[Victor H]

After getting my coffee and newspaper I stopped at March Air Force Base just to be there. The sounds and scents of the Base seem to help me in an odd way. I am sure that many vets will understand what I mean.

Anyway, after I pulled into the vacant parking area a large caravan of vehicles soon followed. They were folks from every walk of life and based on their license plates, they were from every region of the U.S.

A guy my age walked up to me and asked if the DC-10 had taken off. Before I could say "no", he explained to me that the guest area for arriving and departing Marines was filled to capacity on the base, and that many people were asked to go to where I was parked.

The DC-10 (actually, an MD-11) was on its way from... to return a large group of Marines from Iraq. After refueling and a change of crews, it was then going to take a larger group to Iraq.

The family members for those arriving and departing were easy to identify, as those expecting their loved ones were talkative and very happy. Those family members waiting to see their loved ones depart were silent, grasping with white knuckles on the chain linked fence while staring across the tarmac at the Marines assembled there. You could feel their fear, worry and silent prayers for the protection of their loved ones. You could feel it like an MS hug...it was intense and unrelenting.

This group of citizens was a vision of sorrow and joy all in one tiny little place called Riverside. It is a snap-shot in time of what is happening all over the country at this very moment.

I have never seen or experienced with such clarity, all of the fear and worry, white knuckles and tears associated with the families of those going to serve. Years ago, my little group always came and went when nobody knew about it, and so we never saw the nightmarish fear that our loved ones would have experienced had they known what we were doing or where we were going.

In this case, this tiny image of American humanity revealed the scale and magnitude of this event. It is enormous.

Today, while that MD-11 is on its way...my heart will continue to bleed for those Marines and especially for their families.

I ask nothing more than this from you: after reading what has been written, just take a second to think about the families and the Marines. Just a second, please.

-Vic

[tovaxin_lab_rat]

Thanks for that snap shot, Vic. Sometimes it is all about being in the right place at the right time.

Another little snippett...

A few minutes ago, watching the Red Sox play, I noticed that during the 7th Inning Stretch, that they played "God Bless America" and everyone stood, a lot of people took off their hats, and held their hands over their hearts. I wonder these days if a lot of people think that "God Bless America" is our National Anthem.

I then I thought about it for a few minutes and related that song back to the Lee Greenwood tribute to the 911 Victims and Heroes. At almost every airshow for a while, there is at least one air show performer that performs a tribute with Lee Greenwood's song, "God Bless The USA" or "God Bless America. "

That's my tribute today to our Heroes.

Thanks Vic...and to our Heroes...may they be safe.

[SandyC]

I do remember driving Jim to his latest deployment and holding onto the fence with white knuckles but for a very different reason. For me it was how much I would miss him while he was on his latest "maneuver", never a fear of whether he would come back, just that I would miss him something fierce. I was only 19 and had a baby on the way, what did I know? Sometimes these maneuvers took place in the daylight hours, sometimes in the middle of the night. It was training after all, right?

If I had known then what I know now (those in the military know what I mean) I would have been scared to death of far worse encounters that would meet my soldier, my lover, husband, best friend. I was too young to know that his company was an 18 hour deployment unit and that many times he was farther than I knew, sometimes out of the country without my knowledge. It was to protect us Americans and the soldiers. While we were told our soldiers were in the field, they were actually in South America or other places. Nuff said about that.

God bless those soldiers who go to Iraq and any other public place and God bless those soldiers who go to places we never hear of. Thanks Vic for the chills and the very vivid snapshot of your morning.

[DM]

Wow Vic~ You have a remarkable way of putting feelings into words. I was touched by your insight into the comings and goings of these American heroes. Something made you go there today. We all need to just take a moment and think about the many sacrifices these brave men and women are willing to give for their country.

Thank you Vic for helping me to remember.....

[yeahbut]

Victor - I want to express myself everything that DM has just said. We live just outside of Bangor, Maine - the last refueling spot on the east coast for planes heading overseas. Military planes land here daily. There has been a group of Maine citizens at the airport 24 hours a day since the first Gulf war 17+ years ago - they meet and greet each and every soldier with a hand shake or hug. Somedays there are 20 -30 volunteers but some days / nights there are only a few, but at all times there is someone there to greet these soldiers. The last time DBF flew in from a trip I went early to see if a plane was coming in but I missed it. Outside the airport there were soldiers smoking or talking on their cell phones. I went to each one, shook their hand and said thank-you. It was nice to see a smile come across their face.

Thank you for your words of wisdom, Victor. DBF & I read them with pride in our hearts and both took several minutes to do as you asked....

[Girlie Girl]

Victor,

Thanks for the reminder of what these men and women do for us. Thank you for the visual as to what their families go through. You brought tears to my eyes and I am glad to shed a tear for them. Their families I am sure shed many more.

Sometimes I think we take our freedom for granted and forget about those who serve for us and that freedom. We need the reminders, at least I do, every once in a while.

I have 3 family members that served in the Marines and my dad in the Air Force. I have so much respect for all of them and all of those who have served. THANK YOU!!!

Tracy

[greta]

I've been in both of those groups - one is heartbreaking the other is unbelievable joy. I hope with all my heart that every single one of those marines makes it home safe and sound to be with their families as quickly as possible.

[SallyC]

Thank You Vic for sharing your experience with us. it truely touched my heart and soul.

I, like Greta, have been in both the sending and receiving line of this scenerio...not in person, but in spirit, as my Son and Army Fiance went off to Iraq and then, a year later, just recently, came home safe and sound.

I continue to keep all out Soldiers and their Families in my thoughts and prayers.