A Grateful Few Gathered There

 A couple of weeks ago, I was priviledged to be at the airport when some of our marines came home. I stood and watched the faces of the moms and wives and other family members for about a half hour before the marines arrived. I saw pride. I saw relief. I saw smiles, but most of all, I saw love.
The Freedom Riders showed up with huge flags and stood in 2 lines for the returning heroes to walk through. Their chests were puffed up with pride.
I witnessed the wife of a fallen marine, standing silently and strongly, waiting to see the group that her husband should have been coming home with.  She kept to one side, almost as if to be careful and not let her presence diffuse the other's joy.  Silent tears streamed down her face and touched her lips that were curved in a smile as her hands were clenched tightly in front of her.
When the men and women arrived, I couldn't speak, didn't want to speak. Wives and moms and dads and brothers and sisters hugged their marines so tightly that they almost melted into each other. I knew that they never wanted to let go. The love there, that night was palpable. I was in awe.
I felt and saw and knew what these families had sacrificed, so that this war could be fought far away from American soil...so that we would not have to experience the evil of terrorism here ever again.
I know that there is a chance that it will happen here again...one day...but I will never forget what these men and woman sacrificed to keep that day from coming.


From His Lap,