The Perimeter, as defined by the military, is defended by a circle of men. It may be guarded by  a squad, a platoon or a company. One half is on guard, staying vigilant, keeping an eye out for the enemy, while the other half rests & sleeps. They are more than just men; they are a Warrior brotherhood, looking out for each other.

They share their plans, dreams and hopes with each other. In hard times they share their sadness, fears and pain. They face the enemy together, like brothers, others like fathers and sons, but always as true friends. They find a spirit in each other than binds them together in a bond that lasts forever.

As time passes, they will leave the service and each other. They will travel many different paths of life, some to prosper well and others not so well. Somewhere in life's later travels, these men may find themselves feeling alone and kind of lost in the world, and start a search for something; something they can't even clearly define or know for sure that it exists. They are not soldiers anymore, they are Veterans.

Somehow, in their search, they once again find others like themselves. They find brothers of the past, brothers of the Perimeter, that circle of safety, where someone else shares their pain, their confusion and their fear. That Perimeter where that fear is eased, where there is less confusion. Again, they are able to share each other's pain in stories, in tears and in silence. Inside the Perimeter, eye contact can say it all. This Perimeter is a circle of life and a circle of death; it is a circle of wounded warriors, some with wounds of flesh and some of spirit. This Perimeter is a circle of steel that, even with the passage of time has never broken. It is a circle of Warriors that knows no color, no creed and no religious ground. The circle will last forever, through the best of times and the worst of times.

The Perimeter is a place Warriors will always seek - even for eternity. Just gaze out at our national cemeteries. For out there, on the outer edge, ever so vigilant, are those on the Perimeter.