Support the Troops!

Today I dropped off my car and picked up my work car at the National Guard armory. I was talking to the sergeant that is always there that takes care of the building daily. I was asking him about the people I saw get on the bus last week, and their cars parked at the armory. He said they were in southern California for 2 more weeks finishing their training. They will come back and have 2 weeks then go to Texas and get issued their equipment and do some more training then come back for a week and then go to Afghanistan. I asked when the unit will go and he said they would be leaving for Afghanistan about December 15. I said it was too bad that they couldn't wait until after Christmas. He said many of the soldiers thought the same thing until the commander reminded them that they would be gone for exactly a year. If they leave before Christmas then they will come back before Christmas. I thought about what I would rather do, and I agree with their thinking. It made me think of the some of the Christmases I spent overseas in the Army. My first Christmas I can remember in Germany all the families got together to sing around the community Christmas Tree. It was great, they had a ceremony and the families all tried to make the soldiers feel less lonely. I was an officer, so I had to support the families efforts to make the people feel less lonely. I felt worse, I had to put on this facade to make everyone think I was happy when inside I was crying. I was happy when it got dark, because I could allow my tears to flow. I felt so depressed, and couldn't let anyone know! I remember when I was a company commander in Korea and it was Christmas. Again, I had to make everyone forget they were alone in Korea and that they all had family, each other, and support each other. I got a party together with the senior sergeants and the junior officers. I made an appearance at the party and then left. I knew that no one could be comfortable if I was around, since I was the senior officer. I left the party and went downtown. I remember it very vividly in my mind right now. I walked downtown, it was very very cold and snow, just like Christmas is supposed to be. I was walking around downtown and there was a cute little white church. I stopped outside and listened as the church choir was practicing for the midnight service. I couldn't understand the words, but I remember they were singing the Korean version of Silent Night and O Come All Ye Faithful. I can remember standing outside that little church and listening. I wanted to walk in, but didn't know if it was ok, so I stood outside! I stood there crying, thinking about the first Christmas in Germany, and how I was just as lonely as I was that night 6 years previously. I hope I am never that lonely again, and I hope I can prevent people from having that feeling also!