Welcome Home, Tim!!

This morning, as I was running errands, I kept getting emotional over the fact that in hours I was going to give my brother a hug. He's been serving in Kuwait & Iraq for the last year and they're finally home.
With Aunts, Uncles & cousins in tow, we went to Buckley Air Force Base to welcome home our brave soldiers.
I was speechless as we walked up to the hanger. It was massive and filled with families. And to see the kids, waiting so impatiently to see their dads or moms for the first time in a year. The moms looked tired with sad eyes but had a glimpse of joy in their smiles~for their partners were only minutes away now.
We were told the plane was 15 minutes from landing. 15 minutes later, we were told they would be landing in 20 minutes! The kiddos were hot and sleepy but so excited. There were two little girls that had red, white and blue pompoms in their hair and wore navy blue dresses with white stars and red bows. A little boy in camo overalls. A little brother and sister~maybe 4 and 6 years old~ sitting oddly still next to each other with wide eyes, holding each other's hand.

And then we all saw the plane land. Everyone began cheering and waving little American flags in the air. The energy was magnificent. The band began playing and I got chills up and down my spine. I don't think there was a dry eye in the house from the adults. The 757 pulled up to the hanger and through the windows, we watched as the soldiers deplaned. Once they were all off, they got into formation and the hanger door was raised. This was one of the coolest things I've ever watched. Everyone was cheering and clapping, crying and laughing. I saw Tim right away. He stood alone behind his unit, the captains in the front and back. He looked tired and weathered. They all did.
The ceremony was nice. We found out that Tim most likely gave us the sugared down version of how they were doing over there when we would talk with him every week. A letter was read during the ceremony that had been written by a wounded soldier from his unit. He wrote things such as "and when we were ambushed, I would like to thank so-and-so for covering me up and firing my gun...for looking me in my eyes and telling me I needed serious medical help....for working on me, trying to save my life while being fired at over and over....."
It's no wonder these soldiers looked weathered and tired. I never quite got the full magnitude of respect they deserve from us SUV driving, gas hogging civilians until today. Seeing Tim's photos tonight of oil rigs, burning oil, and the poor Iraqi families that work & live out in the middle of nothing, their children in harm's way so we can float oil over here....well, I felt a bit ashamed. I think if you saw these small children today,waiting in anticipation to give their daddy's a big hug, knowing all to well the real reasons we're in this war...you might've felt it too.
So the ceremony ended and the soldiers were dismissed and went running to reunite with their loved ones. Theo and I grabbed Tim and hugged him tight. Theo waved his little flag and smiled. My mom grabbed him and cried. I took a look around the hanger and everyone was embraced and crying. The tears of happiness and relief were felt in all of our souls today. We made our way back to our house for a fun night of celebration.
Welcome Home Soldiers of the 140th SECFOR...and Thank You for a job well done.