Posted on 10/19/2005 10:23:24 PM PDT by Brad’s Gramma
82nd Training Wing Public Affairs
10/19/2005 - SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AFPN) -- Heather Wagner watched intently as the dramatic scene played out on her television screen.
A Soldier was deploying. And there by the departure gate, his wife and children hugged and kissed their goodbyes as tears cascaded down their faces.
As Heather's gaze drifted from the television to her husband, Tech. Sgt. James Wagner, she could tell the difficulties of saying goodbye on his upcoming deployment weighed heavily on his heart.
"I don't want you to look at this and think this is what we're going to be doing," she said to her husband of seven years.
Despite her words, she could tell he was still bothered.
When the F-16 Fighting Falcon crew chief finally deployed, she wanted him to know that life will go on even though he would be half a world away for a year. That is why she wrote the song, "Keep Living."
"I wanted to let my husband know that things are going to be all right," she said.
During one of their many phone conversations following his departure, she told him about the song she had written. She sang it to him on the phone, and it helped set his mind at ease regarding how the family was holding up during his absence.
The song was intended to convey the thoughts so many families faced during long deployments or remote tours. Mrs. Wagner said she wanted the song to give her husband peace of mind, to allow him to focus on his mission without wondering if his family was OK.
"I consider this my way of serving," she said.
"Keep Living" didn't stop with the Wagners. Mrs. Wagner said a friend of hers was having a hard time coping with the departure of her spouse. The two talked for a while, and Mrs. Wagner told her about the song she wrote. The mezzo-soprano then sang the words of getting by while a servicemember was gone, and she too, felt encouraged by the simple, but powerful words.
Through word of mouth, news about the song reached other spouses, and requests came in for copies of the 27-year-old's home recording of the song.
"People I didn't know were knocking on my door," she said.
To let others hear her song, she cut a compact disc, due out in a few weeks.
(Courtesy of Air Education and Training Command News Service)
Heather, if you ever find Free Republic, we are here for you and all of the other military spouses and families. WE take care of our troops. God bless you!!
Ping to a wonderful military wife's web site!!!
bttt!
Hey, nice music there!
You done good Gramma !!!
Good cause folks......drop a dime on her CD and it helps the spouses that serve at home , male and female !
Thansk Gramma for posting this !!
That it is!!!!
Bless her heart....and all of the spouses and their children...don't EVER forget them in your prayers, everyone.
Great American Bump.
I'd like to thank the MOD for this thread!
(gulp) Hi Mod! I wuv you!!!
Standing Ovation and thanks for the ping, squantos!
Nite everybody.
I have sprained my wrist and the meds are about to knock me out.
BumP
BTTT !
Youse needs to move back home.
Now.
ONYX!!! You go to bed and take care of you!!!
I added some keywords for ya slacker.....:o)
*slaps self on forehead*
KEYWORDS!
Thank you, Squantos! :)
Thank you Brad's Gramma.Here's a ping.
Thank you fatima!
I added a key word too: FRPatriots!
Good nite, dear FRiend.
OH BG!
What a WONDERFUL SONG!!!
I WISH I HAD WRITTEN IT!!!
I SURE is how I feel!
NITE NITE TO YOU!!!
THANKS FOR THE PINGS!
Nite M0sby....yes, you DO know how it feels, don't you?
Sleep well my friend. ;)
Cool keyword! Thanks!
Now, go to bed or I'll call your husband and tell on you, bless my heart. ;)
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