Knee Deep in the Hooah!

The picture above is a photo of our family reunion. 11 weeks of separation, one phone call, and a dozen letters were all that filled the gap in that time. I know that there are many military families who have been separated for much longer, and with less contact. If you have never had to keep a marriage strong and viable — and children connected to their absent parent through the distance then you may not really understand all of the emotions that are present in this picture.

You may not see that the soldier in that picture is an older man with a family that he loves very deeply, and has missed so much that at times he physically hurt from it.

You may not see that his resolved stance and warrior stature melted when his daughter touched his face and recognized her “papa” after close to 3 months separation.

You may not realize that the two adults in that picture just spent nearly 3 months away from one another with only one phone call to help them remember what the other sounds like.

You may not notice that they are stooping low because they are both tired and overwhelmed at this moment.

You may not see that they are already shedding tears over the knowledge that after this quick weekend together their separation will continue for several more months.

You may not recognize that the little girl is looking away and watching all of the other families surrounding her and going through similar feelings and emotions.

You may not know that this married couple has worked diligently communicating through letters how much they love, appreciate and miss one another.

You may not see the relief that the woman feels seeing her husband reunited with his youngest child, and the fact that those months of promising this tot that she would “… see her papa again one day,” just paid off.

You don’t see present in this picture the 2 teenage boys who were waiting for their turn to shake their papa’s hand, and hug him — maybe even standing a little unsure because they don’t know what it is like to have a soldier for a father. You also won’t see the soldier’s parents who are there and waiting for their turn to see the changes in their son and greet him again.

You won’t notice that there is a son who is absent from this picture and is busy at work in Baghdad. He won’t be present for this reunion, and there is a prayer uttered faithfully that he will be home for, and part of, the next reunion.

You may not have the ability to envision this couple’s hopes, dreams and fears for the future.

You may not know that their entire lifestyle has changed. They are no longer a citizen-civilian family. They are now a citizen-military family.

You may not realize that they are both already grieving the loved ones that they will have to say good-bye to when they PCS.

The family in that picture is not just another military family. None of us are ever “just” another military family. Every family who goes through this pain of separation and joy of reunion are part of our family now. Once again I see the ties that bind us together in this wonderful community. When we are separated from our loved ones, we mourn with each other, and when we watch the reunion of those around us, we rejoice. Essentially the military is a family forced together through necessity, and kept together out of empathy and respect.

Tags: Junk Drawer //