Photo By Cpl. Daniel Blatter | Air Force Maj. Cindy Lord, commanding officer of 71 Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance...... read more read more
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CAMP BASTION, Afghanistan - After more than two years of separation due to military deployments and lifestyle, mother and son were reunited thousands of miles from home.
Air Force Maj. Cindy Lord, commanding officer of 71 Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Unit and Lance Cpl. James Hill, an infantryman with 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, reunited at Lord’s promotion ceremony aboard Camp Bastion, Nov. 1.
Hill was flown in from southern Helmand province to see his mother’s promotion to major. Emotions ran high, as the two had not seen each other since Hill graduated from Marine Basic Training in 2008.
When Lord got the news, her son was going to be at her promotion, the mother of four was elated.
“I just started crying,” Lord said. “I couldn’t believe he was going to be here.
“I am extremely proud of James. He is an amazing, brave, heroic Marine and a truly wonderful brother and son. I am so blessed to have him in my life,” Lord added. “I can't thank the Marines of 3/3 enough for their efforts to allow and facilitate this visit with my son and me.”
Because Hill’s unit has been at the front of the fight, he was unsure if he could make the trip.
“They told me I might be going to see my mothers promotion,” said Hill, who has been in Afghanistan for six months. “I understood that missions come first and I thought something might come up.”
Thankfully, nothing did come up and on Oct. 30, Hill’s hopes became a reality. He flew to Camp Bastion, where his mother is stationed.
“He was supposed to land around noon,” said Lord, “I was looking up at all the birds in the sky and finally one landed with him on it.”
“When I got off the bird and actually saw her, it was surreal,” said Hill. “It was like a dream come true.”
Lord was promoted to the rank of major, Nov. 1, and her son James was there to pin her.
“I was overjoyed to have James here sharing this momentous occasion,” said Lord. “I'm proud to be a major in the Air Force, but I know I did not get here on my own.”
Lord referred to a quote by John Donne, "No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main."
She gave thanks to God, her husband and children, her parents, and her command.
“I'm not only appreciative to the Marines who got James here,” Lord said. “I’m appreciative for what the Marines do every day, putting their lives on the line to keep the U.S. and Afghan people safe.”
| Date Taken: | 11.01.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 11.03.2010 06:30 |
| Story ID: | 59342 |
| Location: | CAMP BASTION, AF |
| Web Views: | 239 |
| Downloads: | 12 |
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