It is hard to believe it was really five years ago our country became involved in the war in Iraq.
Five years of change—in Iraq, and here on the home front. Five years that have given the Iraqis their freedom—and made mine more secure. Five years that have not been without pain and sacrifice.
I watched my cousin Casey get married in his Army uniform, and leave his new bride to fight for another man’s freedom. Suddenly, those weren’t just soldiers in Iraq. Those were our boys fighting over there.
Then Robert died in Marine boot camp, before he ever had a chance to fight for the land he loved. The sacrifice of patriotism became intensely real as I watched them hand that folded flag to his mother, my own mother’s childhood playmate.
And then Doug was killed. Bombs explode in Iraq every day. But one roadside bomb made the War in Iraq more real to me than any news report could ever make it. Just like that, our little town lost a boy overseas. And a mother lost her pride and joy.
Now I am a mother. The last five years have brought me five hundred miles from my hometown. When the war started, I was a college student, working at the State Capitol. Now I am a farmer’s wife, working at our family farm’s antique and produce market.
I wake up every morning with my husband right beside me, our little girl cooing happily in her crib nearby. At four months old, she knows nothing yet of war and fighting. She can play happily with her toys, without being whisked off to hide in a bomb shelter. We are free to raise our daughter as our conscience dictates, on land that we own, worshipping a God we believe in.
And after five years of fighting, the same can be true for the parents of all the little girls and boys in Iraq.
Thanks to Casey, Robert, Doug, and countless soldiers like them.
No, these last five years have not been without sacrifice. Thoughts of that twenty-one gun salute still move me to tears. And I pray I will never again have to listen to Taps being played for someone I knew. But I am so thankful for the soldiers who have spent the last five years fighting on foreign soil, so that the next five years will be safer here in the land we love.
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Five years in Iraq
as a follow-up to the article I wrote 5 years ago
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7 comments:
Thank you, Gretchen.
--An Army Wife
Thanks Gretchen. May we never forget the sacrifices that purchase our freedom.
Wow! - That had me starting to choke up with tears. I've recently been meeting more and more young men that are part of the army and it really does bring the war closer to the home front when you know others over there.
Thank you for your thoughts, Gretchen. Those men fighting truly are sacrificing themselves and the courage of them and their families is awe-inspiring.
I would ask you to consider, though, what tangible, visible freedom has actually been gained. What has five years accomplished other than tearing apart another sovereign nation like our own? Iraq is no more free; it is war-torn. Force will not make Iraq into the kind of nation that God-fearing men and Biblical concepts were able to make America into.
Just something to think about.
This post really touched me, Gretchen. I have always had a heart for our military, but more and more often lately I am reminded again of how thankful I really am for all of the brave men and women who so tirelessly serve our country so that we can be safe and free. I only wish that I could do more, say more, to show how thankful I really am. We will be forever indebted!
~Emily
Oh my goodness that was an excellent article and so very real..it's only when we lose the ones we love that it truly hits home...the whole war is sad, but our countrymen are there for a reason it's to bring freedom and joy and liberty to Iraqui's and we should never take our dear soldiers for granted. They do so much for us every day, the sacrifices they make is enormous, they die for us...the very least we owe is respect and love for them! I say this because i see so many Americans none on YLCF and none that i know luckily..but i've seen and heard some folks that don't appreciate our soldiers that don't give credit to them that is due..and i think that's so sad.
I am behind you all that are overseas, i love you all, deeply appreciate and respect you for all you do.
Please know that the majority of Americans respect your mission,and we love you from the bottom of our hearts.
There is a great site i can't remember the name, but there is a web site where you can post messages for soldiers and it's sent overseas to soldiers randomly, but i'm sure it brings smiles to their faces..:)
I'll try to find the web site for you girls..:)
And Lara, we are behind you and your man. He is our hero..:)
Thank you for all you do and for the encouragement you bring to him each day that he is with you, and I thank him too for all he does for this country.
Thank you!
take care everyone!
May God bless you all richly!
Blessings & hugs!
To God be all glory!
PTL
In Him, Jane.
That's a great post Gretchen. I'm behind the troops all the way, it's so sad when people over here are holding anti war protests and burning flags while these brave men are fighting and dying just to give them the freedom to slander our country.
I know what you mean by bringing the war home, one of my best friend's brothers just joined Marine Corp Infantry and one of our missionaries' sons just got back from Iraq. But praise God, I've never had to hear a twenty-one gun salute for someone I've known.
Just a short thought for Renee....
Before we invaded Iraq, the country was ruled by a dictator who did oppress his people. Our troops overthrew Sadaam and today are helping the Iraqi people set up their own democracy, while working on removing the remaining terrorists in the country. Although the country is war-torn, the people there have infinately more freedom than they did before. Soldiers have even found mass graves of Iraqis that shows that more brutality was taking place under Sadaam than we know about today. Once Iraq is free from terrorists, they will not be fearfull for their lives and will be much more open to hearing the Gospel and rejecting Islam.
In Christ
~Helen
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