He is gone ... off to war

[Graehstone]

The berth occupied by the BONHOMME RICHARD is now empty as the waves of the Pacific Ocean slowly lap up against the pilings that held her here in San Diego, safe and at peace.
Wives, mothers, daughters, sons, girlfriends and the occasional stranger all stand there looking out to sea hoping that they will one day again stand here on this now empty pier with tears in their eyes for another reason, one of joy and relief, happiness and gratitude as they hold their loved ones once again in their arms.
Families’ reunited, proud fathers as they march down the plank into the waiting arms of sons and daughters they have only seen in pictures. The newly born that have dreamt the dreams of innocence as their fathers serve, fight and … die, to give them the guarantee of a nation free with every sunrise.
I was not there, last night, nor this morning as the last good byes were said, I’ve seen it before and I shall see it again. My thanks and goodbyes were given over a home cooked meal and homemade cookies as we sat together and watched TV, trying real hard to live life this day like any other day, a day spent with newly met family, a day with friends, with young prospective parents, with a sister that is not of my blood but of my heart, and with her oh so very young and handsomely proud husband as they sit together in my living room on my couch holding hands and putting on a braver face then I am capable of.
The both of them not old enough to be allowed to drink in public, but old enough to die for my right to do so. Just shy, 2 maybe 3 weeks of his 21st birthday as he sits there beaming at his young wife, gently caressing her distended belly and whispering sweet nothings into her navel in the hopes that his little unborn girl will hear and feel his voice and sleep a dreamless sleep, allowing his wife, my sister, to get a good nights sleep as well. Not that anyone will be getting any sleep this night, and if they do it will not be dreamless.
He will miss the birth of his first child by mere days, as she is due anytime between now and Christmas, and I shall become an uncle once more. The four of us are the only “family” we have here during this time of great joy and some small sorrow. His family is far to the north and was not able to be here and of the remnants of hers …. Katrin and I are the only ones, though “others” could have been here, they had … better things to do.
So I will be calling to see if she is well and to see if she has any needs that I can tend to, to offer a shoulder to weep on, to hold her hand in his stead when the days get tough
and the nights tougher.
She has friends close by but I am only a mad dash on the freeway away, and none of us will ever have the need to feel alone during this Christmas season of birth and glad tidings.
War touches every one of us in some form or another, but so does Love and Hope.
It is on these things we must dwell and these things we must nurture, or all the sacrifices of all the fathers and mothers that have put themselves in harms way for us will have been for naught. They will return to us more mature and wiser in the ways of the world and more weary, and that’s where we come in, to keep the home fires burning, to keep them in good cheer as they must do the things that they do and to provide them with support and the knowledge that they are loved and thought of and never, ever forgotten.
I sit here in front of my computer and am humbled by the thought that my “freedom” is being paid for by mere children. I would trade places with him in a heartbeat to give him the opportunity to be here for the birth of his daughter Rebecca Nicole Leavitt and I, in his stead go to war. He has his life ahead of him and I am of little use to anyone now, but such is life. My war has ended, his is just beginning.
I can lament that “Life is not fair” and that this war is a great injustice, and wipe the tears from my face and rip my clothing and yell from the rooftops that my heart and soul are in great pain because my little sister, who has finally found love and happiness, must now sit with baited breath for longer than they have been together and hope his return will light her days and sweeten her nights once more.
The Seagulls slowly glide over the waves as I look out onto the bay where, in the distance, great ships of war go to do their duty, ships that hold our future, our husbands, wives, mothers … and my brother in law, Brandon Leavitt, a fine young man ... and my friend.

[The Outlaw]

What more can I say?

THE OUTLAW

[Lisa B]

Grae,
what you wrote is very touching, and you speak like a soldier. I have heard many vets say the same thing, including my guy, George.
I attended a holiday party yesterday for the NJ Guard, and it was very sad to see all the missing faces I have become fond of. Each time I asked where one person was, the answer was the same. Iraq.

I wish Brandon well, as well as his wife.
She is luciky to have you, and for you to understand the importance of what she will need while he is away, being a soldier.

Brandon is among some wonderful people.....They will work together to keep each other safe....