At approximately 1740 local time, a plane lands at the airport. After a few brief announcements, somewhere around 350 Soldiers unass the plane. As they get to the bottom of the stairs, they are greeted by familiar faces. Among these familiar faces are friends who came back on earlier flights and some who stayed back on Rear Detachment. The Band is playing as they all file orderly off the plane.
The Soldiers pass through a throng of greeters composed of members of local Veterans' groups and a few civilians who just want to express their gratitude for the service of these Soldiers. After shaking hands with and hugging these folks, the Soldiers march inside a building where several stations are set up.
The first station is for scanning ID cards. This makes it "official." The Soldiers have now officially arrived in the United States. The Soldiers then proceed to other stations where they are allowed to turn in weapons and other "sensitive items," collect government-issued cell phones (if necessary), and get much needed information pertaining to housing, household goods and vehicle storage, meal cards, and leaves and passes as appropriate. The Soldiers then proceed into a briefing room where several kind-hearted civilians have set up a table with burgers, drinks, deserts, and courtesy cell phones.
Meanwhile, all over town there are family members who are getting anxious. Spouses are busy checking hair and makeup and ensuring that houses are "fit for a king." Some are busy making last-minute touch-ups on posters, banners, and signs. Friends and family members are arriving, some with food and other gifts. It won't be long now until cars are loaded up and people start making their way over to a large gymnasium on the Army post.
Back at the airport, Soldiers are starting to get restless. An impromptu promotion ceremony is taking place. Company First Sergeants are busy putting out information to keep their Soldiers informed and ensure that the Soldiers do not wreck the fun of the homecoming. The Soldiers have all earned the right to be happy and celebrate. They have just finished a hard-worked tour in Iraq. Some of the Soldiers were only there for about six months, while others were there for a year. The mood is quickly turning from excitement to impatience.
On the local Army post, families are arriving at the gymnasium. It has been about two hours since the plane landed. Many of the families have taken the advice that was put out and have shown up early. Military flights are strange animals. They can show up really early, really late, or right on time. It is often hard to tell exactly when the "bird" will arrive. Lots of conditions factor in, as with any other flight. The weather plays a part, as well as potential mechanical issues. Because of the nature of the flights, specific information about them is often not published for the security of those on board. If one piece of equipment or one person goes unaccounted for, the flight will be delayed. On the other hand, if everything goes smoothly, then the flight may arrive early. You never can tell. So, the unit leadership did the wise thing and told the families to show up well ahead of the posted schedule. This advice would ensure that if the flight did arrive early, then nobody would miss the big event of the evening.
Back at the airport, Rear Detachment leadership decided that they had published a plan and they were going to stick with the plan to the letter. Of course, this decision frustrated a lot of individuals, but it was made for the sake of those who might not have gotten the word or heeded the advice about showing up early. However, as 2000 approached, it was time to go ahead with the "safety brief." The Soldiers were seated and critical information regarding the events of the next few days, important contact numbers, and valuable safety tips was briefed. Slides were shown. A few other small bits of information were put out. After the brief, it was finally time to load the busses.
Meanwhile, duffle bags and ruck sacks are put on trucks and driven to the gym at the Army post. The bags are then downloaded in the parking lot for the Soldiers to pick up, once the festivities were over with.
At the gym, families are gathering. The Band is warming up. Activities to entertain the little ones are happening. The excitement is building. Families and friends are starting to get inpatient, but they keep themselves restrained. It is only a matter of time.
As the Soldiers load the busses, it takes three or four attempts to get an accurate head-count. Then, the convoy sets off for the Army post. Of course, because the leadership wanted to stick to the letter of the plan, the convoy takes the "scenic route" to get over to post. We can't have the busses arriving too early.
Inside the gym, the tension is building. The Band starts really going now. Kids are coralled. Last-minute signs and banners are hung. Everyone is getting excited. Then, someone hears busses pulling into the parking lot.
Outside the Soldiers get off the busses, drop their backpacks, and assemble into a formation. The Sergeant Major briefly explains how they are going to march in and execute a facing movement. He explains the "program" and then lets the Soldiers know that once they are released, they do not have to be at work until 0800 the following Tuesday.
Everyone is excited now. The music is really going. The doors open, smoke canisters are popped, and Toby Keith is being blasted over the PA! Here they come! The Soldiers come marching in as the music plays. They swing around and face the crowd. Cameras are snapping and flashing. The moment that everyone has waited so long for has finally arrived. Tears are forming in peoples' eyes. It is truly an emotional event.
The music is silenced. The Master of Ceremonies makes a few remarks. Then heads are bowed and the Chaplain prays. The Commander and Sergeant Major "uncase" the colors. What a spectacular ceremony. The unit has "officially" redeployed. The colors are now flying proudly here in the U.S. of A. Everyone rises for the National Anthem and the Army Song. The speaker is introduced. He makes a few very brief remarks. He knows that nobody is going to remember anything he says. He concludes and the Commander says the two words that everyone standing in the formation are longing to hear: "You're Dismissed!"
Soldiers fall out of formation and find their families. All kinds of hugging and kissing is going on. Pictures are being taken. Greetings of "welcome home" and "congratulations" are being expressed. The local news media is interviewing Soldiers and family members. The excitement of the moment slowly fades as the adrenaline rush subsides. Grown men are crying like little babies. The local chapter of the VFW is there shaking hands and handing out coins. The Band is packing up their instruments. No need to keep this thing going any longer. These Soldiers and their families just want to get out of here. The single Soldiers realize that the night is still young. It is only around 2130. A guy can drink lots of alcohol between now and closing time.
Soldiers and their families file out to the parking lot. Bags are collected and loaded into cars. Ah...finally, time to go home. Soldiers arrive at their houses to find them looking as spectacular as the wives who cleaned them. There is food and beer in the frige. Clean clothes are laid out. Time for a nice long hot shower to wash off the yuck of Iraq.
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What I have just described is the homecoming ceremony that I was part of, just a couple of weeks ago. If you have never personally witnessed such an event, I think you should make it a point to do so. We've all seen news clips of these events. They all look pretty much the same, especially on TV. For the most part, they are. Depending on the unit and other factors, some of the minor details are different. Still, you can have no idea what an emotional thing it is until you're part of one. From a TV screen, you will never feel the excitement and tension. You will never get the adrenaline rush. You will never quite know what it's like to be a wife, child, or friend who is anxiously awaiting the arrival of a loved one who has spent the last year voluntarily putting his life in harm's way to ensure that your freedoms remain protected and unmolested. You will never know what it's like to be that Soldier who has missed his wife, his children, and his friends for a year. You will never understand the feelings involved or the sacrifice that has been made. You will never know the joy of the long-anticipated reunion. You will never begin to understand these things simply by watching a segment on the nightly news. No, you will never truly begin to appreciate these things until you see them in person. Once you experience something like this in person, it will make you want to find the nearest Soldier, Sailor, Airman, or Mariene, shake their hand, and thank them for their sacrifice. It will make you want to find the nearest military wife or child, hug them and cry with them over the sacrifice that they've made.
While I will not deny that it is a sacrifice on the part of the Service Member who gets on the plane and flies into harm's way, I will also not deny that it is just as much, if not more of a sacrifice for that wife, child, and friend who have to watch that SM get on that flight. Yes, the members of the United States Armed Forces are heroes. There is no doubt about that. We voluntarily raised our right hands and swore an oath to defend this nation. We sacrifice some of our rights and freedoms on a daily basis. We go to places where people will shoot at us and try to blow us up. We gladly do these things out of a deep love and regard for our country. However, let us never forget the wives who have to fill the roles of both "mommy and daddy." Let us not forget the children who often do not understand why Daddy didn't get to be there for Christmas and birthday celebrations. Let us not forget the people who keep the home running. Who keep the vehicles fixed. Who get the leaks in the roof taken care of. Who keep the finances straight. Who keep the bills paid. These folks are just as much heroes. For they sacrifice a lot more than the average individual will ever understand. They wait patiently, day in and day out, hoping and praying that they do not get a telegram or phone call bearing bad news.
Until you've had a chance to experience a deployment homecoming, you will never really begin to fathom the sacrifices that are made by those in and those not in uniform for your sakes on a daily basis.
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