Help Us, Help Them
Support Our Troops
Welcome home 218th
Well 18 months are over, and our Soldiers are returning home to open arms, and happy tears. I want to thank everyone for your support and help while my soliders where deployed. The emails I received during this deployment reminds me of how many wonderful people there are that want to help support our troops, and each and everyone of you should be as proud of yourselves as I am of you. To our soldiers who have come home as Hero's, Thank You. It's to simple and surely not enough, but it's yours. While deployed in Operation Enduring Freedom, three brave and selfless soldiers gave their lives. SSG James Bullard, SGT Shawn Hill, and SGT Edwards Philpot, I ask you to keep them and their family in your thoughts. To the familys of our lost soldiers, I am so sorry for your lost, and I know nothing will ever replace your Soldier, but I hope time will ease your pain, and you remember the wonderful times you shared. Please keep in mind these Soldiers are America's Hero's, forever lost, but never forgotten. Welcome Home Guy's, Welcome home!
Jennifer Evans-Osborne
A Co. 1/118th deployment
A Co. 1/1118th Infantry is getting ready to deploy to Afghanistan, to join operation enduring Freedom. For those of you who do not know that is my father, Sgt E.Donald Evans and my brother, SPC. Joshua Evans company. Please keep these brave men in your thoughts and prayers, as well as all their families. If anyone would like to host one of these brave men from this unit please let me know at Jdloelo@aol.com ,so we can make sure they all get mail. You guys stay safe and come home soon. Thank you guys, and I am so proud of you.
Thank you,
Jennifer Evans- Osborne
Will you give this to my Daddy?
As a Company, Southwest Airlines is going to support "Red
Fridays."
Last week I was in Atlanta , Georgia attending a conference.
While I was in the airport, returning home, I heard several people behind me beginning to clap and cheer. I immediately turned around and witnessed one of the greatest act's of patriotism I have ever seen. Moving thru the terminal was a group of soldiers in their
camo's, as they began heading to their gate everyone (well almost everyone) was abruptly to their feet with their hands waving and cheering. When I saw the soldiers, probably 30-40 of them, being applauded and cheered for it hit me. I'm not alone. I'm not the only red blooded American who still loves this country and supports our troops and their families.
Of course I i mmediately stopped and began clapping for these
young unsung heroes who are putting their lives on the line everyday for us so we can go to school, work and home without fear or reprisal.
Just when I thought I could not be more proud of my country or of our service men and women a young girl, not more than 6 or 7 years old, ran up to one of the male soldiers. He kneeled down and said "hi," the little girl then she asked
him if he would give something to her daddy for her. The young
soldier, he didn't look any older than maybe 22 himself, said he would try and what did she want to give to her daddy? Then suddenly the little girl grabbed the neck of this soldier, gave him the biggest hug she could muster and then kissed him on the cheek.
The mother of the little girl, who said her daughters name was
Courtney, told the young soldier that her husband was a Marine and had been in Iraq for 11 months now. As the mom was explaining how much her daughter, Courtney, missed her father, the young soldier began to tear up.
When this temporarily single mom was done explaining her situation, all of the soldiers huddled together for a brief second. Then one of the other servicemen pulled out a military looking walkie-talkie. They started playing with the device and talking back and forth on it. After about 10-15 seconds of this, the young soldier walked back over to Courtney, bent down and said this to her, "I spoke to your daddy and he told me to give this to you." He then hugged this little girl that he had just met and gave her a kiss on the cheek. He finished by saying "your daddy told me to tell you that he loves you more than anything and he is coming home very soon."
The mom at this point was crying almost uncontrollably and as
the young soldier stood to his feet he saluted Courtney and her mom. I was standing no more than 6 feet away from this entire event unfolded. As the soldiers began to leave, heading towards their gate, people resumed their applause. As I stood there applauding and looked around, their were very few dry eyes, including my own. That young soldier in one last act of
selflessness, turned around and bl ew a kiss to Courtney with a
tear rolling down his cheek.
We need to remember everyday all of our soldiers and their
families and thank God for them and their sacrifices. At the end of the day, it's good to be an American.
RED FRIDAYS ----- Very soon, you will see a great many people
wearing Red every Friday. The reason? Americans who support our troops used to be called the "silent majority". We are no longer silent, and are voicing our love for God, country and home in record breaking numbers. We are not organized, boisterous or over-bearing. We get no liberal media coverage on TV, to reflect our message or our opinions. Many Americans, like you, me and
all our friends, simply want to recognize that the vast majority
of America supports our troops.
Our idea of showing solidarity and support for our troops with
dignity and respect starts this Friday -and continues each and every
Friday until the troops all come home, sending a deafening message that.. Every red-blooded American who supports our men and women afar will wear something red. By word of mouth, press, TV -- let's make the United States on every Friday a sea of red much like a homecoming football game in the bleachers.
If every one of us who loves this country will share this with
acquaintances, co-workers, friends, and family. It will not be long before the USA is covered in RED and it will let our troops know the once "silent" majority is on their side more than ever, certainly more than the media lets on.
The first thing a soldier says when asked "What can we do to
make things better for you?" is...We need your support and your prayers. Let's get the word out and lead with class and dignity, by
example; and wear something red every Friday.
IF YOU AGREE -- THEN REPOST
IF YOU COULD CARE LESS THEN JUST IGNORE THIS --- IT IS
YOUR CHOICE.
WE LIVE IN THE LAND OF THE FREE, ONLY BECAUSE OF THE BRAVE.
THEIR BLOOD RUNS RED---- SO WEAR RED!
Comforting Embrace
If you can't read the caption, I've transposed it:
Air Force Chief Master Sgt. John Gebhardt, of the 332nd Expeditiionary Medical Group at Balad, Iraq, cradles a young girl as they both sleep in the hospital. The girl's entire family was executed by insurgents; the killers shot her in the head as well. The girl received treatment at the U.S. military hospital in Balad, but cries and moans often. According to nurses at the facility, Gebhardt is the only one who can calm down the girl, so he has spent the last several nights holding her while they both sleep in a chair.
Support the military, they're doing the right thing.
Heart Warming
An Army soldier wrote home to his wife to have her send soil, fertilizer, and grass seed to him in Iraq. Outside his tent he planted and cultivated the seeds. Before every mission his platoon tromps through the grass for good luck. "US Soil" He's even cutting it with scissors. Now that's awesome.
Three Years
Today marks a day in our history. Three years since the war in Iraq began. We have faced Triumphs, and we have faced hardships. Some of us have faced great joy at a loved ones return from deployment, and some of us have faced the hardest loss of all, knowing our love ones will not return. We might have questioned our leaders reasons for war, and we might have held tight to our belief and support of our president. Regardless of our stand on the issues, our country should stand united in support for our soldiers. I have seen the protest and so have our soldiers. They sit in a land far from home fighting to make life better and jumping at any sound, not knowing when they wake if this day will be their last, and yet they get up day after day and go on. They fight so their own countrymen can walk the streets and protest what they are willing to die for. So I am asking, next time you see a soldier, say THANK YOU! Let them know we support them. For the last three years they have supported us and given us all they have and never said a word. And maybe, if you come across a protest, maybe you can stand on the other side holding a Thank You sign, that way when the cameras come they can see that we still care and support them. So I say THANK YOU to each and every Soldier, For three years you have fought to keep us safe and I personally THANK YOU, as well as everyone of our supporters. I pray that every soldier is safe tonight, and I pray for your family who also bare the burden of military life.
And to the protesters who call our military trianed killers as I saw on one sign this week, I think there is some information you should have. Lance Corp Ben Carmen KIA on April 06,2004 in Iraq. Spc Anthony J. Dixon, 20, died August 1,2004 in Samarra Iraq when a improvised explosive device exploded near his guard post. Dustin Yancey who died November 4,2005 who wrote home to say he was proud of what our military was doing in Iraq. And do you know what all these men have in common? They are Hero's! They were willing to fight and die for your right to call them killers. Maybe before you pick up your sign and go out and spread hate you could think about all those who give you the freedom to do so, even if it is at the highest cost. To the family of these soldiers I am sorry for you loss, and please know they will never be forgotten for Hero's never are.
Written by Jennifer Osborne
IF YOU DON'T STAND BEHIND OUR TROOPS,
PLEASE, FEEL FREE TO STAND IN FRONT OF THEM !!
The Hero Left Behind.
I was sitting alone in one of those loud, casual steak houses that you find all over the country. You know the type--a bucket of peanuts on every table, shells littering the floor, and a bunch of perky college kids racing around with longneck beers and sizzling platters.
Taking a sip of my iced tea, I studied the crowd over the rim of my glass. My gaze lingered on a group enjoying their meal They wore no uniform to identify their branch of service, but they were definitely "military:"clean shaven, cropped haircut, and that "squared away" look that comes with pride.
Smiling sadly, I glanced across my table to the empty seat where my husband usually sat. It had only been a few months since we sat in this very booth, talking about his upcoming deployment to the Middle East. That was when he made me promise to get a sitter for the kids, come back to this restaurant once a month and treat myself to a nice steak. In turn he would treasure the thought of me being here, thinking about him until he returned home.
I fingered the little flag pin I constantly wear and wondered where he was at this very moment. Was he safe and warm? Was his cold any better? Were my letters getting through to him? As I pondered these thoughts, high pitched female voices from the next booth broke into my thoughts.
"I don't know what Bush is thinking about. Invading Iraq. You'd think that man would learn from his old man's mistakes. Good lord. What an idiot! I can't believe he is even in office. You do know, he stole the election."
I cut into my steak and tried to ignore them, as they began an endless tirade running down our president. I thought about the last night I spent with my husband, as he prepared to deploy. He had just returned from getting his smallpox and anthrax shots. The image of him standing in our kitchen packing his gas mask still gives me chills.
Once again the women's voices invaded my thoughts. "It is all about oil, you know. Our soldiers will go in and rape and steal all the oil they can in the name of 'freedom'. Hmph! I wonder how many innocent people they'll kill without giving it a thought? It's pure greed, you know."
My chest tightened as I stared at my wedding ring. I could still see how handsome my husband looked in his "mess dress" the day he slipped it on my finger. I wondered what he was wearing now. Probably his desert uniform, affectionately dubbed "coffee stains" with a heavy bulletproof vest over it.
"You know, we should just leave Iraq alone. I don't think they are hiding any weapons. In fact, I bet it's all a big act just to increase the president's popularity. That's all it is, padding the military budget at the expense of our social security and education. And, you know what else? We're just asking for another 9-ll. I can't say when it happens again that we didn't deserve it."
Their words brought to mind the war protesters I had watched gathering outside our base. Did no one appreciate the sacrifice of brave men and women, who leave their homes and family to ensure our freedom? Do they even know what "freedom" is?
I glanced at the table where the young men were sitting, and saw their courageous faces change. They had stopped eating and looked at each other dejectedly, listening to the women talking. "Well, I, for one, think it's just deplorable to invade Iraq, and I am certainly sick of our tax dollars going to train professional baby-killers we call a military."
Professional baby-killers? I thought about what a wonderful father my husband is, and of how long it would be before he would see our children again.
That's it! Indignation rose up inside me. Normally reserved, pride in my husband gave me a brassy boldness I never realized I had. Tonight one voice will answer on behalf of our military, and let her pride in our troops be known.
Sliding out of my booth, I walked around to the adjoining booth and placed my hands flat on their table. Lowering myself to eye level with them, smilingly said, "I couldn't help overhearing your conversation. You see, I'm sitting here trying to enjoy my dinner alone. And, do you know why? Because my husband, whom I love with all my heart, is halfway around the world defending your right to say rotten things about him." "Yes, you have the right to your opinion, and what you think is none of my business. However, what you say in public is something else, and I will not sit by and listen to you ridicule MY country, MY president, MY husband, and all the other fine American men and women who put their lives on the line, just so you can have the "freedom" to complain. Freedom is an expensive commodity, ladies. Don't let your actions cheapen it."
I must have been louder that I meant to be, because the manager came over to inquire if everything was all right. "Yes, thank you," I replied.
Then, turning back to the women, I said, "Enjoy the rest of your meal."
As I returned to my booth applause broke out. I was embarrassed for making a scene, and went back to my half eaten steak. The women picked up their check and scurried away.
After finishing my meal, and while waiting for my check, the manager returned with a huge apple cobbler ala mode. "Compliments of those soldiers," he said. He also smiled and said the ladies tried to pay for my dinner, but that another couple had beaten them to it. When I asked who, the manager said they had already left, but that the gentleman was a veteran, and wanted to take care of the wife of "one of our boys."
With a lump in my throat, I gratefully turned to the soldiers and thanked them for the cobbler. Grinning from ear to ear, they came over and surrounded the booth. "We just wanted to thank you, ma'am. You know we can't get into confrontations with civilians, so we appreciate what you did."
As I drove home, for the first time since my husband's deployment, I didn't feel quite so alone. My heart was filled with the warmth of the other diners who stopped by my table, to relate how they, too, were proud of my husband, and would keep him in their prayers. I knew their flags would fly a little higher the next day.
Perhaps they would look for more tangible ways to show their pride in our country, and the military who protect her. And maybe, just maybe,the two women who were railing against our country, would pause for a minuteto appreciate all the freedom America offers, and the price it pays to maintain it's freedom.
As for me, I have learned that one voice CAN make a difference. Maybe the next time protesters gather outside the gates of the base where I live, I will proudly stand on the opposite side with a sign of my own. It willsimply say, "Thank You!"
To those who fought for our Nation: Freedom has a flavor the protected will never know. GOD BLESS AMERICA!
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