You don't HAVE to go! to be continued

As I walk the empty stroller against the wave of people attempting to get to the Mall at least - unless they were among the lucky thousands to snag a ticket to get up closer - I encounter many young mostly men in military gear walking about. I make it my mission to attempt to talk with as many as possible.

I approach them with the simple sentence: "Do NOT go to Afghanistan or Iraq".

Most soldiers respond with a resigned "I have no choice, I HAVE to go". Several tell me their deployment dates. My heart wrenches with each encounter.