I sobbed as I watched these guys that I'd never met before embrace the parents of one of their Fallen Soldiers, who I had known for just a few months at that point. I wish I had the words to explain the amazing outpouring of love shown in that embrace. I wish I had the ability to explain how that one moment is one of the most heart-wrenching and moving moments of my life. And it's so hard to believe the moment that led to that moment 5 years old as of yesterday.
When Army Guy was deployed in 2007, he changed companies and took over as 1st Platoon Leader for Delta Company 2-7CAV. A few months later, I was given the opportunity to become the FRG (Family Readiness Group) Leader. It felt awkward to come into a group as the new guy, but they welcomed me and I felt proud to be a part of D Co. And just as I was getting my bearings, we lost a Soldier. SPC Matthew Emerson was 20 years old when he died in Mosul, Iraq on September 18, 2007 as the result of a vehicle rollover. I never had the opportunity to meet him, but as FRG Leader it was my responsibility to be the representative of the FRG to his family. A few days later, I found myself getting ready to flying half way across the US to the great state of Washington to attend the services of a Soldier that I didn't know and meeting family that I had no idea how to fathom what they were going through. Rear-D had already sent two Soldiers out to the family, so when I arrived in Washington, they met me and on the way to the hotel, I asked "So how is the family?" and then I listened as the RearD Soldiers told me about this amazing family. About their courage. Their strength. Their faith. Their humor. Their appreciation. They told me about stories that the family had told them about Matt. They told me about how the soldiers from 3rd Platoon had already contacted them. You never know how people are going to react in grief and I tried to prepare myself for all options, but never once was I expecting what RearD was telling me to expect.
Matthew's service was amazing, moving, and attended by everyone in town. The streets were lined with people holding flags from the service location to the cemetery. The graveside service was beautiful. We were wrapped in love and flags courtesy of the Patriot Guard Riders, who are amazing humans and I hope everyone has an opportunity to say "Thank You" to at least one of them at one point in your life. The reception afterwards at the home of the Emerson's will remain in my memory always. As people came to greet the family, LJ & Ginger, Matthew's parents were greeting them with smiles and appreciation. Once again, people react so differently to grief that I wasn't really sure what to expect. And being a representative of the Army life, I was doubly not sure what to expect. I wasn't sure I'd even be welcomed, but not only was I welcomed, but I remember feeling like they were so glad to have us Army people there. I was introduced by one of the RearD Soldiers and I spoke briefly with both LJ and Ginger. I presented a gift that was sent from the Battalion Commander's wife and they showed me what they had been presented with thus far. They talked about how they'd been able to speak with the soldiers in his platoon, command team, and Battalion Commander. They told me how proud they were of their youngest child. They told me how grateful they were that we were there. They told me they wanted to be kept in the FRG loop. And I stood there chatting, thinking how amazingly strong they were.
They came out when the Unit came home in December. They were there for our flights as they came in, even if it wasn't 3rd Platoon. They stood there and watched families have the homecoming that they were not given. They stood there as amazing pillars of strength and I will never forget that. But then it was 3rd Platoons turn to come home. And I remember standing in a sea of Soldiers who'd just been released trying to track down where they all were in relationship to where their families were (you'd be amazed at how well ACUs can hide other people) and then I saw it. I saw the parents of SPC Matthew Emerson find 3rd platoon. I watched as these guys let go of their family (if they'd been so lucky to find them first) and immediately embrace his parents as if they were their own. And as I stood there watching a friend came up and I just started crying about how awesome they were and how amazing they were and how they've watched all of these homecomings without a tear shed and how now I'm standing here bawling for them. And my friend hugged me, said some encouraging words and I sucked it up, wiped my tears and waited for The Husband's flight.
And when I saw him I didn't cry. And I even managed not to cry as Ginger took our "he's finally home!" family picture.
So I may have never had the great pleasure of meeting Matthew Emerson, but he is one of my biggest heroes and his family will always have a special place in my heart and my life. We will never forget.
**As a side note: One of my favorite stories involves LJ&Ginger. When I met them at Matthew's service, there was a miscommunication and they thought the RearD soldier that introduced us was my husband. The Soldier (an older soldier, husband and father of 5 boys) deployed the week after the service and came home on the same flight that my actual husband did. LJ & Ginger were able to shake hands with the guys as they got off the plane and recognized the RearD Soldier and told him "You have a couple of excited girls in there waiting to see you!" at which he made a strange face but kept moving. So then The Husband and I meet up, Ginger takes our picture and as we're leaving the airport, I say to The Husband "So, Ginger told me that she told you, you "had a couple of excited girls waiting on you" and The Husband says "Ummm, I don't know what you're talking about...there were a lot of people shaking our hands and it was kind of overwhelming". So I'm instantly irritated with him that he didn't even take the time to notice when someone was talking to him, let alone a GoldStar Mom! A couple of weeks later, Ginger emails me the picture and says to me "so we thought you were married to the Soldier you attended the service with and so imagine our surprise when we took your picture with a guy who was not *that* guy." :) Poor RearD guy must've been greatly confused with the whole "you've got a couple of excited girls waiting on you...." with a family full of boys anticipating him! :) One of my favorite memories.
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