It would have been wiser for me to title this post, "Friday Night, Part II"...but this will simply have to do!
To recap yesterday's post; on Friday night I had the honor of welcoming our troops home at BWI. As I have stated many times, attending an Operation Welcome Home event is always no less than amazing! To be in the presence of our heroes and shake their hands is an honor. They truly deserve so much more than the welcoming we offer...however, I feel blessed to be able to do this much for them!
Allow me to briefly describe an event: We meet in the International Terminal, approximately half an hour before the plane is scheduled to touch the ground.
With lots of enthusiasm; a human conveyor belt line forms, and we fill goodie bags with items such as granola bars & packaged snacks, bottles of water, and handmade 'Welcome Home" cards which are made by children from various schools and Churches. The hosts of the function then make a few announcements; introducing new volunteers and special guests. We then say the "Pledge of Allegiance" and then in proper military tradition...we wait. Once the call comes in that the plane has touched the ground we form a welcoming line, directing our soldiers out of the International Terminal. The clapping, hollering and cowbells make quite a ruckus when the first of our soldiers come through the doors. This celebration continues until the final soldier has come through our welcoming line.
Friday night, while waiting for the plane to touch down; I wandered over to a group of ladies who were wearing Blue Star tee shirts. Oh my goodness, this is my Maryland Chapter of Blue Star Mothers of America! I recently transferred to this chapter, after the folding of the virtual chapter. This was so cool! Six brand new Instant Friends! By the end of the OWH event, we had shared laughs, tears and hugs. We are proud Blue Star Mothers, there to support each other.
Each and every one of these moms, understand me and I understand them. We have a child (or children) in the military. Our children who not so long ago were in our arms, are now holding an M-16. Our children not so long ago, walked into their first day of school; they now have been through Basic and Tech Schools. Our children who not so long ago were ours to hold tightly during a thunder storm or bad dream, are now protecting our nation. Our children who at any moment we would lay our life down for, will now place themselves in harm's way for our country.
We are still their moms.
We will always love them so.
12 comments:
Thank you for sharing this wonderful event and experience, photos, and especially of the Blue Star Moms - so amazing and exciting! I cried because I know how it feels to be there to see them come home.
Thank you!
Jean
ABNMOMMA is a Blue Star mother also and as you say can relate to their children in a way only a mother can do.
Bless you and your work for our home comming troops.
Pops
jean...It is an amazing experience to welcome them home, isn't it? I can not encourage everyone enough to make an effort to thank a soldier!
pops...I thank you and ABNMOMMA for YOUR service. we do what we can do, only because our soldiers deserve it (and so much more!)
That is so cool! There must have been a lot of proud tears flowing!
I know that you must be bursting with pride each and every day Airmom........
Steady On
Reggie girl
I admire you blue star moms more than you can imagine! You are all the definition of strength, faith and love. I applaud you all!!
Being at BWI to welcome home the troops is something that I always wanted to do, please know that your presence there represents all military moms nationwide. God Bless you!
sue...a river of tears! Our military men and women are simply awesome!
RG...When I get home after attending an event, I am renewed with pride and allegiance for our country! Our military is THE finest!
tonjia...your words mean so much, thank you!
wonderful post! I'm so glad you found your chapter!!
I wish I lived closer to DFW so I could go to welcome home too. I hear it's a great event!!
mm...thank you for your kind words...who knows, perhaps one day you will be able to attend an event at DFW.
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