Shamelessly appropriated from Sgt Grit's American Courage Newsletter

Sgt Grit's Newsletter is a once a week publication. Lotsa sea stories, funnies, and rants and raves.
This week's newsletter has a letter that really touched this old Marine's heart, and produced a few raindrops on the old windshield.
I don't know how to contact Rhonda Elliott, but if I could I would tell her "Bravo Zulu!"

Dear Sgt. Grit,

I wrote this last week, thinking of mother's day and having one of my children in a strange and faraway land. I had a delivery person come in and ask me who was in the picture on my counter, when I said my son, he asked where he was, when I said Iraq, he said (I kid you not), "That's no place to be, that's not good.

We shouldn't even be there." I then said to him, "Well, HE thinks it is and THAT'S what counts." The guy stayed in my lobby waiting for a ride for another 20 minutes and never said one more word. I just began seething. THIS is what became of my anger. To all the Sgt. Grit readers, please feel free to pass it around to anyone you think might need to read it. It is my creation, I can only hope someone who is feeling like I was that day can gain some strength from the words. Anyone who wishes to use it or pass it on, is more than welcome to.

I am a Marine's Mom

I proudly display my son's picture for all to see it is on the counter where I work, it is the most conspicuous on the wall at home.

I am the woman you see in line at the store who has an American Flag pin, a "My Son is a Marine pin", and a red, white & blue ribbon with the blue service star in the middle.

I am the person driving the car that is in front of you with the magnets that say "Support Our Troops", Proud Parent of a Marine, and a blue service star, a yellow ribbon attached to the top of my antenna.

I am the one with the grocery cart full of cereal bars, beef jerky, flavorings and additives for water, Twizzlers, Jolly Ranchers, and Skittles so my son and his fellow Marine brothers can have a little piece of home while in a strange and far away country.

I am the person you see carrying boxes to the Post Office so my son and his fellow Marine brothers know there are people in the states that support them.

I am the one you see with tears in my eyes whenever "The Star Spangled Banner" is played or sung before a ball game.

I am the one that has tears in my eyes when the Pledge of Allegiance to our flag is said.

When you see my son's picture when you come into my place of business and ask me who it is and where he is, please understand, this is MY SON.

Please do not tell me we shouldn't be there. We are Please do not tell me the latest injury reports, the casualties, bombings and shootings. I know this, it is always in the back of my mind Please do not tell me the war is because of the President. This is my son's boss. I will not speak ill of him for whatever reason Please do not say that's no place to be, my son is there, he's serving our country, he would rather be home safe with his family, but he has a duty Please do not say "I'm sorry", I'M NOT, my son volunteered to protect his country. You should say, "You must be very proud of him."

Please do not tell me you know how I feel, unless you are a military parent, spouse, child, or fiancée, you have NO clue what I feel Please just tell me "Your son is in my prayers." There can never be enough prayers going up for our military or my son or me

I am the Mother of a Marine, this is my daily routine

Mentally calculating the time difference half way around the world. Accepting that my son is now MY protector Reaching across the ocean with my love, hoping my son feels the extra boost In the dead of night, waking up and saying a prayer for his safety and peace of mind Never letting my son see the tears in my eyes or hear the catch in my voice whenever he leaves home or ends a phone call Enduring those moments when I am not as strong as I think I should be

Making it through each day by the grace of God Opting to work extra hours or volunteer more than I used to trying to keep my mind occupied Trying to smile even when I haven't heard from my son for days or weeks on end Holding onto the Marine Corps motto of "Semper Fi", hoping I can keep the faith Every second of every minute of every hour of every day, praying God is with my son and will bring him home to me safely Rejoicing and shouting so all my coworkers know it is my son who is on the telephone.

written by Rhonda Elliott - 05/09/08
PROUD Marine Mom
LCpl Kristopher Hill USMC-deployed