It’s July. Families embark on summer
vacations at crowded beaches up and down the coast before the kids go back to
school. Picnics precede fireworks
displays in celebration of Independence Day. I’m delegated the cake server at a deployment
party for National Guard troops leaving in September. Bright eyes, witty smiles and camaraderie among
military friends and families characterize the day. Everyone throws down on barbecue sandwiches and
corn on the cob.
Pets are welcome and one dog in particular, a loyal Pitbull named Onyx,
paces nervously each time his military mom is out of sight. I already feel sorry for him for when his mom
deploys in two months.
It’s August. Students endure
first-day-of-school pictures taken by weepy mothers who swear their kids are
growing up too fast. Soccer fans have a
pretty good idea what teams will be playing in the championship games. Locals are eager to see how their school
football teams will do. Parents who will
soon leave to serve their country in another part of the world won’t be in the bleachers
at the end of soccer season and wouldn’t miss their child’s pre-season football
scrimmage for anything.
The Nomads of the Pennsylvania Army National Guard 104th
Aviation Regiment wind down the deployment training they’ve been participating
in for the last year. As civilians
counted down the last seconds of December in 2018 and rang in the new year,
members of the 104th kept their own countdown.
It’s September. The contrast of the good-timing friends at the
deployment party in July and their faces now displaying telltale signs of
sleepless nights and wearisome farewells remind me of a picture I once saw of
Abraham Lincoln comparing his age progression before and after the Civil War. Their eyes are puffy, noses red. Throat muscles struggle to maintain composure. Civilians savor every last second with their departing
dads, moms, grandparents, sons, daughters, best friends. The 104th leave Fort Indiantown
Gap for another homeland location fifteen hundred miles away to complete
preparations for deployment in a faraway land.
We won’t see them for another year.
Army leadership and government dignitaries praise the soldiers at the
deployment ceremony. “They’re always
ready any time of day or night.” They
recognize the selfless service and dedication to the mission that lies
ahead. They couldn’t be prouder that these
men and women wear the Army uniform. The
chaplain offers the closing benediction prayer and our soldiers are given two
more hours to spend with their loved ones gathered to see them off.
Streams of tears are shed by parents, spouses and friends on September 5th
at 1400 hours when the struggle of those remaining behind becomes
heartachingly tangible. Parents hold
their sons and daughters in bearhugs as their soldier child stifles the urge to
cry. One soldier leans forward and grabs
his knees, recovering from the impact of reality.
It’s November. Despite incessant political trash talk, voters
engage their constitutional rights and cast ballots for their candidates without suicide bombers or other deadly attacks disrupting the
election. Late in the month, we
celebrate Thanksgiving which our very first president, George Washington
proclaimed “a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by
acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God.” We’re free to exercise our faiths and
celebrate the holiday without fear of violence or retaliation.
The troops of the 104th
are mobilized overseas, hopefully getting more in their bellies than precooked,
no-refrigeration-required MRE’s (meals-ready-to-eat).
It’s December. Red and green
decorations twinkle in store windows. Children
make their wish lists for Santa Claus. I’m
mindful of the sacrifice of both soldiers abroad and families left behind. As the Grinch steals Christmas, an angel gets
his wings, and Santa’s reindeer fly, I can still hear the heavy thump of the
rotor blades unique to the Chinook helicopters that gave us one last flyover
before carrying our soldiers and their unmatched bravery away on September 5th.
I’ll be watching marathon episodes
of Hallmark Christmas shows this season from my comfy couch with my comfy
pillow and warm blanket while night-time temperatures drop to freezing over
there. I know that the freedom to have
this kind of leisure is mine because of our men and women willing to serve halfway
around the world, keeping us safe at home. What I want for Christmas is their safety
during their year-long journey. I want
them to be confident that they make a difference and not doubt for one second
the importance of their service. I want
them to know they are appreciated and most of all, I wish for their safe return
next summer.
Link to on-line version: http://womannewspapers.com/stories/a-christmas-wish,2685
No comments:
Post a Comment