A Soldier Is Born ****

[Raggedy Ann]

A Soldier Is Born ****

I sit in remembrance of that one important day
When I decided my life would be the military way
I patiently set and took a battering of tests
Striving for perfection, always giving it my best

Finally time came for me to take the oath and raise my right hand
And there among others, obscured, I did stand
Then I was off to learn soldiering first hand
And soon, in front of this bear of a man, I did stand

He put us into a group and told us which way to turn
How to move as a group, he said that we would surely learn
Assigning us to rooms, filled with seven others
Telling us to get along and consider each brothers

In the dark of the morning we were made to wake
How much of this can one person be expected to take
To the exercise field we would go for physical training
Returning, after time, with all of our muscles aching

Then it is off to the Mess Hall, they make sure you are fed
Eating some of this food, pounds you could surely shed
Off you would go to the rifle and grenade range
With all the equipment you surely feel strange

Train, train, train the whole day through
Then right back the next day and do it again too
Some, among us would crack, and beg to be sent home
As this life was not for all, but for the rest, the end would come

Finally the training is over, "YES", it is done
We had survived eight long weeks of what they called fun
Now finally one last test we all must take
We are all hoping that passing grades we will make

Now we are standing proud in our Dress Green uniform
The same, that one's before us, proudly had worn
Now we pass in review in one big parade
As defenders of our country these trainers have made

We now can all stand in front of you proud and tall
Knowing that we had given it our all
Now when our country calls we are ready to defend
As what we stand for, we'll defend this to the end
I hope that others that came after me and took the same road
Will honorably stand and help share the load
As this country won't be the same if we don't stand to protect
And anyone's other forces we don't reject

Now I thank the ones before me for all they have done
Courageous battles they fought and the many they won
Now as I look back, quite a bit older
I can only say "I am proud to have been a soldier"

[Boats]

Once more Ann - the words are all inspiring let's hope a day comes where we won't need these folks to put their lives on the line - but it won't be in my lifetime. I'm thankful for such young folks who step forward to make a commitment to our Countries welfare. Not many do - many more could - but I don't know what they don't. Those who serve are special folks and they have my respect and support each time they put on that uniform and walk that walk. I salute them all and pray for their safety.