Saturday, 26 July 2008

• Currently Gaming Lego Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures By Lucas Arts Entertainment see related

  Welcome Home John!!

  Remember back in December when Jeff and I were the koumbara for a wonderful couple from our church? We celebrated their wedding and had an early Christmas with them since the husband was headed back to Iraq. This past Thursday the children and I had the honor of going to Hunter Army Air Field with his wife, Jolene, and greeting him (and his fellow soldiers) as the returned from 15 months in Iraq!! Can I just say, if you ever get the opportunity to go to a homecoming ceremony, do it!! What a moving thing. I usually tear up when I see troops returning on TV but to see it in person. WOW!

  We arrived at HAAF about an hour before the ceremony was to start. We found somewhere to sit and waited...and waited. Did you know that hangers are NOT air conditioned? LOL About 30 minutes before the ceremony was to begin a gentleman went around the crowd with a mic to ask where people were from and who they were there for. At about 4:10, the hanger doors close and everyone starts screaming and clapping. That is the signal that the troops are lining up outside ready to march in. We all made signs and had good seats.

   

  

  Kids waiting for the soldier to enter.

  

  Symeon with his sign and flag.

  Then the doors open.

  

  

  There is a short ceremony (less than 10 min) and then they are given permission to break formation. And it is a mad dash to find your loved one! Now on TV, it looks so easy. Husbands and wives run toward each other and hug immediately. Yeah, that didn't happen! LOL It took us probably a full five minutes to find John. At one point, I told Jolene that he must have gotten left behind. And apparently John was starting to think that no one came for him. LOL But finally we found him...

  

  Husband and wife reunite!!

  Then it was time to find the kids.

  

  John hugged each of them. He hugged Andrew first because his sign said, "I'm the favorite. Hug me first!" (Andrew is John's favorite Newport LOL).

  Before we left the hanger, the children insisted on pictures by the helicopter.

  

  And since Jeffrey was along, he got to carry the back pack to the truck! He acted real tough but when we got into the car (and out of John's earshot) he said, "Holy Cow, that pack was heavy!!" I joked with him and said I was surprised he didn't tip over. LOL

  

  Welcome Home, Spc. John Y. We missed you and are happy you are home!!!

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