This letter should have been written a long time ago. I apologize that it took me so many years to finally get to it.

I wanted to let you know that I'm sorry for all the pain the War has put you through. I'm sorry that you went over there with so many friends & came home with only a few or even alone.

I'm also sorry that when you returned home, that people spit on you & called you names. That a parent might have asked you why you came home & their son didn't, or even your own parents turned you away.

I'm sorry you spent all those days and nights over there, representing a country that treated you like crap during & after the War. That you had to watch friends die right before your eyes, or even in your arms.

I'm sorry you spent long nights awake, sometimes crying, over memories that you can't seem to forget. I forgive you for the nights you may have paid more attention to a bottle than to me.

I'm sorry if Mom left you because she couldn't handle it, & I love her if she stayed & stood by you.

But there is something I am not sorry for...

And that is being your child. Your flesh & blood. I am proud of you because you did something that not everyone had the guts to do. I don't care what you might have done while you were over there, because I understand. You stood up for total strangers in a world torn by hate & violence. And I love you for that. I love you for being my father! Thank you.

Love,

Your Child

********
This letter is not geared towards a certain Dad/stepdad...I wrote it because any of us out there could have (: written by Dina and Sarah

********