Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Saying Goodbye

2nd tour.



Yesterday the National Guard 833rd Engineer Unit from Ottumwa, Iowa left for Afghanistan.  A mirage of emotions was flooding my heart as I watched the families say goodbye to their loved ones.  One of the hardest things to watch was children who had said goodbye not once but twice already, here again saying it for the third  time.  I remember on the first deployment watching a little boy struggle to stay strong and not cry as his dad hugged him and got on the bus.   A few years later, I looked for the same little boy when the second deployment came as a surprise to the unit, and again he stood tall, never crying, shook his daddy’s hand and watched him get on the bus.  This time, that little boy is now 16 years old, and could no longer stand nearly as tall and brave, and broke down holding his father tightly.  I am proud of everyman an women in this unit, I am even more proud of the tremendous sacrifice the families who wait at home are having to make once again, for the third time.   Prayers are sent to them each and every day.  Please remember if you know someone whose loved one is deployed even the smallest acknowledgment to that family means alot!!  
Stella Rose's Momma


18 comments:

  1. May God bless the brave men and women of the 833rd Engineer Unit.

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  2. Well said. My Mommy's nephew and his wife are currently deployed (for the third time) overseas. At least this time they are not in Afghanistan.
    Love Noodles

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  3. God's blessings to the unit. I can't even imagine. May they be safe and strong.

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  4. They are forever and always in me and MOM's prayers. We know quiet a few who are deployed and have been. And we make sure they know how much we appreciate them and their families.
    Blessings,
    Goose

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  5. Love and blessings to you and your family, we pray for their strength and safety.

    ♥♥♥
    Meredith & Scarlet

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  6. Godspeed to all the service individuals and their families. Having watched my brother-in-law deploy to Afghanistan two times, I can relate to some of the pain and stress. [Clearly it would be worse to have a spouse or parent going].

    We thank them all for their service to help make the world a better place.

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  7. God bless them all

    pughugs
    Bailey, Hazel & Greta & MOm

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  8. We wish them a SAFE Deployment.

    Isn't that where Radar O'Riley was from???

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    1. Yes, it is...thats funny you remembered that!! Shoot we should have taken puddles and pip to visit him!
      stella rose

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  9. To all on both sides of the pond. God bless you all and keep you safe. Have a terrific Tuesday.
    Best wishes Molly

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  10. They are always in our prayers. I keep looking to see a picture of little bean. Hope she is progressing fine.
    Thanks for being a friend
    Sweet William The Scot

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  11. God Bless them all... as the wife of a retired soldier, I am praying for all of them nightly... safe returns!

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  12. We too always keep them in our thoughts. My Daddy's sister was in the Army for over 25 years before she passed away. It was always so hard to watch them leave. In fact, it was gut-wrenching! Never a dry eye in the house. Thanks for sharing such a beautiful story with us about the strong little man.

    Hugs,
    Lily Belle & Muffin

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  13. May they be blessed and return hope safe, to the little ones who need them! I don't think I would be able to stop crying if I saw something like this.
    For the valentine's ball Kirby said :"ok, sounds good! I thought we had to take the picture all together than send it to Mollie! But if we are just supposed to send a picture of ourselves to Mollie that works too" Wewere a bit confused how the picture thing worked, but if we are just sending our pictures into Mollie individually that makes it easier :)

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  14. This made our momma tear up something awful... we hope they return home safely and quickly... and that all the men, women, and dogs can come home safely and quickly.

    We are awfully proud of them, and their families, for being such important parts of our freedom.

    Shelle, Milo, Dixie and Newby,
    http://simpaticodreams.blogspot.com/

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