The War hits close to home this time

Tonight, my family gathered at an aunt’s house. The occasion?

War.

PFC. Michael Taylor is headed to Iraq. Of course to me, he’s just always been Michael… the goofy little blond-headed kid. On Friday my cousin will leave to a base here in the U.S. and then be in Kuwait by Monday. After that, he’ll go to Baghdad… right up on the front lines as a bomb engineer/technician.

Photo (left-to-right): Me, my cousin Christopher, Michael and little bro Johnathon.

Up until now, no one in my family had been directly impacted by the War in Iraq. I had one cousin that served in the Navy during the Gulf War but no other family members (in recent history) had been sent off and this is the first time I’m really old enough to appreciate the seriousness of the situation.

On one hand, I’m really proud of my cousin. I’m proud that I can say someone in my family is serving his nation. I’m proud to say that someone in my family is protecting us. I’m humbled that my cousin is serving and protecting my right to do all the things I do in terms of activism or advocacy. Without good men like Michael, I wouldn’t have the ability to be Mr. Activist.

But on the other hand, I’m scared. Really scared. I thought as he drove off tonight to go fill out some transfer paperwork with his commander that tonight really could be the last time any one in my family sees him again. It is a really scary thing. The next time we see him, it may be in a coffin… at a military funeral.

My aunt (his grandmother) cried when he left and, to be honest, I almost cried too when I shook his hand, hugged him, told him goodbye and “Be careful.”

My aunt also cursed Bush and “his damned war.” If it were my grandson being carted off, maybe I’d be that emotional as well. But I could see a lot of pride in my grandfather’s eyes (my cousin’s great-grandpa) when he shook Michael’s hand and told him goodbye. There was worry there for sure, but you could nonetheless see and feel the pride he had in one of his grandsons. My grandpa served in Word War II and the Korean War; he knows exactly what Michael will be facing.

I pray for Michael… for his safety and well-being and that he comes back home to see his family. I pray that he’ll take care of his fellow service men and women and that they will take care of him. I pray that this war will end soon before any more of my cousins (or brothers) decide to enlist and I have to face the same fears all over again.

Posted in Misc |