Watching Those I Love Go to Iraq
My friend and sister-in-law left from the Fort Wayne unit of the National Guard and, this morning, the Warsaw, Indiana Unit left for training as well. Police officers escorted buses filled with soldiers as they traveled pass my town, on their way to Indianapolis. My four children and I, along with other residents of Larwill, stood along the highway holding signs and waving flags as they passed. It was cold and my children were freezing, yet I reminded them that the discomfort we were experiencing was insignificant compared to what these men and women were about to endure for us and our freedom.
I had to explain to my children why my eyes welled up with tears as I saw the caravan approaching. Some of these men and women may not come home. They may be someone we know. Nevertheless, even if we do not know them, someone does. They are someone's child, mother, father, sister, or brother. These men and women are sacrificing everything they love for us, for our freedom, and for our country. I had to explain to my children, ages 2 to 9, why their Aunt Tabby had to leave her 3-year-old daughter and them to go to a war from which she may not return. How do you explain to a child why we are fighting a war that makes no sense?
Knowing that John has made this trip three times previously and always returned home safe is both a comfort and worry for me. I mean, how many times are we expected to send our loved ones to Iraq and accept them home safely before something is bound to happen? While I will do (and have done) all I can to support our troops, I cannot support a war that is killing our soldiers. We went to war under the pretense that Iraq was building nuclear weapons, and now we know that they were nowhere close. Yet, our troops continue to stay in Iraq, while more deployed.
The topic of this article is to tell you how my family is affected by our close friend and family member going to Iraq. I am filled with an empty loneliness and fearing the next time I see John or Tabby, they will be in a casket. While I tend to hope for the best and expect the worst, I cannot feel good about watching my loved ones leave. Bullets have no discretion for whom they hit. They do not stop to ask if that person has a family at home praying for their safe return. Bullets hit their target and do what they are made to do. They injure and they kill. While my focus is on the ones I know and love, my thoughts and prayers are with all those who are in the war, and the families they have left behind. May they all come home safe and the sooner the better.
Published by Lillian Ryvers
I am the married mother of six. I believe that all things happen in life for a reason, as my articles will tell you. View profile
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- This will be Tabby's first deployment and John's fourth trip to Iraq.
- I cannot support a war that is killing our soldiers.
- They are someone's child, mother, father, sister, or brother.
13 Comments
Post a CommentI realize the date of this article. I hope you derived some comfort with the passing of time and all the evidence that emerged indicating that Iraq did indeed have over 550 metric tons of yellowcake, a precursor to nukes. There is a lot more evidence also justifying the war. My brother is currently on the front lines in Afghanistan after numerous tours in Iraq and I recently received word that a friend of mine lost his life in Kabul. I told my children the reason why our loved ones are fighting this war and the demands placed on them by fighting on two fronts. The reason is Freedom and our security, an unprecedented war against global terrorism...makes perfect sense to me and my loved ones...the civilians and soldiers...
Great article. Must be so tough.
I understand the tears...and I understand the carvan... I feel and broke my teeth once in the same situation... I feel sorry for the families who will loose their children or have them come home in peices...some of them with injuries that will never be visable... I will be all for the Idea of war when our Senator's and Milllionaire's sons are the ones one the front times, but I beleive in my life time poor boys (and now girls) willl always serve as cannon fodder for rich Repulicans to make money off of...
Very good article. My brother was in Iraq, he came home a year ago after his leg was injured.
Very nice article!
Wow...lots to think about while reading this. It is so sad to see families hurting so much because of something they can't control.
Gut-wrenching, I am afraid my oldest son may be going one of these days, he is in officer training in national guard already served in army and korea,
I hope they all come home safely.
Very sad.
This is so sad. I am lucky that I know noone going..All my friends and family are "Over the hill"