Second deployment good-bye

I had the privilege to hug one of America's heroes the other day - and I didn't want to let go.

My nephew Scott is one of the many, many dedicated persons who is putting his family life on hold to defend our country. He left Monday, Memorial Day of all days, when the veterans are so much on our minds, for his second deployment. As difficult as it is on his family, I can't imagine the families that have had to say good bye three, four and even five times, not knowing when that strength and luck may run out and if one of those good byes will really be the last.

It has been five years since his first time being sent to Iraq. This mission will be in Kuwait and ONLY a year long, half of the first mission.

Scott is a third-generation military man - his two grandpas were in World War II and his grandma, my mom, served in the Women's Army Corp during WWII. As his dad was a member of the army, several years of Scott's young life were spent at different army bases. It wasn't unusual to see him dressed up in miniature camouflage clothing and playing army - even after his dad completed his time.

He had intended on becoming an Army man shortly after graduating from high school in the late '80s but turned away when the linguistic area he wanted to be a part of was filled.

He still had a desire to serve his country, he told me, so he joined the Minnesota National Guard. At the time, the big incentive was that his college loans could be paid off but now, the Guard means so much more to him now. He has been a member for 22 years and has now made the Guards his livelihood.

The first time he left, his kids ranged in ages from 2-7; now older, that absence will be more noticeable. Thank goodness for technology - web cams and skyping will definitely allow the kids to see for themselves that dad is ok and allow him to stay connected to the things that the kids are involved in.

As all war seems to be unpredictable, he assured me that he would be "safe" and that he would not have to carry a gun with him everywhere he went like he did that first time in Iraq. Well, I didn't know that he did, probably most of us in the family were protected from information such as that at the time.

Family gathered together for a celebration of Scott on Saturday. It has been a difficult time for my sister, Scott's mom, to see her oldest son off again.

Time seems to pass quickly and we all hope it won't slow down now. We all look forward to getting together again in a year to welcome him home, so we can all breath a sigh of relief.

He had a request from everyone present: "Take care of Lori and the little ones. My job is easy, hers is not."