Veterans - A Comparison

We have all heard of the Band of Brothers and the bond that is formed between men and women who have served together defending our country.

There is also a certain difference between civilian friends and friends who are veterans. Here are just a few comparisons:  

Civilian Friends:  Tend to get upset if you are to busy to talk to them for a week. 

Veteran Friends:  Are glad to see you after years, and will happily carry on the same conversation you were having the last time you met.

Civilian Friends:   Have never seen you cry.

Veteran Friends:  Have cried with you.

Civilian Friends:   Know a few things about you.

Veteran Friends:  Could write a book with direct quotes from you.

Civilian Friends:   Are for a while.

Veteran Friends:  Are for life.

Civilian Friends:   Have shared a few experiences.

Veteran Friends:  Have shared a lifetime of experience no civilian could ever dream of ...

Civilian Friends:   Will take your drink away when they think you've enough.

Veteran Friends:  Will look at you stumbling all over the place and say: "You better drink the rest of that before you spill it." Then carry you home safely and put you to bed.

A veteran is someone, who at some point in their life, wrote a blank check made payable to The United States of America for an amount of "up to and including my life." ... And military families are as much a veteran as their spouse, father, son, daughter, brother or sister.