More Stuff and Nonsense

My Cousin

I heard today from my parents that my cousin, Cpl. Derek Hunt, USMC, was deployed for Iraq. We knew it was coming. They've only been telling us for a year and a half he was going. A year ago August, we had to cancel his wedding, because his deployment was supposed to be imminent. He didn't go, but we still went out to visit. This year, same story. Mostly. This year, he went.

Figured he was going when Aunt Stacey told us he got his Anthrax vaccination at the end of last week. But until he actually went, there was always hope he wouldn't. A vain hope, as it turns out.

See, I had a hard time with this war before. I support the troops, but I don't support the administration that put those troops there. In fact, just to be clear, I didn't vote for Bush. I didn't accept or agree with the initial reasons for going into Iraq. I don't agree of the hash we've made of it. I hate to see the numbers of people who've been killed over there, theirs and ours. And that was before. Before I knew someone over there. Before I listened to my aunt and uncle try and be stoic and brave watching their oldest child be sent over. Before I realized how much it hurt to hear the words, "Derek left for Iraq today" from my mother.

My cousin said in an email to my father, "Please pray for me, as that's the only way I think I'll make it home in one piece." In the email my aunt sent on to tell us he'd left, he told her, "Here's my snail mail address. TELL PEOPLE TO WRITE!"

For his term of service, I can't do much. I can't stand front of him with a shield. I can't watch his back. But I can write, and I can pray. I ask you to join me in the prayers.

Please, if you have a quiet moment, send prayers and bright energy that the troops over there come home safe.

And in a year, I hope I can visit my aunt, uncle and cousins Derek, his wife Anna, and Derek's sister Erin, and have a big party to welcome Derek safely home.

posted by Serena @ 7:40 PM