Support Our Troops

My son-in-law, Thomas, is due to return from Iraq any time between now and the end of October. I'm thrilled that this ordeal will be over for Candie and Thomas soon. Tonight when I called Candie I heard something in her voice that I hadn't heard since he left. She was bubbly and happy and rushing to make her preparations for his homecoming.

Last week when I was in Hawaii visiting her, we went to Schofield Barracks where he's stationed. It was exciting to see the "Welcome Home" banners strung out across the entrance and the base seemed alive with families and newly-returned soldiers. As we drove through the housing areas, I caught sight of many homes with "Welcome Home, Daddy" and "We Missed You" signs in the front yard. I guess living in an area that's not near a military base, it's easy to forget the homecomings that are taking place everyday.

On Sunday when I returned home, there was a young soldier standing in the airport waiting for his flight to Hawaii. I watched as a man and his two young children approached the soldier. The man introduced his children to the young man and said to the kids, "Did you have something to say to him?" The two children then said, "Thank you for protecting us. We appreciate it." The kids looked so proud and the young soldier said, "Thanks. It's my pleasure." I will pray for that young man every day because I know that there are family members who will miss him while he's deployed.

When Thomas deployed, I put a yellow ribbon in my tree and promised to keep one there for him until he came home to us safe and sound. I added another one on August 1 for my cousin, Jan, who is now serving in Iraq. I've decided to keep a yellow ribbon in my tree until all our troops are home. I feels it's the least I can do to repay them for all they're doing for us.

Please continue to pray for our troops and their loved ones. Whether you agree with the war or not doesn't matter. They are our brothers/sisters, neighbor, friends, sons/daughters, husbands/wives, fathers/mothers and they deserve our support and prayers.

God bless everyone, especially our troops.