So God Made A Veteran © 2013, Karla Dorman

And on the 10th day ... God looked down on his planned Paradise and said, 'I need a hero' ... so God made a Veteran.

God said, 'I need somebody willing to get up before dawn, to work all day and long into the night, eat supper if there is time and do it all over again the next day.  And the next.'  On call twenty four seven.  So God made a Veteran.

He needed somebody with arms strong enough to carry Freedom on their back and yet gentle enough to hold an enemy's child; someone who is willing to serve their Nation without expecting a reward upon their return; someone who will stand straight and tall in the rage of war; someone who looks fear in the face and does it anyway even though it goes against everything they believe in, even though it gives them nightmares for years to come ... so God made a Veteran.

God said, 'I need someone willing to sit up with a wounded soldier, and watch him or her die, then dry their eyes and say, 'No one left behind.'  I need somebody who will put others' needs above their own, who carries on while their family cries and prayers back home; someone who gives 110 per cent of themselves even when others protest and spit on them and call them names.'  So God made a Veteran.

God had to have someone who will march until they can march no more, and, with legs screaming for relief, pushes on until their duty is done.  He needed someone who swore to protect the Constitution against all enemies; who sweats, who fights, who bleeds, who dies, believing in God, country and Freedom, just because they feel it is right.  So God made a Veteran.

And God saw that it was good, when He saw chests swell with pride and old eyes fill with tears, when He heard the sons and daughters, mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters of the Veteran say, 'I want to be just like you.  Thank you.'

And that's why God made a Veteran.