Photo By Sgt. Mary Carmona | A tradition associated with deployment homecomings is for family members or loved ones...... read more read more
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JACKSONVILLE, N.C. - I start out as a thought.
I’m the thought that crosses the mind of a spouse or loved one when they drive past a fence-full of cheerful signs, welcoming service members home from deployment.
I’m a reminder of the months that stand between that moment and the day their Marine or sailor returns home. It’s a bittersweet thought; because while they miss their deployed service member dearly, it’s exciting to plan for the homecoming.
So, they start thinking about me – what should I look like? How will they design me to best welcome their loved one after months of separation?
When they have a newborn or small child, I’ll probably find little hands dipped in blue and red paint putting handprints all over me.
If they were newly married, I may find myself covered in X’s and O’s.
Maybe someone’s buddy is in charge of the design. In that case, I’ll probably be sporting some embarrassing nickname.
So many possibilities exist, but I need to be exactly right – I need to be perfect. Why? Because I could very easily be the first message conveyed to a returning warrior about how happy his loved ones are to have him home.
I might even be the lighthouse that guides the service member to his family, hidden in the midst of hundreds of ecstatic families, trying to reach their hero.
But, I’m getting ahead of myself.
Eventually I’ll evolve from a mere thought to a finalized concept, and soon I’ll exist in physical form.
Some of us are created by professionals; others of us are homemade projects. Either way, we’re still a step note in the history of someone’s safe return home.
As the months go by, it’s crazy to think I used to just be a thought in the back of someone’s mind. Now I’m an actual welcome home banner, proudly awaiting my debut.
The homecoming is getting real. It’s only days away – now only moments away.
And then, somehow, it’s time to leave for the homecoming.
Little hands grab me out of the closet, happily waving me around as they race to store me in the backseat of their car.
We’re off, and I’m ready to serve the purpose for which I was created.
After being hauled through hundreds of overjoyed people, all with their own versions of me, we settle on a spot.
Little hands work with a pair of slightly larger hands to lift me in the air and wave me back and forth. We’re scanning the crowd, trying to find the hero we’ve been waiting for over the past nine months.
I see it before anyone – a weary but proud service member sees me and is fighting his way toward me. He knows that with me are those he holds dearest. He knows he’s home.
I’m just a small detail on a checklist, but I’m forever a reminder of bringing loved ones together.
| Date Taken: | 11.26.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 11.26.2014 08:23 |
| Story ID: | 148885 |
| Location: | JACKSONVILLE, NC, US |
| Web Views: | 45 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Sentiments of a homecoming banner, by Sgt Mary Carmona, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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