Exceptional 638 reasons to celebrate this summer! The Green Grass Of Home by Janilou Summertime Story Contest contest entry Welcome Home, Iowa National Guard 1-133rd, 'Ironman' Battalion! We love you!

Category:  Commentary and Philosophy Non-Fiction   Posted:  July 27, 2007      Views: 387

ABOUT JANILOU  Janilou is a woman who loves God. Much of her work reflects her faith. Christian music often inspires her work. She is honored to have been named FanStory's Short Works Author Of The Year, in 2007 and 2008, and thanks all of her wonderful fans for the ranking. Their comments and support are her inspiration! She writes whenever her dairy goats allow her to escape the milking barn. If she's not on FanStory, you might find her on Facebook, using her real name, Jan Anderegg. Quote Of The Day: "Shall we make a new rule of life from tonight: Always try to be a little kinder than is necessary." Sir James M Barrie She has won several contests. The contest submission Death By Taxes was the first place winner in the contest Summertime Story Contest. Boys Will Be Boys was the first place winner in the contest Summertime Story Contest. Twas The Night Before - Say What? was the first place winner in the contest Summertime Story Contest. She is a top ranked author and is currently holding the #41 position. The Seal of Quality committee has rewarded her with 2 seals. Portfolio | Become A Fan "Steamy and hot today!  All over North-East Iowa, people are lining up along the streets, along the overpasses, up and down the highway to welcome the Iowa National Guard 1-133rd Unit home from their nearly two-year record deployment in Iraq!" blared the radio commentator as we drove nearly two hours from our home-town to the city of Waterloo, Iowa.   When we passed some people holding a sign that read, "Welcome home to our heroes - the 133rd - We love you!" I burst into tears. The longest years of my life were nearly over; my soldier son was coming home at last. The excitement couldn't have been more obvious as seven thousand people trickled into the Riverfront Stadium at Waterloo, Iowa, last Wednesday, July 25th, 2007. Temperatures soon climbed into the eighties with high humidity but nothing could dampen the spirits of the soldiers' families - not even the sweltering sun. "Standing room only!" came the announcement some three hours before the soldiers were due to arrive at the stadium. People began to flock onto the green grass of the playing field. Banners, streamers, flags, photos, balloons flew everywhere!   The Red Cross handed out thousands of free bottles of water, hotdogs and chips, but the sweltering heat began to take its toll as people fainted and collapsed. They were quickly treated and carried to shaded areas underneath the stadium. Still, thousands more waited in eager anticipation. Talk about a summertime celebration! These brave soldiers left for their deployment in October of 2005, and arrived in Iraq in the early months of 2006. Their record-long deployment earned them the title of the longest serving National Guard Unit  ever in a combat zone.   Iraq is renowned for summer temperatures of 140 degrees Fahrenheit. Even in the shade, the mercury cracks 120 degrees by mid-morning most days, and there's nowhere to seek relief from the desert sand, scrubby vegetation and insurgents who wait like vultures for the troops to approach.   For nearly two years, our heroes faced unspeakable dangers as they drove nearly four million miles to conduct over 500 missions in the unstable Anbar Province of Iraq. Their unit suffered two deaths and thirty-six injuries, as they escorted 60,000 vehicles carrying food and fuel supplies to the Iraqi people and the allied troops. They also detained 63 insurgents during their missions, making Iraq a safer place than when they arrived.  Now, as they approached the reunion with their loved ones, they witnessed first-hand the love and gratitude of the people they went to war for - the American people. Instead of insurgents hiding behind cliffs, waiting with IED's, now there were signs and banners, flags and streamers. People lined the overpasses along the expected travel route, ready to cheer the troops on when the buses came through. Cars and trucks were parked along the highway, and people were standing beside them, with huge painted signs of welcome and message of love, support and pride. Factories and businesses shut down, so their employees could come outside and join in the fanfare. The soldiers arrived over an hour late because their buses slowed to give them the chance to wave to the thousands of people from town after town lining the roads.   One soldier summed it up later that day for a television news crew. "It was like, WOW," he said.  The first cheers erupted from the stadium when the roar of motorcycles filled the air. The Patriot Guard Riders were out in force, escorting and protecting our heroes. Those big, burly motorcycle riders then shouldered huge American flags and standing at attention, formed a line for the troops to march by on their way onto the grounds. Cheers, whistles, applause and screams of joy burst into the air like fireworks as our brave soldiers marched one by one onto the green grass of the playing field and stood in formation, awaiting the words of their commanders. The mayor of Waterloo said to the troops, "Ladies and gentlemen, do you get the idea that we're head-over-heels in love with you?"  Some say he was joking, but I think not - it's true. A few brief speeches.  The National Anthem. A moment of prayer to remember the two fallen warriors who didn't make it home. God help us, should we ever forget them.   Then it came. The command to "Fall Out." Deafening cheers erupted.  Six-hundred and thirty-eight soldiers broke rank and ran for their loved ones, even as their families surged onto the field. Within moments, thousands of rejoicing souls were in each other's arms. Hugs! Kisses! Laughter! Tears!  I will never forget the wonder of that sight, or the moment I reached my son.   Two years ago, Dan left our home, a teenager struggling to find his place in the world.   He returned to me, no longer a boy, but a man and a veteran, soon to receive a purple heart for his service to our nation.  You can keep your watermelon, barbeques and parties this summer. I don't even care if I get to splash in a pool or go to a camp-out. Those summertime treats pale in comparison, like an ice-cream cone melting on the hot, desert sand. We've already celebrated the biggest summer-time event in the nation. For the best summer day ever came this week, when we welcomed our soldiers, our heroes, back to the land of the free and the home of the brave!  Recognized Share your own writing! - Information on our membership for writers. Author Notes Yes, that is my soldier son, Dan, on that day, holding his baby sister, Amber for the first time in way too long! Welcome home, Dan! I love you! This contest said the story could be any genre, including non-fiction. I can't think of a better summertime story than this day, and after all, over 7000 people were there for the party! I would like to extend my biggest thanks to the Patriot Guard Riders who took time from their own lives, to protect our soldiers from the poisonous venom of the Reverend Fred Phelps and the Westboro Baptist Church, who were expected to attend this event. If they did, I guess those Harley riders scared them away. :-) If you don't know what I am talking about, PM me and I will fill you in. Thank you to everyone who supports our troops. Jan Pays one point and 2 member cents.

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