"10,000 miles from home and in a war zone I found perfection..."

If I could, I would force everyone I know -and many I don't know- to read this post by Rusten Currie on a MilBlog (military blog) called Sic Vis Pacem, Para Bellum [if you want peace, prepare for war].

.... March 16, 2005 was the single best day thus far of my time in Iraq.... We waived goodbye and headed further down the road, where we were greeted by about 8 children and their parents. The children were just an absolute joy. They made my month. The little girl in the pics is named Adele, she was the most beautiful little girl in the world to me. Her smile just melted me, and the little guy in the pics with me was just so adorable, he walked up to me and said “Pleased to meet you mister.” He offered me his hand, and well he got the other half of my heart. A picture is worth much more than a thousand words, they are moments in time, real time. Forever captured, in an instant. I will never have my face plastered on Time, or Newsweek. I may never make it into congress, but if there was ever a reason to risk my life on a daily basis, I’d do it to help these children. Not to sound clichéd but these children represent the hope of this new nation. I spent only 30 minutes with them, giving them shoes, backpacks, and candy. But their smiles to me were worth far more than what we gave them, their smiles gave me hope, and once again showed me that life is truly a beautiful and wonderful thing. The smile of a child lifted my spirits to heights I have not felt in months.

The hug from a little Iraqi girl, and boy gave me such a rush of energy, and pride for being here so much love I now have for these children that I ask you to go to whatever church groups you have and beg borrow and take what you have and send them to me so I can give these children what they do not have. Clothes, shoes, book bags, toys, stuffed animals. Wining here takes not only bullets, and tanks, it will be the smiles of the wonderful little people that must inherit what we do in this nation. Little Adele what a gorgeous child, 10,000 miles from home and in a war zone I found perfection in the smile of a child I may never see again.

READ IT ALL, see the photos and read the blogger's "About Me" comments.

May Gd grant this man length of days and years of good life and peace, and keep him from all evil.