Fields For Freedom

This morning, I took part in setting up the Third Annual Fields For Freedom display in Merriam, KS (a suburb of Kansas City). We built over 3000 flag poles and raised giant flags on them beginning just before dawn this morning. They will remain in place until the evening of July 4th.
I first took part in this 3 years ago in honor of my father, who was still living, and was a proud Marine from the 10th Amphibian Tractor Battallion that served in Guam and the Marshalls in WWII. Last week, my mother and brother attended his annual Marine Corp reunion in Quantico, VA in his place. He passed away the day before Thanksgiving, this past November. I also took part because my daughter is serving in the US Army as a Combat Field Medic. Two weeks ago, she gave birth to a beautiful baby girl, Jordin, and 5 days following, my son in law was deployed to Korea. In October, my daughter, granddaughter, and faithful puppy Dougie, will all move back to Heidelberg, Germany. This will be my daughter's second deployment there, having served there for 2 years on a previous deployment. She will make this move with a baby and a puppy, but without her husband, who will follow in a year, after his return from Korea. Did I mention that she turned 21 years old on the day her husband went to Korea?
This year, I also add to my "I'm doing it because list" the fact that my "adopted son" (not legally, but in my heart all the same) Emmett, is serving in Kirkuk, Iraq along with another of my former "Sumner Academy Boys" Brian. At the same time, a third "Sumner Academy Boy",Christian, who is also expecting a little one very soon, is serving his 2nd tour over in "The Sandbox".
I have very strong feelings toward the military and the jobs they do, they hardships they face, and the families they leave behind. That is why I am again participating for a third time in Fields of Freedom. Tonight, as I sit guard all night over those flags, I will do so with pride and great diligence. It is the least that I can do in honor of those who have served and those who are still serving. I will post pictures before the Fourth, for those of you who don't live nearby and can't come and see this wonderful display. On the Fourth, when the bagpipers play, and the bugler rises to play taps, and the Army Band sings their patriotic songs, both new and old, my heart will fill to the bursting point. I am proud of our Troops! Thanks for all that you do and God bless you and keep you and your families safe. Happy Birthday America!

I'm a Grandma! (And Not Proud of Some Sectors of the Army, Right Now!)

On Monday, June 9th, my @#nd birthday, my daughter was down in El Paso, Tx being induced. We were all very excited that my granddaughter was going to be born on my birthday. Unfortunately for my daughter and son-in-law Matt, things didn't quite work out. After being in labor for 24 hours, they discovered that there were serious issues and took her in for an immediate c-section. Things were on the brink of going very wrong and thanks to my granddaughter planting her bottom in the right place, they are both doing ok. She arrived after dawn on June 10th, all 6lbs, 7 oz of her, at 17 1/2 inches long. She is said to have a full head of hair and her Mama's Asian eyes.
Bad news now! My daughter cannot drive for at least 2 wks and cannot carry anything due to the complications and surgery. Tomorrow morning, her husband is deploying to Korea. The Dr. who delivered the baby requested that he be allowed to stay another week to help out at home, which is allowed, and my son-in-law's NCO denied the request without hesitation. There is another group deploying the following Monday and it is acceptable policy that he be allowed to deploy at that time, but they didn't even consider it.
My new granddaughter has 3 scheduled Dr.'s appts. and is wrapped in a biliruben blanket 24/7. My daughter has a Dr. appt also. Her unit (and her friends) are currently in the field, which leaves her between a rock and a hard place. Tomorrow morning, she will pack the baby up in the car seat, wrapped in her biliruben blanket, and drive her husband to the airport at 4am. Then, she will drive back home again, against Dr.'s orders, and will carry the baby, in her seat, against Dr.'s orders, into the apt. (That is IF she can get out of the car by herself!)
Hello! Am I the only one who sees an issue with this? She just re-enlisted again, and will deploy with the baby back to Germany, while her husband will be serving in Korea for the next year, before he is allowed to join her in Germany. This is how the Army thanks their Combat Medics! (Both of them are!) I am now starting to believe the stories that I am hearing, how injured soldiers are being quickly dumped from the military so that they become the VAs problem. Only thing is, the VA is understaffed and unprepared to care for these horrific injuries that, in the past, would have killed these soldiers. I am hearing they wait forever to get care once they are dumped.
We ask our citizens to voluntarily join the Armed Forces, and when they do, we treat them this way? I am outraged! I am not naive about the jobs that my son-in-law and daughter signed up to do. I am also not naive about the policies that allow my son-in-law to remain home to care for his wife and child while, under Army Dr.'s orders, she is incapacitated. I am interested in hearing your comments!