Don't forget your letter to the troops

Remember a few days ago I asked you guys to help SlagleRock write a letter to the troops for Christmas?

I've submitted my letter.  Here it is:

As my heavier-than-it-needs-to-be rear end sits in a chair at my cushy IT job, I reflect and try, at the very least to wax eloquent at the sacrifices you, the troops, have made for our benefit.

You've been pulled from your homes, your families, your friends.  Many of you were never expecting to be put into the positions in which you now find yourselves - in a foreign country, surrounded by thugs who wish to do you and the country you represent harm, every day facing the very real possibility that your next breath could very well be your last.  Not knowing if you'll ever see those aforementioned friends & family again.

And you're there because three years ago, 3,000 of our (and in some cases, your) friends & family were killed in an unprovoked attacked in New York City.  And in an attempt to bring those responsible to justice and rid this world of those vermin who would do us harm, we sent you to Afghanistan and Iraq and asked you to take 'em out.  And you have.

So while you're sitting there eating your MREs and drinking your cups of coffee while the rest of us gorge our fat asses on turkey, ham and dressing this Christmas season, I would say this to you:

We owe you a debt we can never fully repay.  Mere words cannot express to you how grateful we are to you for these sacrifices you have made on our behalf.

We love you guys, and hope & pray that you come home to us safely.  We miss you, and hope that you come home soon.

Merry Christmas, guys.