Anne's Corner: 7/20/07 The Soldiers Threw Me Off

Atlanta International Airport. Concourse E. Cozumel. Mexico City. Vienna. Barcelona. Kuwait didn't make the gate boards but that's where the troops were headed. Some were headed to Afghanistan, others to Iraq, still others - who knows where. The young man with whom I spoke was on his first deployment - 15 months to Afghanistan. Easily 300 YOUNG men and women being deployed. Freshly shaved, crisp camoflage fatigues, clean, alert, quiet. Some looked thoughtful, others scared. There were several tight-faced wives and quiet children. One single soldier stood with her framed picture of her two girls. I looked for Reba to bless them. I couldn't find her, so I stood and offered them the best blessing I could.