by Kobby Obiri-Mainoo

Created on: August 20, 2009   Last Updated: August 21, 2009

So I'm sitting here watching a movie called We were Soldiers. A movie about war and the chaos and destruction that comes with it; the pain, the suffering and the tears that comes with it.

Then I switch the channel and listen to the news, the good, the bad and the ugly. 2 American soldiers died today, 3 American soldiers died yesterday and 5 are expected to die tomorrow. It has become a lullaby that I hear on the news everyday. But what does it mean? What does it really mean?

Well, it means freedom is prevailing. It means truth is prevailing, it means justice is prevailing. It means somewhere out there; American soldiers are giving their lives for the rest of us to enjoy our ways of life. It means somewhere out there an American Soldier is throwing himself on a grenade to save somebody's father. It means somewhere out there an American soldier is carrying somebody's mother to safety risking the possibility of his own demise. It means out there in the desert, a hero is fulfilling a promise. For heroes they are, heroes they have always been but now they are just living up to that promise made to that little girl, to that grandfather, to that husband.

Oh the cries are loud, the screamings are gut wrenching and yet they look on with confidence because they know what they have to protect at home; their daughters, their wives, their husbands, their fathers, their pastors, their everything. To lose on that field that day is not an option. The fight must be fought and the fight must be won. They look up to the skies and mutter quick prayers to the Almighty because today, a miracle needs to happen. For today they cannot rely on their M-16s, for today they cannot rely on their M-60s. They need an intervention, an intervention from the one above.

So on Veteran's day, as I watch Mel Gibson show us how heroes are made, As Joe the reporter turned soldier said to him, Sir, I don't know how to tell this story, Colonel Hal Moore looked at him, tears in his eyes, blood streaking across his face, and he said, Joe, you've got to. Tell the American people how these soldiers died today.

So please, I implore you, on Veterans Day, think of the sons in Iraq. Think of the daughters in Kuwait. Think of the mothers in Afghanistan. Think of the soldiers away from home. Lift them up in prayer and ask the Almighty for their protection. Pray for their safe return and pray for their families but above all, pray for America. Pray that the Lord will protect us and at the end of the day, God truly bless America.

This is a tribute to all my friends in the Military risking their lives to protect yours and mine.

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