have been working on many activities and preparations, and am excited to share some of those with you! I had the opportunity recently to attend a family readiness group meeting, and I have to say, these families are some of the bravest out there - they sacrifice so much for us, and I am truly grateful for all they do. Also as part of my platform work, I have been compiling a book of letters from soldiers and their families, which I am undeniably excited about! Once published, this will be an invaluable resource for all of us, and it is my hope that we will have a deeper appreciation of the service our troops and their families offer us. I wanted to share this picture of my friend in Iraq, as well as share an excerpt from a letter he sent for the book. He writes as follows:Dear Fellow Americans, I wanted to write this letter because I think it’s important for the people of the United States to hear a deployed soldier’s perspective of the war. Amidst the horror of bloodshed and violence depicted throughout the media, success and good are getting accomplished daily, not just for citizens of Iraq, but for the soldiers as well.
What’s sad is that the only depiction of this war has been negative. Before the United States sent troops to Iraq, Saddam’s Regime wreaked havoc throughout thecountry. I’ve heard locals tell stories of family members and/or friends getting killed for taking an opposing view of the regime. People weren’t just killed though. Torture was also another common epidemic Iraqis dealt with. Tongues, hands and ears were cut off—just to name a few methods of torment—when people talked badly of Saddam or the government. Women, children and those with handicaps had even less freedoms than the other populace.
I can say with confidence that a silver lining has started to emerge since our boots first touched ground in March of 2003. Women are now able to start showing their faces in public and dress more westernized. Men and women can vote, hold jobs, and even advance in careers that were once dead-end. Children are going to school, ensuring a more educated and successful future for Iraq. Just in the past few months since my unit started its public relations missions, a schoolhas been built, an irrigation system for farms has started construction, medical supplies have been handed out, and a generator project has been put into theworks to bring electricity to local citizens.
To think that the Iraqis don’t appreciate our presence would be a misconception. I was blessed with the opportunity to become friends with an Iraqi interpreter. I had expressed to him how hard it is to continue to stay positive about the war when constantly bombarded with negative footage and stories. He told me on nights I go to bed and doubt the work I did that day, I need to remember that what I did was help bring hope of a brighter future, a future once downtrodden by Saddam. Another great example of the support shown by the Iraqis is one that comes from a small town that my unit visits. The Sheik of that town told my company’s leadership that he would be willing to sacrifice his town’s safety by stepping up its police force to stop insurgents who pass through. He said his people would be willing to give their lives to help our cause and protect U.S. soldiers.
My appreciation for the good life is not the only part of myself that’s grown throughout the 20 months of this deployment. I have come to find a deeper, more profound relationship with Christ and the Church. What brings me comfort is that God didn’t leave me when I entered the combat zone. God has been there with me every step of the way and has never left my side. I’ve come to realize that God puts us through hardships so that we have to rely on Him, so that we have to put total faith in His words."
I will share more of this letter later in the week; I just feel that the insight it provides is so valuable. I would also really like to encourage you to take time sometime this week to write a letter to someone you know serving in Iraq, visit someone in a local Veterans' Hospital, or bring cookies or a meal to the family of a soldier. It may seem like a simple thing, but the support it signifies can mean so much more.
I'm excited to see everyone again next week! Good luck to all as we prepare for this exciting week!
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