Army Strong

I will never forget one of the most life-changing days in my Army Brat experience. Every now and then something will remind me, and I re-live it as though it just happened yesterday...

I was 10 years old, and we were stationed in Vilseck, Germany. My Papa had just deployed to Iraq (at the beginning of Operation Iraqi Freedom) and my Mama, siblings and I were trudging out of the post gym after giving lots of long "see ya later" hugs and kisses and watching him hoist up his rucksack and leave to board the bus. I remember desperately trying to wrap my mind around the fact that it would be months and months before we would see him again, as I became caught up in a strange stupor of feeling momentarily detached from reality.

We were in our van, pulling away from the gym, when we saw a young woman walking alone along the side of the road. She had been in the gym too, sitting behind us on the bleachers and holding on to her soldier until the very last second, then a goodbye kiss and he was gone with the rest of them, off to deploy across the globe to a war zone for the next year.

My mom suddenly pulled the van over to the side of the road and asked if the young woman needed a ride somewhere; she said yes, expressed her gratitude, and got in.
The image of what happened next will forever be imprinted on my mind: my mother leaned over, wrapped her arms around this young woman and they held each other and sobbed.

It was heartbreaking, and yet at the same time it was one of the most wonderful moments I've ever witnessed. Watching this unexpected scene unfold before my young eyes, the tears began to stream down my own face as I saw the instantaneous bond of love and camaraderie that was formed between these two amazing Army wives who were feeling the fresh pain of enormous sacrifice....sending their husbands, their United States Soldiers, off to war.

I was only 10 years old, but I learned so much that day, from that one simple but impactful scene.
That day I learned that Army wives aren't strong because they're invincible, but because they know how to share the burdens of military life and encourage one another.

I also learned the profound lesson that words are not always a necessary component to bringing comfort to someone. Sometimes you just need to put your arms out and hold them, and share tears with them, because you understand their hurt and feel their pain, and that simple gesture brings more comfort to a soul than any pep talk ever could.
That day, I got to see my mother put Romans 12:15b ("weep with those who weep") into action, and it taught me life lessons I'll never forget.

I fell even more in love with my Army heritage that day, and am increasingly blessed to say that I have seen, felt, and lived the definition of what it is to be truly, "Army Strong."
And that, ladies and gentlemen, is why I am so very proud to be called "Army Brat," the product of such a rich and lasting legacy.