Soldier's Babies Are Special

Christmas time is about the birth of a baby, which is always a cause for celebration, and this morning it brings to my mind one of the sacrifices that has been made time and again during the last twelve years.  In young military families there are times of deployment when an expected child is born in the absence of the father, who is in service at a duty station where his family cannot accompany him.  A couple of years or so back, a fellow blogger sent me a message that a "special" Soldier was coming home and would be seeing his new baby for the first time.  I am repeating that blog post, because it is about a baby... and it is about sacrifice, that is what Christmas is all about.

The pictures of children and babies for this post are the children of Jared and Heather Campbell, both of whom have served proudly.

Aunty Brat, my good friend and fellow supporter of the American and Coalition Forces sent me a note about a Soldier coming home on leave to see for the first time a new baby girl, born while he was deployed.  It brought such beautiful images to my mind immediately, and when I went to Aunty's blog and saw her picture... my heart just melted at her sweet little self.

http://assolutatranquillita.blogspot.com/2011/05/every-day-hero-welcome-home.html

To her parents and all her family, thanks for making my day, and thank you all for your service and sacrifice!  We are a grateful nation!

This is what I sent to the new baby and all those who love her.  May she thrive in your love, always live in liberty, and come to know of your sacrifices to the preservation of freedom.

You know, if Aunty Brat says you are a special Soldier... you must indeed be a special Solider. It is always difficult for me to put into words how I feel about Soldiers and their families. When I try to open a ketchup package, and it is difficult for me, the thought never fails to cross my mind, no matter how much I love my country, if it had to depend on me for for some of the most important of the protection needed from it's enemies, we women would all be wearing burqas (spelling ?) We must have young men and women of the caliber and skills which you possess, or our heritage of freedom will disappear.... As the sign on my gate says, "Land of the free, because of the brave."

Since my husband went to war, poetry concerning this great conflict has haunted me until I express it. Your homecoming to your new daughter caused beautiful images in my mind. I wrote words that I hope will comfort and empower your family as you serve. So here is my gift to the new baby:

 I Came Home to My Daughter

There she lay, so warm, pink, soft, and sweet.

When first we finally did meet.

I saw so much of her mother there in her eyes,

The stamp of my own features on her countenance threatened to make me cry.

Wonder at the first sight of my darling daughter,

Swept my soul, and I knew my life she would forever alter.

Feelings too tender for the battlefield,

In that moment caused all my vigilance briefly to yield.

Then I realized more clearly than ever before,

I was called to war because of an evil good people everywhere deplore.

My newborn child and all the children of the world,

Need those of us in service, the flag of liberty to unfurl.

In my daughter’s face I saw the hope of our world and our nation,

Waiting for her contributions, which true peace will hasten.

I knew that in a land far away, where long I had stood the wall,

Children were seeing first hand our intent in the service of us all.

As they watch, I know they too will learn,

Their own hearts for peace and liberty will come to yearn.

In this the power of the enemy will disappear,

The truth of all our brotherhood will finally do away with all fear.

So though my heart longs to stay,

I will again return to the war zone in just a few short days.

In my mind, images of her gentle beauty,

Will give me strength and bring complete commitment to my sacred duty.