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Witness to homecoming:
of TheColumnists.com
Ten thousand people stood on the dock at Everett, Washington, on May 6, 2003, the most glorious day that may ever dawn in this century. The USS Abraham Lincoln was home after a record-setting perfect mission. Sunshine and blue sky were the backdrops on this perfect scene. In their deployment of 10 months in the Persian Gulf, no lives were lost, no planes went down, no injuries were sustained during the combat in Iraq. This ship's entire population set a record that's now American Naval history.
As the ship came into view, we could see a single row of sailors in dress whites. This human border formed to the contour around the entire deck. Our joyful shouts put a football audience to shame. Cell phone lines linked happy families from the deck to the dock. American flags and streamers of yellow ribbon shared air space with all shapes of colorful balloons. Fancy flower bouquets and huge signs and banners waved and wagged to make it easier for the homeward bound sailors to find their intended ones.
Now the ship was securely docked and the equipment was set in motion to latch the gangplanks for foot traffic. Waiting a minute or an hour to see them rush into loving arms, it was all too long. The actual time span was a little more than an hour. One touch, a kiss, a long hug, erased the waiting.
The Lincoln became home for 10 months to fighter planes and bombers from bases in Washington State. Those crews had already landed elsewhere. Over 100 of the ship's population came back to meet new babies for the first time. Expressions of amazement and happiness were exchanged from a father's eyes to his child. Established family groups embraced joyfully, sometimes silently. The atmosphere was charged with love.
A raffle for who would be the first to leave the ship raised many thousands of dollars for the Navy Relief Fund. The tickets for this privilege were sold to personnel on board and Navy families on land. A very lucky young man waving a bouquet of roses got off first to be molded into a long embrace with his wife. They kissed, they laughed, then back to more hugging.
TV reporters did live interviews to give home viewers the thoughts and feelings of the returning heroes. A sailor had predicted (on a live newscast) that he would propose marriage to his fiancé. He did. Right there on the dock, he knelt down on one knee, took a ring box out of his gear and asked her to marry him. She said yes. Two pair of slightly shaking hands offered and received the engagement ring. Now he was really home.
"God bless America," and "It's great to be home," were frequent phrases. Others voiced their feelings of appreciation to the supportive public. When they saw the protestors on news channels they felt more hurt than anger.
A very articulate chief petty officer looked directly into the camera to deliver his message. "Please, as you rejoice our homecoming today, remember those who didn't return; the ground troops we lost over there. We will not forget them. They did their jobs and gave their lives for our freedom."
I kept thinking, "They are so young." Even the officers with a few years' service to their credit, they look so young. Today's paper has a photo gallery. One is a chief petty officer third class whose duty is personal cook to the ship's commander. He had the honor of preparing dinner and breakfast for President Bush on board last week. Other photos show deck officers, electrical technicians, and related specialties. In my eyes I see them as being too young for the military careers they have chosen. I am wrong. Very, very wrong.
They signed up, raised their right hands and took the oath to protect and defend America against all enemies, foreign and domestic. Pride, hard work, intensive training, cast them into a professional defensive force. This is true for all branches of our nation's military. On the land, on the sea and in the air, yes, they are young. And they are the best at what they do. My hope for them is that one day they all can look into the faces of that generation's military and say, "They are so young."
For those who won't have that day, I say thank you. Thank you for being so young. Thank you for choosing to defend our freedom. Our American flag waves proudly for you.
©2003 by Patricia J. Geister. The drawing is from IMSI's Master Clips Collection, 1895 Francisco Blvd. E., San Rafael, CA, 94901-5506, USA.
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