| On August 14th, 2004, "Bravo" Company of the | | | | over $22,000 had been raised so far to take care of |
| Texas National Guard, the unit stationed here in | | | | those left behind. John and I have become friends |
| Stephenville, Texas, was deployed. It had been 64 | | | | throughout the preapartaion for Bravo's deployment |
| years since so many National Guard troops from | | | | and, as he continued to publicly give me credit, |
| Texas were mobilized for an overseas deployment, | | | | soldiers were shaking my hand and thanking me |
| and that was for a world war. Company B is one of | | | | throughout the evening. All I did was what I do: I |
| four brigades of the National Guard's 36th Infantry | | | | sent out eMail broadcasts pertaining to Bravo's |
| Division. It is headquartered in Fort Worth but has | | | | deployment and activities as they were given to me. |
| units spread across North and West Texas, including | | | | In her speach, Bea Marin reminded the wives that, "it |
| Arlington, Irving, Weatherford, Denton, Brownwood | | | | never fails...as soon as your soldier leaves, the washer |
| and, of course, Stephenville. Bravo Company would | | | | breaks or you have car trouble..." That's where Bravo |
| be spending several months at Fort Hood. Then, off | | | | Company's Family Readiness Group comes in. Rogers |
| to Iraq.HUGE turnout by the community as the buses | | | | informed me that any plumbers, carpenters, tire |
| and vehicles filled with crying soldiers crawled down | | | | companies, mechanics....anyone willing to assist the |
| the main drag. Easily over one thousand - perhaps | | | | families left behind in ANY way, should contact him at |
| two? - of flag waving Americans turned out. | | | | 254.965.4243 and he'd help make them |
| Cheering. Crying. Two local radio DJ's set up on the | | | | "official."Regarding the Well-wishing parade on |
| corner where the convoy turned. They were so | | | | Wednesday morning, Rogers said that the unit |
| verklempt, they could hardly speak.I couldn't help but | | | | commander was considering having the bus drive by |
| think of how often throughout America's history | | | | Stephenville's High School, Junior High and Middle |
| towns have gathered as their men marched off to | | | | School so that kids can wave good-bye. The town |
| war. I'm SO proud of our liitle burg. Flag waving, | | | | of Hico actually met the bus with a special reception |
| banners, red, white & blue clothes everywhere, | | | | of emergency vehicles and law enforcement people. |
| school kids holding banners and signs, businesses had | | | | Morgan Mill, Three Way and Lingleville schools joined |
| released everyone who wanted to go. Fire trucks | | | | the well-wishers in Stephenville.The one thing that |
| and police escorted the convoy of big camouflaged | | | | was glaringly obvious at that night's ceremony was |
| trucks, one big greyhound bus, several pick-ups | | | | that, no matter whether one supported the war or |
| loaded with equipment as soldiers saluted. Now THIS | | | | not, was a Republican or a Democrat, suddenly none |
| was a parade! Shouts of "God bless you" and "give | | | | of that mattered. These men were willing to lay their |
| 'em Hell", chants of "Bravo! Bravo!" could be heard. It | | | | lives down for others, and that was truly the finest |
| was awesome. Sniff.I'll never forget the contorted | | | | thing America had to offer. A Great Teacher I know |
| facial features of one soldier driving a pick-up, tears | | | | once said, "Greater love hath no man than this, that |
| streaming down his face, as his wife, baby clenched | | | | a man lay down his life for a friend." To me, that |
| in her arms, ran up to his vehicle for one last hug and | | | | night, I had the privilege of shaking hands with some |
| kiss. Nor will I ever lose the image of the Hispanic | | | | of the bravest Americans I've ever met. As it turned |
| father who found his boy and raced for one last kiss | | | | out, thank God, as of today -Veteran's Day 2005 - |
| on the cheek and squeeze of his neck as the macho | | | | Bravo hasn't lost a man.Good news!I heard Paul |
| soldier cried and bit his lower lip. Double sniff.Bravo, | | | | Harvey on the radio today, stating that Arlington |
| Bravo Company!The previous Monday night's | | | | National Cemetary was making room for 30,000 |
| deployment ceremony marked Company B's first | | | | more miltary graves. My brother-in-law, a US Army |
| moments of active duty. These men were no longer | | | | Brigade Commander, is about to return to Iraq for |
| citizen/soldiers; they were just soldiers. As a | | | | another 2-year tour. It made me feel a bit sad, |
| Sergeant called "Company B....attention!", the men, | | | | thinking on these things. But when I got to work, I |
| numbering about 70, snapped to their feet, in some | | | | had good news. I was informed that Bravo's ETA |
| cases, their children with their arms wrapped around | | | | was January 7th, 2006. One of the wives told me |
| their legs. Tears began to flow as the Sergeant read | | | | this and promised to keep me informed. I promised |
| their marching orders, straight from the Governor's | | | | her I'd be right in the thick of the plans for the |
| office. I felt a lump in my throat myself as he read | | | | welcome home celebration. John Rogers had popped |
| the part about them being away no less than | | | | in to see me just yesterday. I promised him the |
| 500-something days. All I could think was that any | | | | same.It's exciting and I marvel at how the whole |
| 2-year old would be four and any high school junior | | | | thing continually gets me choked up. I must be |
| would have graduated by the time they get | | | | getting old.Do something special for these people |
| home.The turn-out was impressive - about 300 or so | | | | iwhen they come marching home to your community. |
| - and there was enough food, drinks, ice and dessert | | | | Welcome these brave men and women back home |
| to feed us all. V.W. Stevens let Company B have his | | | | with eveything you got. Many feel as though they've |
| City Hall banquet facility at no charge. The fish dinner | | | | been to Hell and back.Let's give 'em Heaven.UPDATE: |
| was donated by the Bass Club. Pies and cakes were | | | | Today, December 21, 2005, the plans were finalized |
| baked by some lovely women who've had this | | | | for our welcome Home Celebration. I signed the |
| deployment experience in days gone by. Some have | | | | Parade Permit myself. A friend, a City Councilman, |
| even lost some soldiers themselves in previous | | | | called the Police Chief and Fire Marshall to get them |
| wars.The Deployment Ceremony lasted less than | | | | to escort the Company to their Welcome Home |
| two hours and included speeches from armed service | | | | dinner. I had already designed an ad which I |
| veterans such as Bea Marin and former Stephenville | | | | broadcast to the media and about 700 business and |
| Mayor John Moser. There were lots of tears, lots of | | | | community leaders. Basically, we'll be lining the streets, |
| pictures, lots of soldiers and their wives sitting close | | | | honking horns, car lights on, ringing cowbells and |
| with their arms around each other. I asked one | | | | playing patriotic music while we wave flags,yellow |
| soldier "so, what's it like?", referring to his upcoming | | | | ribbons, and banners. The convoy will follow behind |
| deployment. He answered that he had been deployed | | | | Police and Fire trucks while we line the parade route |
| once before during Desert Storm but added, "I didn't | | | | to their Welcome Home dinner. Already, the |
| have my kids then." He shook my hand, smiled and | | | | excitement is mounting! If you'd like a copy of the |
| said, "See ya in two years, I hope."Veteran John | | | | flyer we designed, just write . |
| Rogers, the coordinator for the event, reported that | | | | |