Posted on 10/07/2009 1:31:31 PM PDT by FortWorthPatriot
Four-year old Paige didn't want to say goodbye to her daddy before he was shipped off to Iraq.
A family photo that shows a little girl beside her father and his fellow soldiers in uniform as they prepare to go to war has resonated well beyond the tight knit Bennethum clan.
Four-year-old Paige Bennethum really, really didn't want her daddy to go to Iraq.
So much so, that when Army Reservist Staff Sgt. Brett Bennethum lined up in formation at his deployment this July, she couldn't let go.
No one had the heart to pull her away.
The commanding officer allowed Paige to say goodbye as her dad prepared to ship off from Fort Dix.
Paige's mom Abby captured the moment with her camera and her aunt passed the image along to a Berks County, Pa. newspaper.
"I’ve had strangers looking me up online, sending me messages that they are touched by it ... offering a lot of support," Abby Bennethum told NBCPhiladelphia.
The picture took on a life of its own online this week. Abby says that suddenly, people were knocking on her door. "Literally overnight, there's all these people that just want to do anything they can," she says. Though she says her husband hasn't seen any stories about his family yet, he expects to.
For her part, Paige still remembers how she felt that day in July. Looking at the picture of herself – her dad now overseas – Paige remembers, "I didn't want to let go of him."
She calls the work he does transporting supplies across the Iraqi border, "just nice."
But that doesn't change her feelings.
"I just miss my dad right now," she says.
Sgt. Bennethum, 30, is expected home next July. Until then, Paige plans to help her mom take care of her little sister and a new baby that's on the way.
Absolutely.
I call it motivation to end the war early. Liberals call it a reason to not fight at all. Unfortunately, its the agressors that dictate the need to fight at all.
ditto
This is what they mean when they say a picture speaks a thousand words or the picture speaks volumes! God bless her daddy and her mommy, her sister, her and the new baby to come. Thank you for such a heartwarming photo. It’s something Norman Rockwell would have painted. A TRUE glimpse of pure love of family and country.
Damn....I sure hope her daddy gets home....muzzie bastards
I can’t look at that picture without crying.
Same here. I almost talked myself out of posting it but thought maybe we all need a reminder now and again...
A heartbreaker. God keep him safe & bless this family.
Amen.
Ditto.
Colonel, USAFR
bookmark.
Wow, powerful photo.
Makes it all the more important to remember that “some gave all”.
God Bless our brave military and the USA.
Extra tough to see this for those of us who have had to hold crying kiddos (up through teenage years) as we watch Dad in formation, readying to go to the sandbox for multiple tours. We would all like to be out there holding Dad’s hand. Great photo if it makes people stop and think about the sacrifice. I just hope my kids don’t see it.
I thought about that when I first saw the photo. Since his commander allowed it, why can’t other commander’s do so as well? It may have opened up a can of worms by setting a bad precedence for future deployments of other units across the country...
But I wanted to reflect on the tenderness of the photo instead.
I apologize for my post coming across as negative. I do completely agree about the tenderness of the photo and how it reminds us all of how incredibly difficult this is. But for those of us who have been there, done that over and over again, fighting the overwhelming urge to do this very thing, well ... it’s tough to see. If commanders actually allowed this for all who wanted to hold a hand, there would be no formation, by definition.
By the way, FortWorthPatriot ... Your screen name is making me homesick. Can’t wait to get back to Texas. When my hubby retires from the Army in two years, we’re moving back to God’s Country asap.
No need to apologize my FRiend as I saw no negativity in your reply. I understand exactly what you are saying.
Hope you get here soon!
Thirty eight years ago I saw my Dad off to Vietnam. I cried like a baby. Late last night I saw my youngest child off to Iraq for the second time. I never let him see me cry, but I wanted so much to be like that little girl. My heart breaks for her because I understand why my son is going and it doesn’t make the facts any easier.
A big thank you to everyone who has or is or will serve our country, making sacrifices that the rest do not.
(Now, excuse me, I’m going to grab a tissue)
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