I remember the day about seven years ago when I watched my son take his oath. He entered USAF BMT on September 4, 2001. Seven days later we were about to go to war. Immediately after boot camp, his Air National Guard Unit was given orders to deploy, but by some miracle those orders were withdrawn. He re-enlisted last year and now has orders to deploy to Kuwait in September. This was a group decision by his unit, the 138th Fighter Wing in Tulsa, OK, to volunteer. They volunteered for three months but the government got so excited that they gave them four – so they’ll be gone through all the big holidays. I’m so proud of him for re-enlisting and for having been willing to leave all this time. We’ve talked about it many times.
Neither of us will read the casualty lists although many of his friends who also enlisted in various branches of the military in high school have come home safe and sound. He knows that he may have met some of these soldiers in boot camp or in his travels. The majority of soldiers are the same ages as all three of my sons, so I can just imagine what their mothers must feel.
I grew up during Vietnam and a close family member was injured and presented with the Purple Heart – he told them what to do with it after seeing his best friend killed. I am in the age group where many of my friends and acquaintances are Vietnam vets. One of my BFF’s is married to one and she deserves a medal for being able to love him with his severe PTSD.
While everyone looks forward to Memorial Day weekend as a time of boating and camping and having barbecues – I’m sure that my son has been on the jet ski as well – it’s also a time to honor our fallen and currently fighting soldiers and recognize the sacrifice that they and their families have made.
