I fight because others can’t. I fight because I want my kids and others to be able to grow up with the same freedom I did. So families can live together and have many happy years together with total freedom.
I fight so kids can have those moments with their friends that make life worth living, those same moments I’ve had so often with my friends.
When I look back at my childhood and teenage years, I just hope that everyone could have the friends that I have had, the family I have had, and the love I’ve been shown through the years.
When I was becoming a Marine I wondered why I was doing it. Why I was putting myself through hell, when I could have chosen to be at home hanging with my friends and family?
Then when I think about my friends back home, I remember. When I got letters from elementary schoolers, I remembered. I was doing it so that I could help protect America and its people. So I could fight for what I love and set an example for kids to look up to.
When I walk out in public with my uniform on and have people come shake my hand and say “thank you,” it makes it all worth it.
Yes, I miss my family. Yes, I miss my friends. But someone has to do it. Freedom isn’t free and it never will be and I’ll be happy to help pay for it.
When you go to sleep, sleep in peace because I’m fighting for you. You may not know me and I may not know you, but I’m fighting for your freedom, nonetheless.
Before you fall asleep, just take a minute to pray for all soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines. They are fighting for you.
Don’t just pray for them though; pray for their families, too. Their families are dealing with not having their son or daughter around. Their families are constantly thinking about them and praying for their safety.
Before you go to sleep, pray for their friends, too, because their friends are worrying just as much. They are all worried that they’ll see those men in uniform walking to their front door letting them know that their child, friend, fiancé, brother, sister, wife, husband, dad or mom was killed in combat.
So pray that that doesn’t happen, even though it will. But that’s just the cost of freedom. And just know that those heroes died for you to be free. They died for what they loved. They died for you and your family to be safe.
So sleep in peace because you’re in good hands. Just don’t take a second of what you’ve got for granted.
I fight so others don’t have to. I fight because I want to. I fight so that America will always be the free country I’ve known since I was born. I fight because I love you and want to protect you.
Pfc. Chris Niemira, a native of Cumming, serves in the U.S. Marine Corps at Camp Lejeune, N.C., in an amphibious assault unit.
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