Photo By Angela Wallace | Chief Warrant Officer 5 Anthony Brace, Command Chief Warrant Officer with...... read more read more
Subscribe
JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq — Family and community are the core components that help many service members during deployment.
Their connection and support make a tremendous difference, especially during the holidays. Being away from home during the holiday season can be very difficult for both the troops and their families, but technology, frequent phone calls, handwritten letters and supporting organizations help close the distance for many here in Iraq.
This connection to family and community is why one soldier, Chief Warrant Officer 5 Anthony Brace, Command Chief Warrant Officer with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 103rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), said he wasn’t surprised to hear that his family and his home were selected by a national program to be recognized during the holidays.
Christmas Décor is an organization that has created a program specifically for families of deployed service members to add some cheer to their lives during the holidays. The initiative, called Decorated Family Program, takes nominations from across the country for deserving families with unique circumstances in conjunction with their loved ones deployment.
“We found out about our selection about two weeks before [Greenskeepers] showed up to decorate the home,” said Anthony. “Immediately, my wife, Sandy, and I discussed not being surprised about the nomination.”
The obvious choice wasn’t based on what anyone might guess either.
“When we moved to River Falls [Wis.] in 2004, we had only been there three or four hours, and the moving truck was still unloading our things,” recalled Anthony. “Our neighbors were already there with cups of coffee to welcome us to the neighborhood. We affectionately call our place ‘Route 1 Utopia.’”
That same neighborhood watched over the family and their home throughout the years, taking care of whatever they could to help out, whether it was snow removal, mowing the lawn or just a friendly hello.
They continued to maintain watch over the home even after the Braces moved to Des Moines, Iowa, and were unable to sell their place in River Falls, never knowing if they would even be able to return to their beloved community.
In 2010, prior to deploying with the unit, the Braces made the decision to move Sandy and their youngest daughter, Christen, back to their home in River Falls, where they have decided to retire. Eight months later, with their neighbor’s nomination, it reaffirmed their feeling of belonging.
“Our neighbors, Diane and Jerry, nominated us for this honor,” said Anthony. “Sandy and I were humbled by this. We are no more deserving than anyone else. In fact, there are so many others that could use this more.” He went on to explain that qualifiers were individuals with loved ones deployed, and others he was aware of didn’t have any family there that would benefit from the nomination.
Sandy echoed her husband’s thoughts about the nomination.
“I think the real story here is about the fact that there are lots and lots of people here who have not forgotten about our deployed Soldiers or their families,” she said.
The Braces have been married for 16 years and have four children and five grandchildren. Looking at Anthony’s office and the pictures that adorn the walls, it is clear how much his family plays a part of his life here in Iraq.
“When I come home from work, my days here are very similar to what they are back home,” he said while discussing how he remains connected across the miles. “We would stop and sit and talk about her day.
“Sandy is in charge of the music for the services at our church,” he continued. “I was the choir director.
We continue to coordinate those schedules because I play piano for services here [in Balad].”
Sandy acknowledges that their time apart has gone quickly, but believes her husband can’t get home soon enough. As a final thought to her husband and those deployed overseas she said, “It is so important that you all know that, while you are deployed, folks back home are thinking about you.”
She also added a huge “Thank you” to those who decorated their home, “Not just for us, but that you are taking care of soldiers’ families.”
| Date Taken: | 12.21.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 12.26.2010 08:23 |
| Story ID: | 62623 |
| Location: | JOINT BASE BALAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 33 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, ESC Command Warrant Officer shares Family, Route 1 Utopia, by Angela Wallace, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
LEAVE A COMMENT