All of this for You, and You Forget

Thanksgiving
What are you thankful for?
Your family? Friends? Your job?

But, does it even occur to you that not everyone is home to share this joyous time with THEIR family and friends?
That there are men and women thousands of miles away from home fighting so that YOU can live in luxury?
That they get shot at and take the chance of stepping on IED's everyday so that YOU can live the way that you want?

No, it's not likely that you do.
It's alright though...

Eat your food. Be a glutton.
Buy all the unnecessary itens that you want.
That 67" TV your watching the football game on.
The surround sound carefully placed throughout your home, filling your ears with what you want to hear.
The turkey dinner that spreads a sweet aroma within your house.

It's alright though...

While you see that football game on your glorious TV, I only see death, destruction, and a living nightmare.
My brothers shot and blown up daily, watching their blood spill and linger on the dust covered ground.

While you hear the beauty coming from your surround sound, I hear gun shots.
I hear the explosion of my brother stepping on that intentionally implaced IED not 40m infront of me.
I hear screaming, pain, and agony.
I hear the cries of my brother as he slowly fades away as I hold his body close to mine, telling him everything will be okay.
But it won't be okay.

Are you proud of what you hear?
I'm not, but it's for you...

As you smell the delectable basking turkey dinner, I smell smoldering flesh.
Sulfur from my recently expended rounds.
The stench of my brother's ripped intestines protruding from his stomach.
I smell death.

All of this for you.

So, by all means.
Eat until you're full. I don't even have food.
Watch your wonderful game. I can't remember the last time I saw something wonderful.
Listen to your amazing surround sound. I never hear anything amazing.

But it's alright...
I do this for you...
And you forget...
Freedom doesn't come free, it's paid for with the blood of my brothers...