I Believe I am a Supporter

I Believe I am a Supporter.

Days after graduation I went to visit an old friend of mine and when I walked into his house I saw that his bags were packed and ready to go. College does not start until the fall, so I was wondering why he was leaving so early. He came downstairs and informed me that he had made the decision for his new chapter in life. My friend, the quiet, shy, funny, caring friend, made the decision to enlist in the Marine Corps and was leaving in a couple of days to go to a military base in California. My one sided liberal mind started spinning with questions and emotions.

Many people say that they are supporters, but I like many others have a personal involvement in this conflict. As I got older and reached the pivotal point of graduating and making a choice, I chose college. On the other hand many of my good friends decided to join the armed forces. I thought to myself “How could they make that kind of decision?” Army, Marines, Air Force, and Navy were all places that my friends enlisted in, friends that I thought would do the same as I did and go to college. I finally understood that my friends had a passion to serve our great country.

I started blaming the government for putting my friend into this situation. I told him “ You don’t have to do this, this isn’t your war to fight!” He turned to me and shrugged and went upstairs to gather more things. When he came down we talked about why he chose this huge task. He felt that he had to keep his family’s legacy alive by joining the armed forces. I finally said, “ I can’t, in all honesty, support this war you are fighting in.” He then said something that changed my perspective on this whole thing. He said, “ You don’t have to support the war, just support me and the ones who fight in it because no matter what situation we will be called to serve.” I sat there stunned because I never saw it that way. We talked about random things and I had to go. I got up, shook a man’s hand and walked out the door with a new look at the conflict. This is why I believe I am a supporter of the troops over seas.

Yes, I can honestly say that I can’t support the war the government enacted, but I can proudly state that the men and woman that fight I support with great passion. I support them because I have a personal attachment to the people that serve and why they serve. They are the bravest and strongest friends I know and they ,no matter what the situation is, will be there to protect and serve. I believe I am a supporter of the troops, and I believe in my friends that made the choice to fight.