miller20621

Not sure if this is the appropriate forum, but what the heck, its Veterans Day for a few more minutes....

My DH has been in Iraq for 8 months, and was able to come home for two weeks R&R this month. This week, he had to return to his base in the Anbar province- and it was quite a sendoff!

I was able to escort him to the gate, thanks to an allowance by Delta Airlines. The Delta ticket agent issued me a pass to go thru security to the gate with my DH. Once we got the gate, it was overwhelming....at least a half-dozen other passengers came up to my husband during the hour wait at the gate, shook his hand and said "thanks" for serving our country.

My husband was speechless- it was not exactly the feedback he expected after seeing the local newspapers for 2 weeks. (its like they are reporting about a different country than the one I know, he once said)

Once my husband was boarded, and I stood at the gate alone, a passenger came up to me and said: "I know that the family at home makes a sacrifice, too, and know that its appreciated." My eyes teared up and I said something dumb like 'military life has its ups and downs!!'. Ugh! Did I really say that? I really meant to say that I miss him already...but such is the call of duty.

Thanks to all those who take a moment to ask the military where they are headed, thanks to those who say "thanks" for your service, and thanks to those on this board for giving me travel ideas for when my DH returns!

CaliNurse

What a beautiful post!!! Thanks to your husband for his service, and to you for the sacrifices you make. As one who tries to express adequate appreciation to members of our military, it amazes and humbles me that THEY are so appreciative of just a few simple words of gratitude.

tcapp

Thanks for your wonderful post. It should make all of us stop and think.
Thanks to your hubby and all the others who work so hard to keep us safe. Thanks, to you also, for your sacrifice.

LoveItaly

Hello miller, thank you for relating the experience that you and your husband had at that airport. I can only imagine how touched you both were.

miller, we have Travis AFB just a few miles south of us so we see military people and their families all the time here. After 911 they were not allowed to wear their uniforms or fatigues off base due to security reason but you could usually tell who was military anyway, their haircut, their posture etc.
Now they are allowed to leave the base in their uniforms and fatigues.

One thing I have noticed a lot. People here will often insist that the military people get in front of them at the cash register line. It is so touching. About three weeks ago our supermarket only had about 3 registers out of a dozen open. The lines were horrible. A young military man with his wife and toddler got at the end of the line I was in. The couple behind me insisted they go ahead of them, I did the same. Well each person in line also responded and that darling family were up at the cash register before you could blink. The fellow had a red face but the sweetest grin(bet he wasn't over 22 years of age)you ever saw. The darling wife almost looked a little dazed and tearyeyed. Kind of gave me a lump in my throat to tell you the truth.

BTW, one thing that I do is this. I receive United Airlines FF miles through my shopping at Safeway. I no longer use United Airlines. When I get a statement from them I call have the FF miles donated for the use of either military personnel flying to their nearest hometown airport or for their family members to fly to where they are when they arrive back in the US. Have a few friends that started doing this also. Another small way to say thank you to our heros if anyone has FF miles they do not intend to use. Not sure if all airlines allow this but it just takes a moment to call and find out.

And thank you miller for the daily sacrifice all of you in your family make for the rest of us. Blessings be with you and your dear husband and all of your loved ones.

djkbooks

I could not agree more! Whenever we see anyone in armed forces uniform we make it a point to go over and thank them for serving our country. It's amazing how many people do not - but even more amazing when once we've done this everyone around joins in.

Sooosally

miller, thank you so much for your sacrifice. It's got to be really hard to send your husband off like that. And please, tell him thank you as well. Grateful doesn't even begin to express it!!!

And, thanks for sharing your experience at the airport. I'm so glad you and your husband had that experience.

bonniebroad

miller20621, please thank your husband for me. I appreciate what he does for all of us so much. I thank you also ... it isn't easy to be the one at home. Bless you both!

tlbooz

My son just got back today after doing an 18 month tour of duty. When I traveled during the time he was away, I would approach a soldier and ask them if they were coming or going. Depending on his response, I would either wish him luck or tell him to have the best 2 weeks of R&R any soldier could wish for. Believe me when I say that my heart pains for the mother of the soldier that replaced my son but I am so relieved that my son came home alive.

LoveItaly

tlbooz, how wonderful your dear son is now home!! I would imagine your family will have an especially beautiful Thanksgiving this year. Best wishes and tell your son thank you.

cb

This is the type of post that should be at the top. All good things that we should be thankful for... No differences of opinion, just unselfish people doing what they feel needs to be done, and those of us that are greatful to them.

wanderluster

To all veterans and those in uniform -

We are very grateful for your service
and sacrifice for America.

Thank you and God Bless America!

klr6773

Nothing like the first post I read in the morning bringing tears to my eyes! I don't know too many people in the military, but I do know how painful it was for one of my best friends when her husband (and father to their 1 1/2 year old daughter) had to ship out for a year...in his honor,during that time,whenever someone came to pick up a "welcome home type cake" at the bakery dept(I was the bakery manager at a Costco) I always paid for the cake out of my pocket before they arrived and attached the reciept with a quick note of thanks...it was my own little way of thanking all of our wonderful service people from the area.It was such a fun thing to do,and remaining annonymous was the way I did it(unless someone recognizes me on this site!)

JJ5

And if you have extra phone time minutes some of the companies let them donate to overseas military phone time on their systems.

We also in our town buy phone time cards and send them. Some of the phone and computer set ups get so overused and busy that other private systems can be used with these paid card minutes. Email is wonderful but some of these couples just love to hear the voice, you know.

I'm glad that others are being thankful and considerate to our traveling military or just those who are stationed at or near "home" right now.

Believe me I do know what the men feel like when the opposite is true. When my first husband came home on leave from Vietnam- the home response just devastated him.

P_M

Not many posts on this board will bring tears to my eyes, but this one has. Thanks to both you and your DH for your sacrifices.

weski

Many troops coming home seem to come via Baltimore - one of the more moving times I was there was when a large group of them walked through the terminal and the waves of applause followed them as they went on to where they were going. I have been on several flights where a nice person in first class either gave up their seat or upgraded a service person. It's nice to see the change in attitude since Vietnam. We owe our many freedoms to those who have fought and to those who are currently serving our country, both near and far. Thank you.

ufgator

miller, thank you for the sacrifices you and DH make for our country. Thanks for sharing that story. We've thanked military men in airports before. Many of my family members have served in the military (father, grandfathers, etc.). Thank you!

travelgirlatl

What a great and touching post. I have been on several flights lately where the flight attendents came on the loudspeaker and said there were members of our armed force aboard and thanked them. I think this is wonderful, and as things should be. I thank God every day for the sacrifices men like your husband--as well as their female counterparts--and all their families make each and every day to keep this country free.

So many thanks to your husband, you, and y'all's family. And God bless.

BostonGal

What a beautiful post, thank you miller.
You brought tears to my eyes. I love hearing stories like this one.
My husband travels a lot for work, and a few months ago, I forget where he was, but he was in some airport and a group of men and women in uniform were walking together through the terminal, and EVERY single person that was in the area stood up and applauded. So amazing.
Thanks again, and thanks to your husband!

Travelkitty

Beautiful post. My brother served in Afghanistan for almost a yean and I know how hard it can be on the family waiting at home.

One thing I've started doing is visiting the Any Soldier site that has addresses for military personnel who'd love to get some mail. I often send care packages, especially on holidays, but a lot of the people just want some mail to break up the boredom. Now, whenever I go on a trip, I try to pick up some fun picture postcards and either include them in my packages or send them to one of the service people who've requested mail.

http://anysoldier.com/index.cfm

deborahmcginnis

I, too, am moved to tears to hear the stories of kindness. My husband travels a great deal & says that, more than once, he's seen folks travelling in 1st/Business class give up their seats to military persons.