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A Civilian’s PerspectiveThere are many Americans like us that are proud of the sacrifice and dedication of their armed forces. We are the thankful majority who know that freedom is only for those willing to make a stand for it, regardless of the sacrifice.But there is a small portion that either do not support you enough or at all. Some of them would say what you’re doing is wrong, or even a crime. Some of these hateful, disgraceful “Americans” even encourage attacks against you.In my opinion these people don’t know what freedom really is and don’t deserve it.Sacrifice isn’t just dying for your country…Sacrifice is leaving friends, a spouse and child you love to go fight in a strange, inhospitable land.Sacrifice is getting a cold shower once a week and eating MREs for months straight.Sacrifice is going months without news or getting a letter from home.Sacrifice is working around media who belittle your work and paint you as invaders or worse.Sacrifice is backbreaking work, digging pits for a FOB in 120 heat or –40 below cold.Sacrifice is living in the now 24/7, 365 days a year, trying to live another day.Sacrifice is suiting up each morning knowing well it might be your last.Sacrifice is putting yourself in harms way, not knowing if one of those your sent to protect might be a suicide bomber.Sacrifice is seeing a buddy die by some enemy trick that would get you hanged.Sacrifice is an officer making a tough call that puts these fine men and women under fire.And finally sacrifice is trading someone you love for a neatly folded flag.Sacrifice isn’t just paid by pilots, riflemen, and tank crews.Its quartermasters, maintenance crews, fuel transporters, file clerks, and corpsmen.Its all the jobs no one wants to do but have to be done, regardless of circumstances or danger.It’s the officers that went to West Point so they could defend the freedom of those that call them criminals.It’s the families of those people that have to live without those they love, possibly forever.You are the best trained, best supplied, and best skilled military in the world.This task again has fallen on you as it has our forefathers many times in the past.Know that we have the utmost faith and confidence in that you will triumph as they did.We are truly grateful beyond measure for doing what few have the courage or will to do.We will not let anyone, not the media or armchair generals, drown out our support and respect for you.Be safe friends and make it home to see a heroes welcome and those you left behind.May God lift the sorrow off your hearts and the hearts of your loved ones back home.And open your eyes to future you offer another generation here and there.God bless you and all of America, the beautiful and free.