Tomorrow, 5/27 will be a happy and proud but also a sad day for us. My youngest son, Lt. Col. Barry Beach, will be leaving for a US Army fort in Kansas (can't recall the name) with his troops. In August he will be going to Afganistan for a year. He and his men will be training the Afgani troops how to defend themselves in these horrrible times of war.
We are going to Ft. Oglethorpe, (Atlanta) tomorrow for a send-off luncheon and ceremony.
For me, the mother, I am petrified for all of these men. For me, the mother, I am also very proud of my son and his accomplishments with the Army for over 24 years.
His son, my grandson, will be leaving for North Georgia College-State University on June 22, (his 18th birthday), where he will do the ROTC program. We are all very excited for him.

Gina-

As a mother, I understand completely!

My best wishes for safety for Lt. Col. Beach!

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I too understand...our son is in the Canadian Armed Forces, and is presently doing his combat engineer course, and may be deployed next year to Afghanistan, so there is a mixture of fear and pride here as well!

All the best to Lt. Col. Beach and his men.

I'm reminded of the following quote from a story:
His father said, "Cannonballs have no conscience, nor do the men that fire them."
Like a visiting doctor, the young man replied in a measured tone, "And yet no amount of prayer will break the chains of tyranny."

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Novelist, Pilot
http://www.bentpage.wordpress.com/

We have just returned home from the luncheon and the "send-off ceremony" at, (and I made a mistake on the name of the Fort yesterday), Ft. Gillem/Ft. McPherson, Ga.
I have to say it was a very nice ceremony, with the presentation of the unit flag, which they will bring with them to Afganistan, the Pledge of Alligiance, The Army Song, and of course, some send-off speeches.
The unit the men belong to is called ETT1, (Embedded Training Team 1).
My son is the commander of these men, of which I believe there were 18 in all.
They took a bus to Hartsfield-Jackson Airport, then off to Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas for more training then Afganistan in August for their 10 months of duty.
Yes, this will be a dangerous endeaver for all. No, I didn't cry, (yet). In fact, I was one very proud mother.
Am asking you all to keep my son, Lt. Col. Barry Beach and the troops in his command in your prayers, that they will all return to their families safely.
I write this because I consider all of you my BB family.

Gina ~ prayers for your son, and for every man and woman who fight to keep our country free.

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Gina ~ Our thoughts and prayers will be with you and your son for his safe return..God Bless Our Troops

Tico & Miss Judy

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Home is where the heart is and my heart is in Aruba

Our thoughts and prayers are with your family and all that are in the military.God keep them safe.

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Gina, I will remember your son in my prayers.

gina, i am so sorry i missed this thread until now. you know my prayers are with you your family, especially your son. we are here for you and i do apologize. it seems i missed a great deal the several days i didn't get on the board. this is one i should not have missed.

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vote now!!!!

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/N...uba/index.html

A giant thank you to all of you for putting my son and his troops on your prayer list. I will pass on to Barry and he in turn, will pass on to his troops.

pls tell him to relay to his troops
"thank you for your service"

andrea

Yes, please thank him for his service to his country. It is greatly appreciated by our family. We try to teach our dd that freedom is not something which should be taken for granted.

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Lisa
Aruba Bound!
www.hoosierkitties.com ~ www.bloggingtoaruba.com ~ www.our-cruises.com

Thank you Andrea and Lisa. I will pass your well wishes on.
ArubaLisa, how close to you is Ft.Gillem/Ft.McPherson?
Another thing I forgot to mention about these men is that they "HAVE" to be an officer to get into this group. And, one thing I find ironic is that the troops they replace are from our 'home state" of Vt. And in turn, the troops that will replace my son and his troops after their tour of duty are also from Vermont.

Gina - God bless your son Lt. Col. Barry Beach and all the women and men that serve our great country. My prayers are with them all.

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I'M IN ARUBA Dec. 16-Jan. 16



28 days - April 1-28

Aruba since 1985

How fast do you drive, is there construction and what time of day? Seriously, barring unforseen maladies, about an hour or so north straight up 400.

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Lisa
Aruba Bound!
www.hoosierkitties.com ~ www.bloggingtoaruba.com ~ www.our-cruises.com

I saw this Gina...when you posted it....but I have avoided it..like I do all things I don't want to face. My stomach turns every time I read it.

War is so ugly....when I see it's face..it scares me...Your son and his men have been in my prayers all this time..

As a parent and one of Gods children...I do not understand why we have to kill one another.
I want this world..to be...what it's not...

I just don't understand why we have to hit someone...when we could hug them.

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I lead with my Heart and my Body follows

Dan & Sweet Georgene

Dan, I totally agree with your post. It is such a shame that the world cannot learn to "make love, not war". Hugs are good!!!