The mother-and-child reunion - photo

The mother-and-child reunion: Spc. Tina Connolly hugs sons Sean, 11, (right), and Eric, 9, at a school in Montague, Mich., as the Michigan National Guard 1436th Engineering Company returns from Iraq. "I just want to go home," Connolly said.

I'm getting teary.....

:cry: :cry: :cry:

Thank God they have a happy ending (at least for now)

I click on the thread to read the responses and each time the tears come back. Very emotional photo.

(no wedding ring)

not saying she is or isn't married, just saying not having a ring on doesn't mean anything

If I were married and deployed, I would leave my ring with a loved one for safe keeping, just in case, you know?

She should be staying home. :(

I hope she stay home now

is conveyed in this photo.

I'm so glad this family is back together.

I couldn't bear to be away from my loved ones for any reason, let alone a war where the bottom line is greed.




Cher

knew enough to fear for her as well as miss her.

I don't want moms or dads there. (Or sons and daughters there, who does that leave. No one? Good call.)

:cry:

would be like to leave them for a year and not knowing if I would ever see them again.

George Bush -- Fuck you!

Happiest thing I've seen all day. Thank you.

What a precious family. Those boys LOVE their mom, about that I have no doubt.

but how does anyone 'volunteer' for the military, since Bush took office, knowing they have to leave their young children behind? I'd rather work at Walmart, then to have a job where I knew I would be taken from my kids and that the odds were good that I might never come back in one piece.

First of all, I'm so happy this mother was able to reunite with her children, and I'm happy she's home safely.

Having said that, I remember hearing "terrible" stories about families during the first Gulf war, and how awful it was that BOTH mom and dad had to go fight, and how heartbreaking it was, and WHO would take care of the children??? The whole tone was, "How could the military DO this to families?"

Well, you stay in the active reserve or the National Guard, etc., and there's a chance that you might have to go fight someplace and leave your children or family. It sucks, but you don't get paid for nothing.

I am NOT in favor of this invasion and occupation, but if you commit to being in any branch of the armed services or reserves, chances are some dimwit is going to send you to some dimwitted "war" and if you're not willing to do it, don't sign up.

Just a note: When my husband left the army way back when, he had the option of being in the reserves, and was very attracted at the time to the "extra" money we'd get for his service. I persuaded him not to.

What do we think we're doing? :cry:

Hekate

She joined the National Guard in exchange for a few modest benefits back when responsible adults were running things. It never crossed her mind that she would ever be caught up in a totally unnecessary, illegal invasion and occupation of a foreign country in which thousands upon thousands of people would die or be seriously disabled for life needlessly. But time went by, some things changed, and she was unwittingly trapped in some greedy lunatics' delusions.

I could be wrong.

Glad she made it.

:kick: :cry:

I'm going to give it one more myself.

:kick:

Come on.

Blame it on our fearless leader, who doesn't even have the guts to stand up in front of the nation and tell us that we will have to start making sacrifices, and who certainly won't face the reality of our need for more troops.

If Bush were half a man and even 1/3 of the leader he claims to be, he would be rallying College Republicans to enlist, or he would begin discussions of a draft.

But he won't. He doesn't want to take the hit.

:cry:

It brought me to tears. I'm so happy those boys have their Momma back -- may she never have to leave them again.

and two less kids will be orphans because of this war. The photo is breathtaking.

Julie

Just got all misty in here.
Damn powerful photo.
Thanks.

so touching, happy yet so sad.

...for doing your part to help make more of these reunions possible by calling for our troops to leave Iraq forever.