My latest thoughts.... Today I had the pleasure of covering a departing flight for some MP’s going to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Now this is not the first time I have covered a deployment. In the 20 months that I have been doing this, deployment and redeployment ceremonies have been pretty commonplace. On one side, you get to see a families pain and heartbreak; on the other pure, absolute joy and happiness. As I continue to transition away from the military, events like today’s are something that I absolutely, positively not miss at all. In the 16 1/2 years that I have been in, I have had multiple deployments myself. In order, I have done deployments to Kuwait, Bosnia, Kuwait (which turned into the Iraq invasion in 2003), and Iraq two more times. The first two, I was single and living in the barracks. The last three, I was married. While I know that there are people I know both in the military, separated from the military and civilians who might read this, please understand that I mean disrespect or any ill will with what I am about to say. I understand now that there are some things that normal people will never have to experience or truly understand. Most civilians may have a loved one that leave for school, or for some work or business thing for a few days or weeks. Many will never, ever have to know what it is like to put your arms around a loved one and know this could be the very last time you will ever see and hold them. That even though they may promise to come back and give you a better life, some things are out of their control. That may be a promise they will never get to keep. In covering these deployment ceremonies, it gets to me every single time. Without fail. I am a sensitive guy. When I see the pain in a families eyes as they separate, it bothers me. When I see that child hug their mother or father and say goodbye with tears coming down their face, it hurts me. When I see a mother or father hold a newborn for the final time, I choke up. I will never miss having to say goodbye to anyone in this way ever again. I will not miss taking pictures of these events. Yes, they do make great photographs. They can convey a VERY powerful message. In some of the photos from deployment ceremonies, you can really see the love a family has for each other. The pain they share from separation. Each and every time I do this, I tear up. I have to look away and compose myself. It’s hard to watch all the time. It’s even harder to go through. mcgeorge36.wordpress/
Posted on: Sun, 09 Jun 2013 06:24:23 +0000
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