"In this world it's not what we take up, but what we give up, that makes us rich." (Henry Ward Beecher)

One Last Thanks to War’s Domestic Heroes

November 25, 2009 at 4:16 am (Uncategorized)

The opportunity to blog, read articles, and read other peoples’ blogs over the past few months opened my mind to many of the unnoticed and unrecognized struggles that families of soldiers face. While I understood that having a loved one overseas was not an easy thing to deal with, I did not understand the complex emotions involved in this separation. Throughout my blog I talked about many struggles the soldiers’ families go through, but a few main topics stand out. Amongst these topics are deployment and its effect on families as well as the significance of e-mail and letter exchanges between soldiers and their families.

Throughout the semester I blogged numerous times about the effect of deployment on families. Whether this deployment results in hurried marriages, the absence of a father for his child’s birth, or simply saying goodbye to kids and wives in order to fight overseas, it is never an easy departure. After reading personal stories, whether in articles or blogs, I now understand these families’ pain better. With this sense of empathy, I question, are enough services provided to families of soldier’s to work through this difficult time in their lives? These men and women, wait at home, wondering and worrying about how their loved one is doing overseas. At the same time, wives and children continue on with their lives and give up the opportunity to share experiences with their soldiers.

So, again, I ask myself, does society provide enough services to these men and women to help them get through their loved one’s deployment. In a sense, I believe society does. Communication is not cut off between families and their soldiers, and in some cases they talk on a daily basis. Still, like stated in a blog that I read, there is still a longing for human contact. Communication is made available for some units and numerous services are provided to families of soldiers back at home. These services include support groups, aid groups for soldiers, and so on. But, the more I listen to the voices of family members, the more obvious it becomes; although services and aid are provided to these family members, only one cure exists, and that is to have their soldier back. Thus, the only solution to this pain and longing is the return of soldiers.

The war in Iraq has been going on for about 8 years now. I remember the beginning of it when I was in 7th grade. I am now a senior in college and still, troops occupy the deserts of the Middle East. I know I sound a bit like a beauty queen trying the win my crown, but I wish that one day world peace could be obtained. Unrealistic right? While we live in a world of violence, hatred and war, I have not lost complete faith in the human race. The same species that created war, also created things such as the Red Cross, Make a Wish Foundation, and dare I say Extreme Home Makeover. Therefore, humans are capable of goodness and compassion for one another. Just think about it, if people took all of their negative energy and channeled it into positive energy, imagine the goodness that would exist in this world. I know that this is a rather optimistic and somewhat naive way of thinking, but in a world of pessimism, someone needs to stay optimistic.

 Therefore, blogging about the effect of war on families gave me a new perspective on war struggles that I never had. These people are soldiers who sacrifice, fight, and give the most precious gift to their countries. While many wish for world peace, the truth remains that we currently live in a state of war and violence. So, as long as war exists and people continue to fight with one another, remember those domestic soldiers sitting at home waiting for their soldier to return. They are the heroes behind the scene whom sacrifice their love and comfort for thier country.