Families embrace, stand with soldiers bound for gulf

gomemphis.com ^ | March 1, 2003 | Laura Coleman Noeth

[nicko]

when I left for Mogadishu in Aug. 93', as I was walking out the door of our quarters at Campbell, my 9 year old son was trying to show me some of his new baseball cards- it was just another day at FTCKY for him...that one was probably the hardest- even harder when I got back...it takes a strong woman to keep it together when you walk up that ramp....it takes a stronger one to hold it together when you return...

[Lauratealeaf]

My husband went to Somalia too. About that time we were in the middle of a winter with 224 inches of snow, I had to have minor surgery, our son was applying to West Point and was a senior in high school wanting to drive the car to school (in that weather) and our two teenage daughters had their concerns and needs too. I was the boss for a while but was soo relieved when the Papa came home! Great post!

[SpookBrat]

God bless you and your family.

[NCEaglette]

Amen, and as our armed forces are deployed, we need to intensify our prayers for their protection. May they be guided and shielded by the Almighty. The troops are taking their positions, let's all of us at home take ours on bended knees, until Americans and their allies are successful and come back to their families and all of us who will be praying every day for them.

I'm in absolute agreement with you. Prayer is our MOST powerful weapon!

[WVNan]

I can hardly bare to read these kinds of stories. Deja vu all over again. My life has been filled with war, from my earliest memory. Watching our young people go off once again is enough to break the strongest heart.

[nicko]

it's women like you who help soldiers become good soldiers...thanks, too, for your post...keep the faith...

[nicko]

thanks, SpookBrat...I know, absolutely, that he has...

[SpookBrat]

Blessed assurance.....isn't it great? :)

[homeschool mama]

Blessed assurance, indeed.

Thanks for the ping, Grammie. What a beautiful yet bittersweet thread.

Many prayers heavenward <><

[cubreporter]

Yes, brought tears to my eyes. Things are worth saving in those cedar chests or hope chests because one day the contents will be jolting to those left behind. God bless this man and all the other men and women who will leave the rich, free, native soil of their land to go liberate those who are living on poor, imprisoned soil of their native land.

Lord give the military the strength they need to fight this battle so far from home so that those (even the anti-war uneducated, ill-informed) can remain free to protest against something they know nothing about. Amen.

[Lauratealeaf]

Beautiful post cubreporter!

[keri]

FYI.

This is real.

[GailA]

[keri]

You've seen this before, I'm sure.

It hangs in a little hotdog place I visit and that is where I first saw it. It never fails to move me when I read it. The truth of it seems appropriate for this thread, and maybe others haven't seen it, so here goes:

"It is the soldier, not the reporter who has given us the freedom of the press."

"It is the soldier, not the poet, who has given us the freedom of speech."

"It is the soldier, not the campus organizer, who gives us the freedom to demonstrate."

"It is the soldier who salutes the flag, who serves beneath the flag, and whose coffin is draped by the flag, who allows the protester to burn the flag."

Father Dennis Edward O'Brien, Sergeant, USMC

[Lauratealeaf]

Thanks. We need to see that much more than we do!

[cubreporter]

I thank you kindly.

[Betteboop]

Laura
I just got the bump--thank you!! My prayers go out to all our service people, every night!!!

[Lauratealeaf]

Thinking of you and yours too Bette!

[Allan]

Bump