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A Jedi's prayer for soldiers
Lt. Commander Isaacs had been living in Arestul's penthouse over the past few weeks but had been able to find and move into one of his own, so Caltin was repaying a favor and made a stop by Telos to make sure that the cleaners had done a good job. Of course he didn't really need to do much else and had the rest of the day to himself, so he decided to stop by the New Republic Base and look around. This was a day of remembrance for those on Coruscant for their guard, why not do something like that here?
So with that the massive Jedi Master walked around the base, shaking hands and offering gratitude to stunned officers, sailors and pilots. After all it's not everyday a Jedi would come and thank you for your service, right? When he reached the memorial spot set up once by his brother n law he dropped to one knee. He was reading many of the letters, the transcripts, everything. Then he saw two teenagers who were trying to sneak away from what looked to be their family. They didn't look like bad kids, just ones who seemed to be bored.
"Why do we even have to be here, I didn't even know him."
"Me neither."
"I mean no disrespect... he died... soldiers die."
Then Caltin rose to his feet, he saw the chain on the neck of one of them, it was an emblem of a religion. Immediately the two kids turned to notice him, recognizing by the clothes who he looked to be.
You're religious? There is a poem my father once told me...
The soldier stood and faced his God Which must always come to pass...
He hoped his shoes were shining Just as brightly as his brass.
"Step forward now, you soldier, How shall I deal with you?
Have you always turned the other cheek? To My Church have you been true?"
The soldier squared his shoulders and Said,"No, Lord, I guess I ain't...
Because those of us who carry guns Can't always be a saint.
I've had to work most Sundays And at times my talk was tough,
And sometimes I've been violent, Because the streets are awfully tough.
But, I never took a penny That wasn't mine to keep...
Though I worked a lot of overtime When the bills got just too steep,
And I never passed a cry for help, Though at times I shook with fear,
And sometimes, God forgive me, I've wept unmanly tears.
I know I don't deserve a place Among the people here...
They never wanted me around Except to calm their fears.
If you've a place for me here, Lord, It needn't be so grand,
I never expected or had too much, But if you don't, I'll understand."
There was a silence all around the throne Where the saints had often trod...
As the soldier waited quietly, For the judgment of his God,
"Step forward now you soldier,
You've bore your burdens well,
Now come stand with my honor guard,
You've done your time in Hell."
"That's neat and all, but what does it have to do with us?"
The other one felt a little emboldened by that claim. "Yeah, no disrespect, but you're a Jedi... you're a hero... anyone can be a soldier."
Caltin just smiled and pointed at the teenager. Exactly, sure not everyone can be a Jedi, because not everyone is connected to the Force in the level that we are. However I will tell you that the thought of someone serving a government, a planet, an ideal that is so important that they are willing to give their life? That's something heroic to me, and I will tell you there have been enough soldiers, marines and sailors, as well as pilots that have pulled my fat out of the fryer. including the man you are avoiding seeing, that I have nothing but respect for each and every person who takes the commitment of the uniform so seriously that they
would willingly do this.
Okay, that caught the both of them, and maybe a couple of others. "Okay, that is something I didn't expect, a Jedi respecting soldiers as equals?"
Caltin just shrugged. We have the Force, we're expected to do what we do. Each and every person, be it here... he said pointing out everywhere around... or here... he said pointing inside the memorial has to do the same without it. You tell me who is more heroic.
So with that the massive Jedi Master walked around the base, shaking hands and offering gratitude to stunned officers, sailors and pilots. After all it's not everyday a Jedi would come and thank you for your service, right? When he reached the memorial spot set up once by his brother n law he dropped to one knee. He was reading many of the letters, the transcripts, everything. Then he saw two teenagers who were trying to sneak away from what looked to be their family. They didn't look like bad kids, just ones who seemed to be bored.
"Why do we even have to be here, I didn't even know him."
"Me neither."
"I mean no disrespect... he died... soldiers die."
Then Caltin rose to his feet, he saw the chain on the neck of one of them, it was an emblem of a religion. Immediately the two kids turned to notice him, recognizing by the clothes who he looked to be.
You're religious? There is a poem my father once told me...
The soldier stood and faced his God Which must always come to pass...
He hoped his shoes were shining Just as brightly as his brass.
"Step forward now, you soldier, How shall I deal with you?
Have you always turned the other cheek? To My Church have you been true?"
The soldier squared his shoulders and Said,"No, Lord, I guess I ain't...
Because those of us who carry guns Can't always be a saint.
I've had to work most Sundays And at times my talk was tough,
And sometimes I've been violent, Because the streets are awfully tough.
But, I never took a penny That wasn't mine to keep...
Though I worked a lot of overtime When the bills got just too steep,
And I never passed a cry for help, Though at times I shook with fear,
And sometimes, God forgive me, I've wept unmanly tears.
I know I don't deserve a place Among the people here...
They never wanted me around Except to calm their fears.
If you've a place for me here, Lord, It needn't be so grand,
I never expected or had too much, But if you don't, I'll understand."
There was a silence all around the throne Where the saints had often trod...
As the soldier waited quietly, For the judgment of his God,
"Step forward now you soldier,
You've bore your burdens well,
Now come stand with my honor guard,
You've done your time in Hell."
"That's neat and all, but what does it have to do with us?"
The other one felt a little emboldened by that claim. "Yeah, no disrespect, but you're a Jedi... you're a hero... anyone can be a soldier."
Caltin just smiled and pointed at the teenager. Exactly, sure not everyone can be a Jedi, because not everyone is connected to the Force in the level that we are. However I will tell you that the thought of someone serving a government, a planet, an ideal that is so important that they are willing to give their life? That's something heroic to me, and I will tell you there have been enough soldiers, marines and sailors, as well as pilots that have pulled my fat out of the fryer. including the man you are avoiding seeing, that I have nothing but respect for each and every person who takes the commitment of the uniform so seriously that they
would willingly do this.
Okay, that caught the both of them, and maybe a couple of others. "Okay, that is something I didn't expect, a Jedi respecting soldiers as equals?"
Caltin just shrugged. We have the Force, we're expected to do what we do. Each and every person, be it here... he said pointing out everywhere around... or here... he said pointing inside the memorial has to do the same without it. You tell me who is more heroic.
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