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Posted on 11/05/2009 4:41:20 AM PST by Kieri
Surrounded by her family, Maj. Stella Carroll looked out over a sea of fluttering American flags Wednesday morning at Parma Elementary School.
More than 400 tiny voices greeted the mother of five with the national anthem and other patriotic songs, and the children presented her with letters calling her a hero.
Carroll, who has served in the U.S. Army Reserves for more than 20 years, will leave Saturday for a year-long tour in Kandahar, Afghanistan.
"We want you to know how much we respect and appreciate you," Parma Elementary School Principal Sue Haney told Carroll during the send-off ceremony at the school that drew dozens from the community in addition to students.
Stella Carroll, 42, will leave Saturday for a one-year tour of duty in Afghanistan.Teary-eyed parents and school staff applauded Carroll and joined students in song as a band played "My Country ‘Tis of Thee" and "God Bless America." Red, white and blue posters and signs wishing Carroll well adorned the walls of the school's packed gym.
Residents gathered outside the school and a large flag waved above the pavement from a Spring Arbor Fire Department ladder truck as Carroll and her family paraded down the street to greet the crowd.
"They did a tremendous job," Carroll's mother-in-law, Karen Carroll, said of the ceremony. "It's just like family here."
Stella Carroll's children, four of whom attend Parma Elementary School, helped plan the event, Haney said.
Carroll, 42, said it would be difficult being away from her family, but she credited her husband, Rick, 48, with doing a great job taking care of the children, who range in age from 6 to 11. She said the family plans to spend as much time together as possible before her departure.
It will be the second time Carroll's military work will take her overseas and away from her Parma home.
She was deployed to Iraq in May 2007 and spent a year there. She returned home the day before Mother's Day in 2008 and said then that it was the best Mother's Day gift she could ask for.
Though family members said the separation is difficult, Carroll's son Gunnar, 9, said he is proud of his mom.
"I worry for the kids, but they'll do good," Carroll's mother-in-law said. "Saturday will be the hard day."
Karen Carroll said she plans to put 400 pennies in a jar and let her grandchildren take one out every day to help count down the time before their mother returns.
"Every day they take one out, it's one day closer to Mom coming home," she said.
God bless this remarkable woman and her family!
Let’s do that DU thing - “0bama - sending mothers off to die”. How’s that for a slander?
My father-of-five father in law shipped off to war twice, Korea and Vietnam. My former son in law (father of 3) has been in Afghanistan **3 times** in his son’s short six year life. I can’t imagine as a mother having to leave my kids to go to war. That’s why I would never join - couldn’t leave little guys for a whole year. But dads do it all the time and have done it for years, and with very little fanfare. And they’re every bit as important.
It occurred to me that she might now encounter as many muzzies in Afghanistan than she does in Michistan.
And may God protect her and surround her with His Angels to keep her safe.
Saint Michael the Archangel, defend Maj. Stella Carroll in battle.
Be her protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil.
May God rebuke him, we humbly pray; and do Thou, O Prince of the Heavenly Host - by the Divine Power of God - cast into hell, Satan and all the evil spirits,
who roam throughout the world seeking the ruin of souls.
Amen.
Okay, the woman is admirable for her service to our country, God bless her and keep her safe.
That said, civilized countries do not send their mothers off to war. In civilized countries the men stand between the women and children and the depredations of war. It has been that way since antiquity.
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God be with you Major Carroll.
God Bless this family
I know the Parma area well. HAve a cousin that lives there
What you describe are the natural roles of males and females. The males are the providers and protectors while the females are the child bearers, nest builders, and nurturers.
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