Faces of Freedom

I am just putting some of my thoughts into order here...

It seems like everyone I know who is in the military is deployed or their deployment is coming up. Two of my brothers, Ryan and Derk, are deployed in Afghanistan right now. I know, and have spent time with, a few guys in Ryan's unit like Shakes, Blanket and Gordon, to name a few, and I have a few friends are over there like Brayden Jenkens and Dallin Cook. I heard from a friend today, I haven't talked to him for what seems like forever, he told me that he and another one of our friends have volunteered to go to Iraq with the 222nd. (which is actually the unit that my uncle belongs to.) It really kinda blew my mind.

I support all of my soldiers. Having so many family members and friends in the military has helped me know what our country is fighting for, and the sacrifices that the soldiers and their families make to keep our country free. I just wanted to say that I love and respect all of them, and I pray for them whenever I get the chance. I don't know what I would do if any of these brave people who I know, distantly or closely, fell while serving.

I have probably mentioned this before, but I wanted to point out that the families of these soldiers go through many hardships during deployments. It is hard to even watch the news anymore because you hear these things that are going on over there and think "Is he in the middle of that?"  I have felt the moment of panic that arises when you hear of a casualty that has happened. Very recently in fact with SFC Thode who was serving with Ryan. If it is this hard for me, I can only imagine what it would be like for a spouse, a mother, or a child of these soldiers.

 All I ask is that you keep the families of the soldiers in your thoughts as well. They may not be on the front lines, but they are fighting a battle as well. A battle of worry and hope. A battle to keep going while they are sick to their stomachs wondering if their loved one will return to them. These faces of freedom are what keeps our soldiers going, and are a crucial role in keeping our freedom. After all, a soldier doesn't fight because he hates what is in front of him, he fights because he loves what he left behind.