Saying Good Bye?

[Raven]

Sunday we went to a dinner at my brother's house. It was made in honor of one of my nephews. He had enlisted in the Navy and was leaving this past Monday morning.
Throughout the whole dinner thoughts came to my mind. I saw this young man grow up and time seems to have passed so fast. Memories of him as a little boy came back to mind. He is such a sweet person and I hate to see him go. If we were not in the situation we are in the present with the threat of warfare, I wouldn't feel so bad. Maybe I am being selfish but I don't want to have him lose his life at such a young age. He is barely 18 yrs old. Then I think that it is a great priviledge for him to serve our country and it still doesn't make me feel any better.

My niece, his sister, is in the reserve also and is on call. She has two small children and on her own. I think about her babies too and that makes me feel even worse. My sister-in-law is having a hard time with this too. The possibility of losing them both is very hard for her. As a mother, I can understand her fear and pain.

Before I left that night, I hugged him and put him in God's hands. Gave him his blessing and hoped that this was not going to really be good-bye. I pray that all those that do have to go will also come back home to their loved ones. This is one the reasons why I hate wars. I understand we are not being given much choice by Bin Laden and the terrorists but the feelings I have are still lingering in my heart.

I pray that those who died in WTC attack are in a better place now and that their loved ones have the strength needed to go on. This has been an incredible event which has hurt so many people. I doubt that those of us who are living during these events will ever forget the horror of it.

Do any of you feel this way also?

Thanks all for listening, I just needed to vent. http://sci.rutgers.edu/forum/images/smilies/frown.gif


Raven

[Shawn]

That's what we here for Raven, i.e. to listen, support, advise and assist where ever we can. Watching a loved one go to war and not knowing whether they'll return or not, must be a terrible thing to go through but, have faith and trust in GOD.

[Curt Leatherbee]

You have to figure though that the military is going to plan as much as possible and put these Service men in harms way as little as possible to keep the casualties as low as possible. This is more or less a war of intelligence than anything else. I am sure lots of new Air deployed weapons will be used and that we will be giving the guys as much screening from the Air as possible whenever we do have people deployed on the ground. So I am sure he is in fairly safe hands, that you have to believe, chances are pretty darn good that he will come home safely, probabley a lot more so than if he was going to Vietnam in 1967. Take care and try not to worry, Curtis http://sci.rutgers.edu/forum/images/smilies/smile.gif

[Sue Pendleton]

Raven, It is my sincerest wish that your family never be given a flag folded in the shape of a triangle and hear the ceremonial words that end in, "from a grateful nation".

People join the services for many reasons. But I believe that the vast majority, even though they feel it sounds too old fashioned to say it, also join to protect everything they believe in. Everything we often take for granted in our own country. No soldier, no sailor, no airman, no marine wants to go to war. It is that we as a country, have a volunteer force, that is always ready, is always vigilant that we rarely see what many countries live with daily.

You should be very proud of your family members and we should all be thankful they are there, ready to defend us. But there is nothing wrong, and you will be joining many of those men and women, when you pray every night that peace reigns again in the morning.

And yes, they are the best trained, the best outfitted force in the world. With the best weapons and the best intelligence the services can provide them and that buys a lot of security for their lives as well as our own.

[Raven]

Thanks everyone for your input and effort to cheer me up.

I guess my recent losses still are lingering in my mind and heart.

Something else I was attempting to do is to find out how many more might be having a hard time to deal with this horrific attack.

One of the things I have noticed in me is my inability to sleep well and having nightmares just about everytime I go to sleep, even in the daytime. http://sci.rutgers.edu/forum/images/smilies/rolleyes.gif

How has everyone been dealing with the present threat of chemical attacks or warfare? http://sci.rutgers.edu/forum/images/smilies/confused.gif

Sue,

Several of my family members have received the folded flag although it has not been because of their losing their lives in the service. I also hope none of us ever have to get one as you have said in that type of ceremony.

My prayers for each and everyone in this world. Maybe one day, we will have peace among all of mankind.


Raven

[This message was edited by Raven on September 28, 2001 at 01:55 AM.]