Dear Army Wife, ( I write wife because I know of more wives than husbands, so if it makes you feel better, Dear Army Spouse, also this is mostly for Ft.Wainwright wives)
I don't know you all but I feel like I should. I am writing you because I don't know how else to tell you the things I would like to tell you. I know this letter won't reach all of you but it might reach one and that might be enough. I have been wanting to write this letter for several weeks but didn't know where to begin. I write this to Army wives because I am near them the most and therefore they are on my mind. If you are a military wife that would like this letter directed towards them then just imagine that it is.
I want to tell you how proud I am of you. I think of you almost every night before I go to sleep and sometimes my thoughts of you keep me awake a little longer than I would like to be. I think about how hard these deployments must be on you and your families. I think about how hard it must be to do just normal activities like appointments, classes, and in general, just things you want to do.
I am an Air Force wife. I know what it is like to separated for months, weeks, and days, but I don't know what a year or more feels like without your spouse. I can't imagine what you feel. Mostly when my husband goes on TDY he is in the U.S. somewhere and I know that he is safe and guiltily, I am happy to have the house all to myself. I know it is a totally different feeling to have your husband in a combat zone. I am sure you get along just fine and are stronger for being able to do so but I can't help but feel something for your solitude. I wish for your husbands to come home safe and sound, happy and healthy too. I wish they came home when they were told they could come home the first time.
I am so happy and relieved that your husbands will be home soon but I am worried for you too. You have lived without them for so long that I can't imagine it will be easy when they get home. I don't even want to imagine the things they have seen or been through. I am glad you are still around for them after all this time. Not many wives would sacrifice what you have and still remain married. You are awesome (I don't mean just cool but literally I am in awe of you).
I just want you to know that I worry for you, your husbands, and your babies and think of you all often.
I am so happy/relieved for those coming home and hope to always remember those who could not make it home. Thank your husbands for their patriotism for me. Please know that when I put my screaming 9 months old to bed, I kiss him, hold him tight and thank God for our freedom, our happy lives, and the soldiers who make it possible for all of these things.
Welcome Back 172nd Stryker Brigade, it's good to have you home and thank you for your service.
Sincerely,
Lysandra
3 comments:
That made me CRY!!!!! Beautifully written!
Thank you, Lysandra
I'm not a military wife but my brother in law is in his second tour for Operation Iraqi Freedom with the Styker Brigade from the Army base in the Seattle area. He had a very serious accident over there this time around that has scarred his face badly and he will probably have to have many surgeries to repair the damage once he comes home sometime next summer. Luckily he's been in for more than 20 years and they have told him he will be allowed to retire (since they didn't let him retire after his last tour in 2004). But as a family member of a combat solider I thank you for your thoughts and prayers.
Post a Comment