I found this beautifully
written letter from the
Marine Wives
website, written by the website owners.
I would like
to share it with you all. It eloquently describes
what we as military
spouses are feeling at a time like this.
"An
Open Letter to Military Spouses and Significant Others"
Those serving
in the military are at a the bottom of a large looming mountain. America
is at a dangerous crossroads. The men and women serving in the United States
Armed Forces may and likely will be called upon to do the unthinkable,
the taking of another's life in an event called war. Many do not know what
they will do, many have not realized that this was part of their chosen
profession. Yet, it is a sad fact. It is even a sadder fact that the men
and women currently serving may not return from the top of the mountain
they are likely to be asked to climb.
There are many
currently serving that joined simply for the education benefits. While
others enlisted to leave small town America and see the world. They have
dreams, hopes, and aspirations. Many may never fulfill their dreams, realize
their hopes, or achieve their aspirations for they may not return from
the mountain.
Many of you reading
this are frightened, some are angry, and some are already feeling the pain
of loss for those that have not returned. Some of you are experiencing
terror at the thought of the loss of your loved one. All of this is to
be expected. But you MUST deal with this reality.
The active duty
persons and the reservists are just as frightened, just as angry, just
as terrified at the possibility. They are worried about you. Many can not
express their feelings, for they are unfamiliar even to them. They are
concerned about you, their mission, their unit, and their country. They
are at the same time proud of you, proud to serve their country, and know
they have a "job" to do.
While they want
to hold you, to caress you, and never let go of you they have a duty to
perform. The duty they must now perform does not have a time clock. It
does not follow a schedule, nor does it come with the understanding that
they will return. Their duty is now, as it always has been an around the
clock, seven days a week, 365 days a year devotion. It is this devotion
that will enable them to climb the mountain, to stand atop that mountain
waving the symbol of freedom, and to safely return from the mountain.
There is also
much that you can do. You can prepare. You can be accepting of the differences
that are going to occur. You are going to be called upon to make sacrifices
for it is part of being a military spouse. You are going to be asked to
mind the children, to spend long lonely seemingly endless hours wondering
if your spouse is OK.
For those who
do return from the mountain, they will be changed. They will be different
in their feelings, in their actions, in their outlook. You are going to
be asked to be compassionate about the things they did or may have done.
You are going to asked to be understanding about things that don't seem
to be understandable. You are going to be asked to be caring about things
that you are not even concerned with at this moment.
All of these things
are part of being a military spouse. The worry, the tears, the compassion.
You are going to be asked to console friends whose husband or wife didn't
return from the mountain. You are going to need shield these spouses. To
protect them from the prying eyes of the public, from the frenzied media
coverage, from the unknowing, the uncaring, and to give them strength when
you seemingly have no more strength to give for this to is part of being
a military spouse.
You are going
to be asked to endure the constant questions - Why? Where? When? Why is
the military ____ ? Where is _____ ? When is _____ coming home? These are
all questions that you are going to hear. These are the questions that
you are going to be asked. Sadly you will only be able to answer "I don't
know" for you will realize in the first few moments of them being gone
that any other answer may result in their loss. Your silence will be their
protection as they scale the mountain to victory.
It is now that
you, as a group, must unite. To accept these thoughts, these conditions,
and these realities. For it is only as a inseparable, cohesive band of
sisters and brothers that we will get through this. No one understands
what the military spouse goes through unless they have been a military
spouse. No one can fathom the feelings the military spouse feels unless
they have been a military spouse. You are one with each other and like
the ivy clinging to the tree you MUST support each other, protect each
other, and be proud of each other.
God bless every
one of you.
written
by BJ & Cindy Chadduck
www.marinewives.com
GET
YOUR COMPUTER FLAG & SHOW YOUR PATRIOTISM!
I found this
site through my mother in law and have downloaded
my computer flag.
Get yours by clicking on the image below. I
am displaying
ours proudly. *I downloaded the800 x 600 image
and I have a
19" monitor, 17" viewable screen. If you have a smaller
screen, then
download the smaller image. After clicking on the
"download 800
x 600" or "download 640 x 840". I right clicked
and selected
"Set As Wallpaper".
In memory of all
the victim's, victim's families,
firefighters,
policemen, & rescue workers. In honor of all
branches of the
military, our President, and the USA.
Click HERE
to get back to our home page.
