Honoring Her Son

Honoring Her Son

Last week I was able to attend the homecoming of 294 soldiers from the 2nd Brigade Combat Team (2BCT) at Fort Stewart. The sun was shining ( it was hot!), the birds were singing and smiling faces were all around. Families had homemade signs, flowers and balloons all saying WELCOME HOME! It's an awesome thing to be there when soldiers come home from combat. The happiness and sheer joy can be felt in the air. So much so that you're almost able to forget where you are..you're almost able to ignore your surroundings, you're almost able to not notice the trees. But all you have to do is look left or look right..and there they are. They align the sides of Cotrell field with their majesty. Each one a testament to a fallen soldier..each one a living memorial. And they force you to remember those who didn't make it back. This day was no different. The welcome home ceremony was over. Family pictures were being made. People were milling about and leaving. Then I saw her..one lone mother with a bouquet of red, white and blue balloons blowing behind her in the breeze as she made her journey down that concrete path..making her way to her son..her sons' tree that is. This was her son's unit..they had come home. The other families got their soldiers back, she has a tree. The sadness of seeing her alone..walking down that long walk of trees.. made me silently praise her courage and strength. She made the trip to see the friends and comrades of her son come home. This had to be a painful day for her, yet there she was. And soon she wasn't alone, two soldiers had left their families and walked over to her and hugged her. As they stood looking at the tree one of them got weak in the knees and just sat straight down on the ground. The other knelt down and touched the granite marker engraved with the name of his friend. The mother stood between them, a hand resting on the back of each. Before long the Boy Scouts circled them and they all said a prayer. Then the Scouts left, the soldiers hugged the mom, walked back to their families and the mom was alone again. Just her and of course the tree