Freedom Isn't Free...

I hope that you all had a GREAT long weekend this past weekend! I know as for myself... it really hit home - what this holiday weekend was all about.

For most people - it is a three day weekend - and whooo hooo!!! I am all about three day weekends.... but on my way to the grocery store yesterday - I heard a news article on the radio - about what Memorial Day is really about. How it is about taking time to thank and remember all those who have given their lives so we could live our lives in a free society. This really got me to thinking and as a wife of a soldier - it really moved me.

So on an impulse - I purchased 26 red roses and hubby and I went to "Warrior's Walk" at Ft. Stewart.

"Warrior's Walk" is a walkway that is lined with trees and stretches along both sides of Cottrell Field - this is the field where soldiers are welcomed home when they return from deployments, the field where families re-unite with the soldiers when they come home from war. The trees that are planted on each side of the walkway are Red Bud, one for each soldier from the Third Infantry Division who has died since Operation Iraqi Freedom began in 2003.

At the base of each tree is a small concrete marker that bears the name of each soldier that has died in the conflict and for whom the tree was planted in memory for. Often, families leave behind mementos: photos, a bottle of favorite beer, a toy tank, a crystal angel. There are over 350 trees planted at "Warrior's Walk" and I am sad to say they are running out of room...


During our last deployment my husband's National Guard unit was attached to 3rd ID. We lost 26 brave men during that year long deployment. Each one has a tree planted in their memory.

So this Memorial Day - we visited the memorials of our fallen. Men that my hubby went to war with - and came home without. It was very heartbreaking and emotionally a really hard thing to do. Especially in light of the fact that our guard unit just got their warning orders - they are going to deploy again - next summer. But I am so thankful that I was able to go and to remember these fine men, to thank them each for their sacrifice, to cry for their families loss... and to remember in a REAL TANGIBLE way - that Freedom isn't free... someone pays the price - and the price is high.


Until Next Time.

Cya~