From A Mother Of A Soldier to A Mother of a Fallen Soldier

Last week I posted a thread about how long this war is going to continue.. I thought it time everyone knew there will be no big troop pull-out, maybe a small one at some point and time, but the truth of the matter is that this occupation will continue for at least 20 years....

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=969423&mesg_id=969423

Unless you are the loved one of someone who has served in this war, you have no complete understanding about the feelings involved... I am one of the lucky mothers whose son returned in one piece, but that is not to say that next time out will be the same.. With each time he returns, he increases his chances of getting maimed or killed...

The year my Son was in Iraq was the longest of my life... I worried so much, my hair started to fall out and to this day, it has not grown back.. That is a small sacrifice on my part.. My son does not want to go back and if he wants my help, I shall give it to him... Whatever he decides, I am behind him. I love him and I can't force him to stay or to run....

To say I know what Cindy Sheehan has been through would be a farce, my son breathes, her son does not.. She did what many mothers have not had the courage to do, and that was bring attention to the blood being shed for war profiteers. I wished I had as much courage in my whole body as Cindy does in her little finger. I am ashamed I have not posted before this to commend Cindy for all of her efforts. I see a brilliant, courageous, woman who took on the most powerful machine in this country and had a profound effect on the people of this country... I only wish my health was good enough, I would blaze the trail with her, I do feel that strongly about it.

Cindy is an amazing woman who did the only thing she could to rage against the machine... How many of us can claim the same? Not me, I am ashamed I have not done more.

Whatever you decide to do Cindy, I support you 100%... Ignore the foul comments of those who only try to destroy a person who has more honor in her spit, than those who call her names... They are sad people who have nothing in life but misery and meaness....

Cindy, you are my hero and nobody can ever change that about you.....

seeing your child (and he will always be that) put into harm's way for such senselessness, and for sharing your thoughts that I wholeheartedly agree with.

:hug:

I admire Cindy for her efforts and I can't even compare to her...

Don't know what I would of done without DU the year my Son was in Iraq... DU is my rock, and it is people like you that makes it such a joy.... :hug:

To you, and to Cindy, and to my best friend who I hope has not read today's news yet (her son pilots helicopters in Afghanistan). How you endure all this, I cannot imagine. I've had to put a lot of people on "ignore" after the past few days: I was getting too much spittle on my keyboard.

:hug:

May you be well
May you be healthy
May you be happy
May you grow in understanding

I will keep them in my thoughts and prayers... Best to you and yours :hug:

:hug:

this is diameters many times worse. I hug you and your boy. I hug Cindy. Unless you have skin in the game, and we do with my cousin's daughter in this one, you can't know how important she is.

Thanks for the thread dogday.

Many of them echo my own thoughts. I do not know what you went through with my own child in Iraq, but my husband was there for a year. I was also lucky he returned, although he lost some of his hearing and gets many headaches (mortar concussion).

Longest year of your life - no doubt about it. I ended up on Xanax for panic attacks. That's how my worry manifested itself. I was probably trying too hard to keep things as "normal" as possible for our 5 y/o. When I was alone, the attac would overwhelm me.

I said in Skinner's thread that the only thing separating my experience from Cindy's is about 6 feet of trajectory. I have often wondered if it had been my husband would I have had the courage to speak out as she has. I haven't been able to answer the questions.

Thanks for posting! :hug: