Hi FB Friends and Family...I would like to ask that you pay special attention to my post today as it has so much meaning to me and my family...in particular my big bro! 31 Years ago the U.S. Marine Corps Barracks was destroyed by a suicide bomber (WHILE THE U.S. WAS ON A PEACE KEEPING MISSION) The explosion slaughtered 220 Marines, 18 sailors and three soldiers. My brother of course has his own story from his perspective having survived such a horrific tragedy. This is my story....I will always remember that this was the day the Pine Spring Elementary School principal, pulled me out of class, for me to go home with my parents only to find out that my big brother, my hero, my heart, my everything, may in fact be dead. **Tears are streaming as I write this because unless you have been there you have no idea HOW this feels and even though 31 years later (wait that cant be right I am not that old, LOL), 31 years later I can still feel my heart stopping and dropping into my stomach. I have told this story over and over again but it never gets old because it still feels fresh..we didnt know for almost a week if he was alive. We sat and watched the news waiting to hear, while the phone was ringing off the hook from friends and family wanting to know...but we had no answers. We tied yellow ribbons around the trees in remembrance...and still no word. UNTIL (and I will swear by this until I die), I saw one news channel 2 days later showing the Marines who survived pulling bodies from the rubble...and I swore I saw my big bro. That particular story with the images I saw never ran again so my whole family thought I was crazy (well I am, but not this time I knew I saw him...I can spot him a mile away...after all it was during this time I was wearing my camouflage skirt because I wanted to be like my big brother)! We will never know if it was in fact him, however I know in my heart it was and it was my signal that he was ok and even though my family didnt believe me, it sparked hope that their son, my brother was alive. A day later we found out that he was in fact ALIVE!! Now the story about him coming home and us having our homecoming reunion is a story for another time and a humorous one at that. But today I remember what I went through, what I saw my family go through, and what I have seen my big bro go through. Additionally I remember those who didnt make it, who perished for our freedom, for those families who loved them and who were watching t.v. hoping just like we were only to have a very different ending. My heart goes out to everyone touched by this tragedy. My love, support and prayers, as always, go out to the men and women who have fought and who continue to fight for our freedom. Thank you big bro...you are my hero, my heart, my everything...always!
Posted on: Thu, 23 Oct 2014 14:43:15 +0000