The Marine

Received this from Bill Tolbert:

Good evening friends,

Here is another message I wish to share with all of you.  It is unusual getting back to back messages such as these in such a short period.  Nancy Harvey was married to a World War II veteran who passed away not too long ago.  Ann and I were blessed to be able to attend his funeral and interment.  Thank you, Nancy, for forwarding this touching poem and letter to me.  You are correct.  Our two messages must have crossed paths during transmission.

How blessed we are to be citizens in a nation like ours where we have thousand and thousands of young men and women who are so fiercely patriotic in their feelings about their country.  I believe this bodes well for us as a nation and our ability, with God's help, to resist the enemy who wants to bring about our destruction.  Let us all continue to thank and praise God for all the bounteous blessings He showers down on us continuously.

This is a poem being sent from a Marine

to his Dad.

For those who take the time

to read it, you'll see a letter from him to

his dad at the bottom.  It

makes you truly thankful for

not only the Marines, but

ALL of our troops.

THE

MARINE

 

We all came together,

Both young and old

To fight for our freedom,

To stand and be bold.

 

In the midst of all evil,

We stand our ground,

And we protect our country

From all terror around.

 

Peace and not war,

Is what some people say.

But I'll give my life,

So you can live the American way

 

I give you the right

To talk of your peace.

To stand in your groups,

and protest in our streets.

 

But still I fight on,

I don't fuss, I don't whine.

I'm just one of the people!

Who is doing your time.

 

I'm harder than nails,

Stronger than any machine.

I'm the immortal soldier,

I'm a U.S. MARINE!

 

So stand in my shoes,

And leave from your home.

Fight for the people who hate you,

With the protests they've shown.

Fight for the stranger,

Fight for the young.

So they all may have,

The greatest freedom you've won

 

Fight for the sick,

Fight for the poor

Fight for the cripple,

Who lives next door.

 

But when your time comes,

Do what I've done.

For if you stand up for freedom,

You'll stand when the fight's done

 

By: Corporal

Aaron M. Gilbert, US Marine Corps

USS SAIPAN, PERSIAN GULF

 

Hey Dad,

Do me a favor and label this 'The Marine' and send it

to everybody on your email list.. Even

leave this letter in it.

I want this rolling all over the US ;

I want every home reading it. Every eye seeing it.

And every heart to feel it. So can you please send this for me? I

would but my email time isn't that long and

I don 't have much time anyway.

You know what Dad?

I wondered what it would be like to truly

understand what JFK said in His inaugural speech. 'When the time comes

to lay down my life for my

country, I do not cower from this responsibility. I

welcome it.'

Well, now I know.  And I do.  Dad, I welcome the opportunity to do

what I do.

Even though I have left behind a beautiful wife, and I will miss the

birth of our first born child, I would do it 70 times over to fight for

the place that God has made for my home.

I love you all and I miss you very much.

I wish I could be there when Sandi has our

baby, but tell her that I love her, and Lord willing, I

will be coming home soon. Give Mom a great big hug from me and give one

to yourself too.

Aaron