As we approach 2008, let us be thankful for the important things in 2007. With good comes bad as we all know. Let us be thankful for our families that miss and worry for us every third day. For the great job that we get to do. And the brotherhood that we control the destiny of. Let us welcome the new year with realistic resolutions like "EVERYONE GOES HOME". Make it happen and be true to keeping brothers safe. It all starts with the span of control, right? Usually we have a couple guys assigned to a house so we can make sure that we take care of our brothers within our house.

Here is a little story for all of us to reflect upon.

Once upon a time in a land far away there lived a youg boy who grew up in a home for abandoned children. It seems that at a very young age he was left by his mother when she was sent to prison for doing a crime he didnt understand. He didnt like the home, said everyone was too worried about themselves to pay him any attention. However there was one place he felt at home, there was this giant building down the street from him where men of all colors, races, and religions stayed. It wasnt always the same guys everday, but he knew the ones that were there normally. It was the biggest building that he had ever seen before. At first he would just go inside and look around. Everything was so clean, and polished.

The men inside this building would walk around joking, laughing, and playing tricks on eachother as if they were young brothers looking to out do the other. When it would get late he would go back to his home, unnoticed by the other children in the home.

One day instead of just going in the building and looking around he was approached by one of the men. This man approached the boy and asked, "whats your name kid"? He was too scared to answer this big man. He didnt know if he was in trouble. The man said if he didnt tell him his name that the boys would give him one. Still unsure as to what he should say, he just stood there. The next thing the boy knew, he had all the men from the building standing around him. These men started calling out names for their new friend. As usual they couldnt agree. Then a man with a white shirt walked out to see what was going on. This man then declared the boys name Lucky. Lucky the boy thought, if they only knew how unlucky he really was. The name stuck like glue, everyone called him Lucky.

Finally, the boy found a place to call home, a place to sit, a place where he never left hungry, a place where he truly had friends, and a place that missed him if he wasnt around.

There was just one thing Lucky wondered, why are all of these men here? What did they do with all the big trucks that filled his new home. He was destined to find out.

TO BE CONTINUED....