I’ve never personally been a part of welcoming our troops home before, so when Michelle asked me to come with her, I couldn’t wait! The atmosphere was exactly what I expected. Everyone seemed to have a thin layer of self-control, just barely holding back the intense emotions beneath the surface. It was a range of emotions, nervousness, joy, some sadness, even a little edgy aggression, but as the plane landed it was silent.
It was amazing to see the families there. I wondered if they were waiting for their mother, father, brother, son, daughter, husband, wife?
Michelle must have experienced a thousand emotions in ten minutes!! This is the first shot I took of her while we waited for the plane to come into view.
The first sight of the plane….
Michelle’s mother….
Michelle’s friend looked back at Michelle while the plane was landing (I just love how a person’s eyes can say it all).
As the plane slowly straightened on the runway, I heard a little child’s voice say, “Hurry, plane, hurry!” It was what everyone was thinking.
The crowd erupted in cheers when the fire trucks welcomed them home!
Michelle waiting for the door of the plane to open:
When the guys started exiting the plane, everyone started yelling to their loved one. Michelle saw Michael, but he didn’t see her. The families were supposed to stay behind the ropes until they completed formation, but the ropes were no match for the crowd! Michelle, along with many others, darted past the line to embrace her husband that she had been without for a year.
Their first embrace :
So hard to let go, but Michael had a lot of people wanting a hug!!
I am so thankful to Michael, his brother, and all who serve our country. The mothers and fathers that pray for their safety, their husbands and wives that ache to have them in their arms again, and the children who long for them. There was a child about the age of my Cody (9) that sobbed while her daddy held her in his arms like a new born baby. I will never forget what ALL of you give to us.
