This is for…
The stories of troops returning home and surprising their loved ones moves me to tears each time. There’s nothing like the sight of a child asking for nothing but to have their mother or father home from the war. Then seeing their surprise as their parent comes out, pops out or drops their disguise…it’s a moment that sticks with you, always.
But this is for the troops that cannot come home. This is for the child whose wish could not come true because the travails of king and country trump the heartfelt wish of a child.
This is for the troops who will not come home again. This is for those who gave the ultimate sacrifice and leave their families wishing, for the rest of their lives, that they would come home.
This is for the open spot at the dinner table, temporarily or permanently vacant.
This is for picture of that loved one in uniform. It’s the one the relatives visit and speak to. It’s the one the kids sleep with at night. It’s the one family chokes back tears over.
It’s times like this that I’m humbled at my position. I’m home, with my family, seated at the dinner table, hugging my wife and kids. And you know what? If it were in my power, I’d trade places. I’d give 24 hours just so that troop could grant that child’s wish, could hug their kids and family. I’d give a day so that troop could visit their relatives again. Hell, I’d gladly sit at death’s door so that valiant troop could be home again, if but for a moment in time.
I don’t say these things so you can think better of me. For its who I am. Somewhere, so many are sacrificing so much so that we can sleep better at night. Both here and abroad, from the top of the snowy Afghan mountains to the mean streets in our own backyard; from the belly of the raging fire to the chaos of the ER; from the twilight of the dusty southern border to the jungles of South America, someone is sacrificing much so that others can have their reunion.
This is for you, my brothers and sisters. Wherever you are in the world and in the one to come, know you are remembered, prayed for, hoped for. Most of all know that you are…
Loved.
