Post by Sam on Oct 19, 2006 14:18:45 GMT -6
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For the last two days I have been taking calls on the switchboard
from women all around this state and surrounding states. I heard the excitement in their voices and I was surprised that I had not been notified about the event and therefore had no information to give them. They all seemed to know more than I did about what was going on and were merely asking me where a certain arena was here on campus.
Finally, one of the women told me she was coming here to meet her husband who was coming home from Iraq. I immediately picked up on the excitement in her voice and felt goose bumps rising all over my body.
At the time, I was very surprised there was no campus wide celebration planned. Later, I understood this was a much more private homecoming.
Today over my lunch hour, I walked over to the arena and there were six military buses there. They were pulling out and I waved and smiled at each of the men. I noticed a row of beautiful Harleys parked by the building. Each one had an American flag bound to it.
Not being too familiar with the campus, I turned and headed back to where I work and I spotted a woman hurrying toward the same area I was leaving. I asked her if she was heading to the arena and she was. She told me she had parked on the other side of the campus and was lost.
I told her to come with me and together we would find it. I asked her if she was meeting her husband there today and she said, "No. I am the State Senator ."
We walked together into the building and I spotted the arena area and we rushed toward it together. The place was packed with people and standing in the middle were all of these soldiers lined up and at attention.
She rushed forward to take her position with the other people she was to meet there, and I hung back by the door.
There was a whole regiment of Harley Riders standing near where I had stopped and I noticed how quiet and orderly they stood.
There were all kinds of political figures gathered on a stage giving welcome home speeches to these men.
I searched the faces of these soldiers looking for clues of tiredness or fatigue, but they showed no emotion at all. They all stood orderly and at attention.
When they had finished with the speeches and the soldiers had been told to be at ease I also heard one of the men in uniform on the stand holler "Go!"
All of the soldiers and all of the men, women and children started running toward each other and grabbing each other. One couple actually fell down on the arena floor as they reached each other.
It was so moving to me, I cried.
At that time, I also noticed several soldiers waiting for someone to run to them, standing and searching the crowd. Then I saw the look, the sadness, the wondering, the tiredness, the fatigue.
One of the Harley Riders spoke up right at that moment and said, "Let's go welcome these people home, " and off they went to meet them and shake their hands.
I turned and left the arena.
Sam
For the last two days I have been taking calls on the switchboard
from women all around this state and surrounding states. I heard the excitement in their voices and I was surprised that I had not been notified about the event and therefore had no information to give them. They all seemed to know more than I did about what was going on and were merely asking me where a certain arena was here on campus.
Finally, one of the women told me she was coming here to meet her husband who was coming home from Iraq. I immediately picked up on the excitement in her voice and felt goose bumps rising all over my body.
At the time, I was very surprised there was no campus wide celebration planned. Later, I understood this was a much more private homecoming.
Today over my lunch hour, I walked over to the arena and there were six military buses there. They were pulling out and I waved and smiled at each of the men. I noticed a row of beautiful Harleys parked by the building. Each one had an American flag bound to it.
Not being too familiar with the campus, I turned and headed back to where I work and I spotted a woman hurrying toward the same area I was leaving. I asked her if she was heading to the arena and she was. She told me she had parked on the other side of the campus and was lost.
I told her to come with me and together we would find it. I asked her if she was meeting her husband there today and she said, "No. I am the State Senator ."
We walked together into the building and I spotted the arena area and we rushed toward it together. The place was packed with people and standing in the middle were all of these soldiers lined up and at attention.
She rushed forward to take her position with the other people she was to meet there, and I hung back by the door.
There was a whole regiment of Harley Riders standing near where I had stopped and I noticed how quiet and orderly they stood.
There were all kinds of political figures gathered on a stage giving welcome home speeches to these men.
I searched the faces of these soldiers looking for clues of tiredness or fatigue, but they showed no emotion at all. They all stood orderly and at attention.
When they had finished with the speeches and the soldiers had been told to be at ease I also heard one of the men in uniform on the stand holler "Go!"
All of the soldiers and all of the men, women and children started running toward each other and grabbing each other. One couple actually fell down on the arena floor as they reached each other.
It was so moving to me, I cried.
At that time, I also noticed several soldiers waiting for someone to run to them, standing and searching the crowd. Then I saw the look, the sadness, the wondering, the tiredness, the fatigue.
One of the Harley Riders spoke up right at that moment and said, "Let's go welcome these people home, " and off they went to meet them and shake their hands.
I turned and left the arena.
Sam
