like family

Like Family

� The plane carrying 291 National Guardsman landed at 4:30 in the morning. They all looked tired and weary as I'm sure they were. It was a pretty quiet night considering how many newly arriving soldiers were there. The coffee machine was by far the most popular place to be. With my back to the room I'm cleaning up my table, wiping up sugar and coffee droplets. Another volunteer is standing next to me but she is facing the room. Over my left shoulder I hear this voice with a southern accent say," I just wanted to say thank you. When I left my family couldn't be here with me to say goodbye, but �y'all were here. Now I'm home and once again, y'all are here. It means more to us than you will ever know. Y'all are like family to us." With that ever familiar lump forming in my throat and the tears that are so often in my eyes, I just stared at my shoes. I didn't turn around or reply. I just stayed frozen in my spot. I had no idea what to say. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Luckily the other volunteer isn't as big of a baby as I am and she was able to make an intelligent remark instead of staring dumbly at her shoes! � She told him it was our pleasure or something to that effect. After regaining my composure I asked her which guy had said it. She pointed him out to me. I walked over to where he was talking to his buddies. When they saw me coming they stopped midsentence for some reason. I wondered if I had a funny look on my face or something???? � Anyway I walked over to him and said, "I really appreciate the nice things you said a minute ago. We don't come out here and welcome you home for no reason. We consider it an honor to be here. Whether you're coming or going no soldier should feel alone. We get much more out of doing this than you think. Words like yours are what makes us proud and keeps us going. So as a gesture of appreciation I'd like for you to have this. When you wear it, look at it or think of it, I only ask that you remember this day." I removed my FREEDOM wristband and placed it on his arm. This time it was his turn to be speechless.