Hinson Homecoming

Richard and I had an amazing night last night. Moms neighbor, Chief Warrant Officer Scott Hinson, was returning home from his 15 month deployment in Iraq. His wife and daughters invited us to go with them to pick him up. What an honor. I've never experienced anything like that.
He was set to come in at 2 am on Saturday, June 1. After several time changes and one strategically placed road block on Hwy 196, we finally made it on base only to wait 45 min for the ceremony to start.


I felt unworthy to be sitting there with all of those people who had sacrificed so much for our freedom and the freedom of the Iraqi people. There were parents, husbands, wives, children, and other soldiers all bright-eyed and bushy-tailed at that ungodly hour. The 3rd ID marching band was there and played a variety of songs from Rocky songs to God Bless America. Excitement mounted as we saw the buses roll in from Hunter Army Airfield and we could see the soldiers getting in formation on the other side of the field we were on. Then, they marched in formation onto the field and stood at attention as the band played the National Anthem. I cried thinking about how the words of the Star Spangled Banner that we all know are such a reality to these men and women. After a brief address from a superior praising them for a job well done, the announcer gave the green light and all the families rushed the field. It was emotional. It was touching. It was such a relief to see them safely home with their families.

Richard and I got to take another soldier to his home. He was a friend of Scott's who was a single guy. The ride to his house was full of conversations about the war, the media, and the struggles in Iraq. This was a night to remember!