My Brave Solider On a cool night in the mid of June Sara lie in her bed listening to the crickets chirp outside her window. Sara MacOntosh was 9 years old and lived in New Jersey. She thought about how her life would be without the war in Iraq. Her life would be so much different, so much different . “Gary, I’m home!” yelled Sara from the front door. Gary was Sara’s oldest brother. He was 22 years old. He was also the closest to Sara. Sara also had two other brothers, Greg who was 16, and Calvin who was 18. “ Hey, Sara!” “ How was school today?” said Gary. “Good, you’re taking me to soccer practice right?” said Sara with glee. “Yes I am.“ “So go get ready and we’ll get something on the road,” answered Gary. Later on the night Gary said he wanted to tell Sara something. He was nervous that she would to take it the wrong way. He slowly and gently told Sara. “Well Sara, um well,” Gary said shyly. “What is it Gary?” Sara said so sweetly. “Sara don’t take this the wrong way, but I signed up today to go to war if they need me.” Gary said very quietly. There was total silence for about 5 minutes. Sara sat and looked like she had just saw a ghost. “Come on Sara say something, they might not even call me,” Gary said hopefully. “No! Get out Gary!” “I HATE YOU!” yelled Sara crying and screaming. When Sara’s mother Molly came home she went in to say hello. Gary stopped her. “Mom, Sara has been in there for the last hour sobbing and sobbing. She won’t talk to me or anybody else. “ “It’s because of the war thing, I told you,” Gary said. “Well, I’ll try to talk to her.” “Honey, can I come in?” her mother said. “GO AWAY!” screamed Sara. The next morning Sara was feeling a little better. She talked to Gary and everybody else. She didn’t want to talk about the war though. When Sara got home Gary had to tell her something else. “Sara don’t get mad at me, but I’m going to fight in the war,” Gary said so fast. Sara just sat there and cried and hugged her brother. He was leaving June 28th, two weeks exactly. Sara didn’t want to let him go. It was June 28, and Gary was leaving. Sara cried the whole way to the airport. Gary told Sara to be good and that he loved her always no matter what happened to him. Sara gave him one last squeeze and whispered in his ear..I Love You always and forever no matter what. It has been exactly two years since Gary went off to war. Today when I got home I got the worst news ever. My mom told me Gary had died in a car bombing. That day I cried for the whole night. His wake was going to be in a week. I couldn’t believe my brother has just past away. When we got to the wake, I stared down at Gary. He was so white and pale, and cold like a steak. He was dressed in his uniform. He looked so strong and brave. Before they closed the coffin I gave him a kiss on the cheek. When we were on our way to the burial there were many that followed. The strong brave soldiers carried Gary. Marching, so brave, and with hearts of gold. Gary’s coffin had an American flag on top of him. At the burial I said a little something. Here it is: I look at all these soldiers and think to myself how could they be so strong. I always thought my brother was so brave and was good for the war. But when I heard he signed up I said I hated him. And I wish I never said that. I am so sorry Gary, I really am and I hope you forgive me. Now my heart is missing a part of me. It’s like I don’t know where it is. I feel like screaming and crying right now but I can’t. I feel that if Gary was so strong to have gone to Iraq to save our country then I could be strong for him. I will always LOVE you! While I was in the limo I looked out and watched those brave soldiers do their marches just for my brother Gary. Now I know how brave those soldiers are. Now I am 28 and I still miss my brother. Now my other brother Calvin is in the war. I feel that he is doing the right thing. And all those soldiers have hearts of gold and are so brave to sacrifice their lives just for our country! God Bless America! I now tell my kids about their Uncle Gary how brave he was. They both want to meet him. But I try to explain that he is not with us anymore. He sacrificed his life for America which is so brave. I will always love you forever and always Gary. May you rest in peace Gary Thomas MacOntosh for 19 years.