thedrifter
09-04-07, 07:38 AM
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
Homecoming of son from Iraq is a moment so sweet
Watching my son come home from Iraq was a highlight I'll never forget.
By DEBBIE RICHARDSON
Special to the Register
I never imagined my son going to war.
When he deployed to Iraq, he promised that he would come home because he was highly trained. I thought about all the other "highly trained" young men and women who did not come home. After I endured months of anxiety, lack of sleep and worry, he did, in fact, come home.
I cannot begin to explain the feeling of seeing these young Marines get off the bus in Twentynine Palms.
The original arrival time was 2 p.m. Then it was changed to 4. Then 6. Then 8. As we stood on the soccer field, we watched the sun go down and felt the temperature drop. We were finally told that the buses had arrived in nearby Joshua Tree … they were almost home!
When the motorcycle escorts came through, and the police escorts with lights flashing, you could feel the excitement building. Then, finally, the buses, with Marines hanging out the windows.
Everyone forgot about how cold it was and how late it was (11:45 p.m.). People were yelling and crying. You had to find your Marine in the sea of camouflage. Our son saw us as the buses were pulling in, as there were about 45 people with signs with his name and unit on them. I was so relieved knowing that he and his men were home that I just stood in place and cried.
Ellie
Homecoming of son from Iraq is a moment so sweet
Watching my son come home from Iraq was a highlight I'll never forget.
By DEBBIE RICHARDSON
Special to the Register
I never imagined my son going to war.
When he deployed to Iraq, he promised that he would come home because he was highly trained. I thought about all the other "highly trained" young men and women who did not come home. After I endured months of anxiety, lack of sleep and worry, he did, in fact, come home.
I cannot begin to explain the feeling of seeing these young Marines get off the bus in Twentynine Palms.
The original arrival time was 2 p.m. Then it was changed to 4. Then 6. Then 8. As we stood on the soccer field, we watched the sun go down and felt the temperature drop. We were finally told that the buses had arrived in nearby Joshua Tree … they were almost home!
When the motorcycle escorts came through, and the police escorts with lights flashing, you could feel the excitement building. Then, finally, the buses, with Marines hanging out the windows.
Everyone forgot about how cold it was and how late it was (11:45 p.m.). People were yelling and crying. You had to find your Marine in the sea of camouflage. Our son saw us as the buses were pulling in, as there were about 45 people with signs with his name and unit on them. I was so relieved knowing that he and his men were home that I just stood in place and cried.
Ellie