Thank You Veterans!

November 11, 2009

The memorial service yesterday at Ft. Hood makes today’s celebration a bit more somber, more poignant than previous Veteran’s Days.  My first post was Fort Hood with the 2^nd Armored Division.  It is where I learned to be a soldier – a tanker.  I learned what tanks could do when they work as a team and what it means to be my brother’s keeper.

That is what being a soldier is about: a teammate; a comrade; a brotherhood.  The speech made by a German officer to his troops in front of Maj. Winters at the end of WWII is the best explanation of what it means to be a soldier: “We Band of Brothers…”.  No truer words I know of can be said of what it means to be a soldier and share the experiences together.  No words can adequately explain what this means when friends or family ask.  It must be experienced to be understood.

To those of you I served with in the 2^nd AD at Ft. Hood and 1^st AD in Erlangen, Germany: “Thank you for your service.  Thank you for your friendship.  Thank you for being my Brother.”

My grandfather performed convoy escort duty on a destroyer in the Atlantic during WWII.  My dad served in Korea.  My father-in-law flew “the Hump” in WWII.  My wife’s grandfather served in the trenches in WWI and was gassed by the Germans.  I served in the Cold War near the Czechoslovakian border.  My son served two tours in Iraq.  I am blessed to have so many Patriots in my family and doubly blessed that all who have served in the last 109 years came home to family and friends.

I consider it an honor to be counted among those who have written a blank check to my country and am humbled by those whose check was cashed and now rest in honored memory in graveyards around the world.

Veterans of WWII have been called “the Greatest Generation”, and rightly so; however, I submit that all who serve and have served since September 11^th, 2001, are themselves a legacy because each and every one of them volunteered to serve; to voluntarily go into Harm’s Way.  They are the newest “Greatest Generation”.  These young men and women answered the call to God, Country, and Duty when they could have simply said “not me, it’s not my job.”

Though the words “Thank You” do not seem to be adequate, they do, somehow, convey a deeper meaning to Veterans.  Thank you tells them, “Yes, my sacrifice was worth it.  My Country, Constitution, Freedoms, and Liberties live on.  My family is safe and secure because men and women of principle made the defense of our nation and its ideals their personal responsibility.”

May God bless our Veterans, their families, and the United States of America.

A Warrior’s Homecoming

October 27, 2009

My wife and I received a much anticipated e-mail on Monday, October 19, from our son, Luke, informing us of his stateside arrival!  We had been waiting for this announcement for quite some time, as I explained in my “9/11” blog this past September 11^th.  His call to us in August informing us of his arrival in Germany, and his leaving Iraq for the last time lifted a tremendous weight from our shoulders.

No longer would we dread the sound of a car driving slowly around our cul-de-sac late at night; No longer would the sight of a dark colored official looking sedan passing our front window cause our hearts to skip a beat; No longer would we hold our breath praying we would not find a car parked in front of our house when we turned the corner into our neighborhood after returning from running errands!

Our thoughts then turned to wondering who would be returning to us.  Would Luke be haunted by his experiences in Iraq or would he somewhat resemble the 19 year old we dropped off at MEPPS in September ’03?  Does he have PTSD – How could he not?  Would he move about like he was still in a combat zone with a “thousand yard stare”, or learn to relax and once again become “our Luke”?

The welcome home sign we made and took to DIA received mixed reviews from the passing public.  We were pleased with the mostly positive reactions.  A number of Veterans from WWII, Korea, Vietnam, 1^st Gulf War, and the current wars stopped by or signaled their support.  It was quite moving.  40 minutes of impatiently waiting turned to joy when Luke appeared at the top of the escalator!  Tears flowed as son embraced Mother and then Dad.  The sound of applause came from behind us – seems some folks who had seen our sign decided to wait and watch our reunion and show their appreciation.  It was very humbling and very moving and for those that rendered honors to our son, we thank you!

How many times has this scene been repeated?  How many Mothers have waited for a son’s return from Harm’s Way?  How many Dads waited stoically to shake their son’s hand and tell him “Well Done and Welcome Home”?  How many, like me, wept unashamedly at first sight of their son returning as a Warrior and could not wait to hold him in my arms and know he is alive and home?

Well Done, Son!  Welcome Home!  Daddy loves you!