Today is the day, the day that I get to see my daughter, my soldier. She’s been gone four months. After a 15 hour drive to Columbia, South Carolina, we make it through the long line of cars and have our IDs checked. Following the procession of cars, we arrived at Hilton Field. You could feel the excitement in the crisp autumn air.
Making our way to our seats, we waited, and waited. The stands were filling, there was a buzz in the air. Finally, an announcement, the crowd gets quiet. Words from the American Red Cross, the base Commander, and finally the Company Commander. I was getting anxious. Across the field you could see the Fort’s motto on a billboard, and then a loud explosion. Then the colored smoke…out of the smoke they came! Over 1,000 soldiers storming Hilton Field through the smoke. Through tear filled eyes, I watched awestruck as Company A – B – C – D – E – and F ran toward us. Each company in its formation, the commander then says the Pledge, and the next words I hear are “Families, find your soldier!”
What a moment to see both daughters together again.
A dinner at base headquarters is followed by an afternoon of site seeing. All too soon it is time to take my soldier back to her company commander and Echo Company, home of the Eagles.
Time to relax, and even some sisterly competition. And all too soon it is time to say goodbye.
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