Welcome Home Troops

Whenever I see troops return home, it is always a touching scene. I love when the soldiers come in and surprise their children or their spouse. To be separated for weeks and months at a time is so difficult.

My father did three tours in Vietnam, one of the tours he was shot and did not tell Mom about it until he got home. To say she was mad is an understatement, They did not receive the welcome home tributes and celebrations that the soliders receive now.

When my co-worker's National Guard troup returned from Iraq a few years ago, the route from Ft. Stewart all the way here had yellow ribbbons on signs down the highway - all 200 miles. It was a beautiful sight. There was a caravan of cars that left there and they had people in all of the towns standing on the side of the road with flags and signs welcoming them home. Each town had a fire truck, ambulance, sheriff deputies and police officers to lead them through to their county line when another set of law enforcement would meet them.

Some of the students helped us draw a huge sign and we were side the road waiting on the bus. When the bus passed by, we held up the sign and my co-worker was wavig like crazy at us as they headed on the the armory to meet up with their families.

Now that is another tear jerking scene, when my soldier returned from Iraq - it is like torture. You are sitting there and they file in. We are all sitting there, you're waiting - finally you see your soldier. The miltiary and their procedures, would they just hurry up. Whatever the officer is saying, who cares? The Governor was even there to talk about how proud the state is for their service - "yeh yeh, get on with it!" Finally, you hear those words "Family! come get your soldier!" All Hell breaks loose then because everyone is running to "get their soldier." There are so many emotions there but the most prevalent is happiness that your loved one is home, that he is safe. Yeh I got to talk to him on the phone, and we chatted online and even video chatted, but there was nothing like seeing him in the flesh and being able to hug him. That is what I relive every time I see soldiers coming home. Happiness that they are here and that they are safe.