Life in My World -- Just Cause

Abe told us there would be a welcome home celebration when he returned from Iraq.  He hoped we could be there and we hoped that his arrival wouldn't collide with Ande's wedding so that we could be there.  Calvin and I were so very glad we got to be there for the celebration.  So very,very glad.

near Abe and Grace's home

Grace and Abe live on post.  Their backyard is the golf course, and the Cheyenne Mountain is out the guest bedroom window.  It's a beautiful location and home, and, for a post that hosts four brigades, relatively private.  In fact, Grace called one day to tell Calvin she saw a coyote out her living room window and we saw it while we were there, too.  (Calvin hid behind the air conditioning unit in the backyard and tried to call it in by imitating a sick cat.  I suppose he'd have killed it with the broom.  It did need put out of its misery as it had the mange really bad and was hairless.)

Reveille plays across the post at 6:30 am and again at noon.  Taps is played at 10:00 pm. (Hearing them is worth making a new friend so that you can stay on post and wake up and go to sleep to them.) Warrior ethos signs are near the gates as well as other stats of how the post is doing.

It's very inspiring to see the soldiers' commitment to their work and our country posted everywhere.  Drive around the base and you see acres and acres of tanks and trucks and soldiers in rucksack marches. . .always in preparation to defend.

Because there are several military bases in Colorado Springs, the town is good at showing their appreciation. This is a mall wall.

Abe's group was set to arrive at Fort Carson at 6:30 am on Wednesday.  The doors to the event center opened at 4:30 am and families immediately began to gather.

There were activities planned to keep the little kids busy while they waited for their dads.  There was popcorn, bagels, and pop served on one end of the event center and a bouncing house at the other end.  One female soldier led the kids in a few line dances, the limbo, and Duck-Duck-Goose in the center of the floor for over an hour.  She was animated and fun and the kids were cute.  A chaplain walked the crowd handing out breath mints.  (I thought that was sweet . . . and smart.) It was very festive and fun to visit with the other families.  Ryan, a fellow West Point graduate, was in the same group as Abe.  His fiancée Emily and Grace are friends.  Emily and her parents as well as Ryan's family sat in front of us and we visited with them while we waited.  Ryan's dad and Calvin talked at great length, I love listening to men's conversations especially when it's about their families and country.

Grace and Emily

   
The soldiers landed at an air base several miles away and were bused over to Fort Carson.  When they showed (via broadcast) the soldiers disembarking the airplane the families cheered and cheered and then watched quietly for a glimpse of their soldier.  When the individual soldiers were spotted you'd hear a mini-cheer in the crowd.  It was exciting to see the men and two women carrying their gear down the steps of the airplane hurrying as fast as they could.  They were greeted at the bottom by a small band and somebodies important enough to shake their hands.

And then . . . and then . . . after waiting for nearly three hours, we got to see them.  It reminded me of being a little kid at the ward Christmas party when the song leader told us if we could sing "Jingle Bells" loud enough Santa might come and bring us all a bag of candy.  But this time, the song that was playing was Lee Greenwood's, "I'm Proud to Be An American" and the same soldier that led the kids in dance and song told everyone that the soldiers were waiting just outside the door to come in and as soon as they could hear us singing and cheering they'd be coming through the door.  (Even typing this a few days later I still get that incredible feeling all over again.  It was such a humbling experience to be with a group of people who have given so much.)  We sang "I'm Proud to Be An American" loud enough to hail Santa and with enough tears to bring out the Kleenex --  mascara was running everywhere.  When "American Soldier" was played, the door opened and in marched the troops.  All 227 in this returning group.  (Several groups have returned in the last few weeks, two more were planned for later in the day, and more slated in the coming week.)

After a prayer, the singing of the national anthem, and a few words by one of the commanders, they were released to find their families.  It was wonderful.

As I saw teenagers, little children, and the little babies I couldn’t help but recognize the sacrifice that so many make when a soldier signs up.  There were lots of little babies in the crowd and I wondered how many dads had missed the births.  There were lots of little babies just learning to walk and I thought of how those babies were just newborns when their dads left and what he'd missed in that first year.  I saw teenagers in lettermen's jackets and thought of all the games missed and no dad in the stands to cheer them on.  Not to mention the sacrifices of the wives and husbands left behind.  I couldn't help but be reminded of all that had transpired in the last year between Abe and Grace and Clara.  It was very humbling to see first hand what so many give for something we’ve just come to expect. 

The only thing that made me sad was seeing a lone soldier – a soldier who had no one waiting for him.  He stood off by himself while his buddies were literally wrapped in the arms of love.  Because a solider cannot drive for 24 hours upon returning home, that lone soldier waited on the outskirts until he could catch a ride to the barracks with someone.  Because I was so caught up in the excitement of the return, I didn’t see him until the event center had nearly cleared.  We walked over shook his hand, patted his arm, welcomed him home, thanked him for his sacrifice and service, and wished that we could magically create a family for him.  If I lived near a post that frequently deployed soldiers I think I would show up, just ‘cause, and look for those lone men and women who stood off from the crowd with no one to hug them, and that’s what I’d do.  I’d hug them and let them know they were appreciated.

After the families had reunited, the men went out to collect their gear.  Remembering that Ande had challenged Sheridan to arm wrestle Abe back at Christmas when Grace had organized Christmas socks for each member of Abe's platoon (which included letters), I introduced myself to him and said, "I understand you can beat Lt. Payne in arm wrestling."  He laughed and said, "Yes ma'am," and then politely stood at attention so I could take a picture.

Abe loves the men in his platoon, but not enough to want to be the last man to leave.  He couldn't wait to see his new home, shower, and get into civilian clothes.

After he saw their new home we sat on the living room floor (they're very excited to buy furniture) and visited about his experience and things of home.  Ande called and Abe talked to her, then he called Cali and Ray and left messages on their phones.  Because Ty had responsibilities at the Air Force Academy, he missed Abe's homecoming, so after lunch at Olive Garden (Abe wanted Papa John's, but kindly acquiesced) we drove up to the Academy to see Ty.  Michelle met us there, too.

Michelle, Ty, leftover Olive Garden for Ty, Abe, and Grace

We had less than an hour together before Ty had to report to duties, but the boys talked non-stop during that time.  The rest of us just listened and watched from the sidelines.

Grace and Michelle in Arnold Hall

It reminded me of when the boys were little and one of them would crawl out of his bunk and join the other in his.  They would talk late into the night about whatever it is boys talk about -- conquering Mario's next level,  Lego's, Michael Jordan, Steve Young, and . . . maybe girls?  The subject matter was still about conquering (Ty flew a plane that morning for the first time and was telling Abe about it) and . . . girls.  They both really love their girls and like to talk about them.

What an incredible time. Calvin and I are so very blessed.  Our family is so very blessed.  Our land is so very blessed.  That night as we lay in bed listening to taps play, I thanked God again and again and again for life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.