldier born and bred,
I marched on while others died.

As time went on, before my eyes,
I saw a different point of view.
I prayed to God my soul baptize,
wash clean my sins, be born anew.

I threw down my master's glove.
I left the life of blood and sword.
My orders still come from above,
but now I serve the Lord.

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My Country 'Tis of Thee

You, my homeland
Are of a beauty unrivaled
From one coast to the other
Your plains and rolling hills and pointy peaks
Cry to the heavens of freedom
Your jagged coasts and sandy keys
Offer the arms of welcome and opportunity to the world
And teem with the gifts of the oceans
Lakes and rivers and streams
Born with purity in the snow-crusted mountains
Are the lifeblood of the people
Bubbling with earth's finest bounty
And carrying the breath of all creation on their backs
From cities bulging with people
To a wilderness, untouched and untamed
You are the envy of the earth
And the bosom of liberty
America.

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I live here
In the United States
Yes, I'm proud
Proud of where I live

Blessed to have been born in a place
Where I can chase a dream
Where I can speak my mind without fear of punishment or death
Worship, (or not), in the way I choose

Get healthcare, schooling, and assistance in a number of ways
Learn to drive and get a license when I reached 15
Vote at age 18 in a democratic process
And follow the interests I decide on, freely

These are extraordinary things
When you think of the restrictions
Of much of the rest of the world
I was taught from an early age not to take these things for granted

And that many of my opportunities and rights
Had been paid and fought for
By the energies and lives of our people in military service
I'm thankful for that

Whatever others may say, to me this is the greatest country
We are usually the first to be called upon
When another country needs help
And usually the first to respond, in any way we can

But we are also the largest target
And take much of the blame for negative things that happen
No matter where it is
And yes, that bothers me.

There IS no perfect place, and certainly not this
But it is a land of freedom and opportunity
And people move here from all over the world for those reasons
I was blessed to be born when I was -

When a kid could go for a walk and not end up on a milk carton
But I was even MORE blessed to be born WHERE I was
And I thank the heavens every day
That I am an American.


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I found these and thought they were good enough to post.

Boats