By Ann Ramsey
On Saturday, October 19th, a ceremony was held for family and friends of soldiers who were deployed for overseas active duty. The Battery B, 2nd Battalion, 263rd Army Defense Artillery Battalion, 263rd Army Air and Missile Defense Command will be assigned to provide air defense in overseas theater. Their one-year mission is to help provide regional stability. This assignment is the first of this kind for this unit.
I stood behind these selfless men and women, listening to commanders’ words and giving last-minute encouragement and praise for the hard work they had already done in preparation for this departure. U.S. Army Major General R. Van McCarty, the adjutant general for South Carolina, said, “I’ve talked to a number of the leadership within our air defense community. Your soldiers, your loved ones, they are trained and ready for this mission.” Everyone felt a deep sense of pride and an even more profound sadness. I was there as a family member, not wanting to see my loved one go but knowing that was what they had trained and prepared for.
Young, middle age, men and women, all stood shoulder-to-shoulder. Each has sworn the Oath of Enlistment:
I ___________ , do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to the regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God.
Today, these brave men and women are living these words of commitment as they embark on their mission.
The bay area was filled with family and friends, all wanting to show their support and love for these soldiers. Wives held on to their husbands for as long as possible; children were running around, not fully understanding the severity of the occasion; mothers were crying, and fathers were quietly standing by. Pain and pride on each face.
When the final call to board the buses was given, last-minute hugs and kisses were quickly exchanged. The buses rolled past with waves and reassuring smiles from the soldiers. Those smiles will be held in our hearts and minds until their safe return.
This Day
This day – the sun rises bright
Slowly sips the dew left by night
Birds sing, dip in and out of the trees
Sunlight peeks through fall’s colorful leaves.
This weekend – starting like a normal day
Neighborhoods alive with children at play
Saturday – a day for fun and rest
But for some, it will heavily test.
Armory – bay doors open wide
Filled with family and friends inside
Soldiers dressed out in Army green
Move in unison as well-oiled machines.
Time to love on family and friends
Til the emotional moment it must end
Speeches and prayers were spoken for all
Soldiers step up to answer the call.
Wives – stand close, hold on tight
Dread the lonely, sleepless nights
Children – in soldier’s loving arms gathered near
Crying, pleading, “Don’t go, stay here.”
Soldiers – on board, nothing more to load
Buses – pull out, head down the road.
Family and friends wave til they are out of sight
This day – the sun rises a little less bright.