A Fight Worthwhile

I have no real memory of my Dad. He died months before I was even born. I’m proud of who he was, but I’m still very sad. Most days, the feelings in my heart are really torn. It’s pretty hard growing up without a father, And not having him around when you really need him. Some days I’d cry, and didn’t want to be bothered. The light at the end of the tunnel seemed kind of dim. Things were rough, but I had the love of my mother. She taught me what it meant to really sacrifice. Some years were much harder to get through than others, But we stuck together, made a choice, and rolled the dice. My father, along with all the men in his unit, Had made a promise to each other when they deployed. If any one of them should somehow not make it, The rest would help watch over their little girls and boys. They also vowed to watch over any widowed wife, And be there for them as an extended family. Most of those men were a huge influence in my life. I am forever grateful that they were there for me. The bond that those men have is something to treasure. They lay their lives on the line for a worthwhile fight. The freedoms they give are impossible to measure. That’s why, for me, enlisting at eighteen is right.