I will never say that again...

...that I've got nothing.

Family and friends all lined up.. The first note begins, and all is quiet...

What is war? Well, you could look it up in a dictionary and read the "proper" definition of the word. But it's not just a word; it's a struggle to keep your own life. You can't determine what a war is just by reading a definition. The only way that you can understand a war is if you've actually been there. You can watch videos of reenactments, but it's still not the same. You won't know what a war is until you've seen it through your own eyes. You won't know what a war is until you've heard the sound of a bullet fly past your face. You won't know what a war is until you've smelt the smell of gunpowder and death. You won't know what a war is until you've felt the pain of losing someone you cared about-until you've felt the cool breeze that makes everything seem so right, when it's all wrong. You won't know a war until you've spent nights praying to God that you'd return home to your family...

You've known war when you see those clean sheets that just call your name, and you can't wait to finally rest. You've known war when you still hear the screams of men and women fighting for their freedom, and it just wont go away. You've known war when you can feel the joy of receiving a kiss from a loved one. You've known war when you taste the clean water coming from a real shower. You've known war when you've thanked God for returning you to your family.

You understand war when you see those coffins covered with the American flag that you fought for so honorably. You understand war when you can hear the pain from families of young men and women that gave their lives for freedom. You understand war when you taste the tears falling down your face, and you know that you gave it your all. You understand war when you feel proud to have served your country. You understand war when you feel blessed for all that you have. You understand war when you've asked God that no one has to see what you saw, or do what you did.

The last note sounds. and a twenty-one salute.. Do you understand now?