“Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Old Oak Tree” (Tony Orlando)
It is Labor Day, and it’s six days before the tenth anniversary of 9/11. The day is beautiful, sunny, and gorgeous. That is, if it weren’t the day on which people were deploying to Afghanistan for nine months, it would be a perfect day. Yes. Today is the final farewell to the first two hundred of the three thousand soldiers that are going in the next two months. People who have family, friends, studies, dogs, whatever… and have to do what their job requires: to be patriotic and fight for this country in any circumstances.
Soldiers and officers begin arriving at Fort Bliss. All of them are uniformed. Some are with friends, some with family. There is a big green parade field next to the parking lot where they are putting their duffle bags. Their luggage is spread out for the Military Police to check if it contains anything illegal – especially drugs or alcohol. Their personal belongings are neatly tucked inside the heavy duty large black cargo boxes. Every single soldier has one filled with their clothes, shoes, pictures, and memories of their beloved. The military dogs, with their keen sensing ability, inspect everything. It is part of the regulations, but it seems to me a little humiliating. Fortunately, the dogs don’t find any contraband. The soldiers appear relieved.
It is now time for the soldiers to get their weapons. The weapons they will surely use in combat. For nine months, they will have their weapon by their side, their new girlfriends. They can never leave the weapon by itself. Many have the lethal cold steel slung over their shoulder while they spend precious moments with their loved ones. It seems odd to me that they are required to carry their weapons while enjoying these final moments with their families.
Now, they are inside a kind of barn. There is a big room with tables and chairs, games for kids, and a large screen where everyone gathers to enjoy the last moments with their family, relatives and friends before the soldiers leave for Afghanistan. The children’s laughter fills the air and echoes throughout the barn as they romp around in the octopus-shaped bouncer. The children are kept busy while their parents have a good time together.
Some of the wives are really apprehensive and sad; others are trying to be strong, but one can see how worried and desperate they really are. I’m sitting with Maria, my friend, who is saying that people who stay behind have different reactions because of their varied backgrounds. For some, it is the first time that their soldier is deploying. For others, it isn’t the first time, but the wife knows the danger involved.
I can imagine what their thoughts are. After all, we never know, things happen because they have to happen, but when we think about war, only negative things come to mind.
People are starting to leave. They are saying goodbye. I see a young soldier hugging his newborn child and whispering softly in the child’s ear. The soldier’s eyes fill up with tears. He quickly wipes his eyes, kisses his wife, and walks toward the bus. I glance to my right and see another family tightly embracing one another as if it were the last time they would do so. Some are holding in their feelings, some are extremely emotional, crying a river.
My friend Jay is leaving for his second tour of duty in Afghanistan. His family is not here; they are in Louisiana. We are recording a video and on it he is saying goodbye to his family and making some jokes as usual. Last week we were drinking some beers and having fun; now I’m saying “goodbye” and “see you soon.” I feel I’m in denial; it’s a mix of feelings because I might never see him again. It is hard to know what to say when a person is going to war. What could I say? “Be safe! Kill the bad guys?” Gosh, they are going to the war! It is impossible to find words that make sense.
I’m asking myself: Why? Why do people who have followed all of the rules in the Constitution have to do this kind of thing? Leaving their loved ones in order to fight for something that is not their fault or their business?
Coincidence or not, today is Labor Day, and these “workers” are dedicating their life to getting peace worldwide even though it might cost them their lives.
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