Jefferson Review

TO ALL OUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS, PLEASE PASS THIS LETTER ON TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW, AND ASK THEM TO DO THE SAME. WE FEEL THAT IT IS IMPORTANT FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE TO KNOW HOW OUR SERVICE PERSONAL FEEL ABOUT ABOUT THEIR COMMITMENT TO THIS WAR ON VETERANS DAY. SGT. JOE'S PARENTS

My name is Joseph L. Maupai and I am a Sergeant in the United States Marine Corps. I am a native of Belmar, NJ and currently forward deployed to Al Asad, Iraq. This is my third deployment in support of the War on Terror, finding myself back to Iraq and away from my family and loved ones for yet another holiday. Veterans Day this year, like so may others, still remains a special day, even in the dust and sand of war torn Iraq. Out here there are no bands playing the National Anthem for us to hear, no American or POW/MIA flags hanging proudly in front of houses for us to admire with pride.

For a majority of the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines,and Coast Guard personal deployed to places like Iraq or Afghanistan, we see the insides of vehicles while on another long convoy, the inside of a fighter aircraft while on another mission, or the streets of a city while on another patrol. Instead of applause or fanfare, we hear the sounds of gunfire, the explosions of motor rounds, rockets or IEDs that are loud enough to shake the hearts of our countries bravest. Instead of the flags, we admire the courage of infantrymen staying in the firefights, the corpsmen dodging bullets to save a wounded comrade, and the airmen racing to re-supply or protect the groundtroops.

For all the differences between home and here, the sense of pride stays the same. Despite the lack of attention that so many in the media give us, we are still remembered where it counts, and continue to defend the freedoms we were born with and help those fighting to achieve the same. What makes Veterans Day special is the love and thoughts of those back home.. It is the emotional and thought out cards and letters reminding us that we are loved and missed sent by our wives/husbands, girlfriends/boyfriends, children, family, friends, and even complete strangers. It is the care packages received from people we've never even met who took the time to remember us and remind us that we are appreciated. It is standing by men and women who don't speak the same language as we do, sharing pictures of loved ones or small snacks, being amazed at the dedication, pride, and courage they show desperat! ely trying to unite their fellow countrymen and safely govern themselves without fear of tyranny or oppression.

Veterans Day is still about remembrance. When battles are over and the deployments are finished, we as members of the armed Forces of the United States of America can look back and silently remember that we were instrumental in freeing an oppressed people or punishing those who murdered the innocent on September 11th. We can remember that we did not tire, did not falter, did not fail. We have helped a country enjoy the same sense of freedom and liberty we have enjoyed for 230 years, something that would not feel the same if it could not be shared by those wanting it. We stand next to the veterans of WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Lebanon, Grenada, Desert Storm/Desert Shield, Haiti, Bosnia and so many other places where we were asked to preserve freedom. Our hearts will shed the same tears at the sound of "Taps" over the loss of fallen brothers and sisters who paid the greatest of sacrifices to save our lives or the l! ives of those we were there to aid.

Veterans Day to us will not be a day where we feel special just because our fellow Americans remember us. It will be a day to remember that we were given the opportunity to help others feel like Americans. It is the day to remember that we were blessed with the honor to serve and protect the greatest country in the world no matter where or when served. It is to remember that we had the pleasure to defend the same freedoms given to us by our forefathers, the men and women who united under one common goal; to create a country free from tyranny and oppression, where all men (and women) under God are created equal and should be given the right to enjoy life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Veterans Day to me ... is when you remember just how lucky you were to be given the right to truly live free.

	Jefferson Review
	"Your Liberty is Our Interest"	November 14, 2005
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