A Welcome Home In Minnesota

Anoka Welcome Home

This is a post from the Minnesota Forum that I put wrote back in July of 2007 after a welcome home mission. That month the MN Patriot Guard conducted some 34 different welcome home missions for 2600 troops in 9 days. Most if not all the missions were coordinated by Nate "Birdie" Zenker. He worked tirelessly during that time to make sure everything went perfectly, which it did. Many thanks Birdie! I'm in awe of your dedication.

There's a principle that I strongly believe in. It's called psychological reciprocity. What it means is simply, in order to receive, you must first give. If you want someone to smile, you must smile at them first. If you want someone to be nice to you, you must first be nice to them. You must give to receive and oddly enough, the more you give, the more you receive.

The people who belong to the MN Patriot Guard and attend the missions are givers. They're not looking for anything in return but boy, do they receive. I'm speaking from first hand experience. The following is a story of giving because I wanted to and receiving so much more in return. I will never forget this experience. Never.

Here's the post:

I've been thinking about this for almost a day wondering how I was going to compose this, trying to find the right words that convey the feelings, the emotions. There are many, more eloquent authors than I but I'm going to give it a shot.

Yesterday at the Anoka welcome home, while walking about on the field offering my own welcome homes to the many troops, observing the fathers holding their children, kissing them gently, hugging them and holding them so carefully, many with tears streaming down their cheeks while the wives and mothers waited patiently for their turn, Indian John and I met a young man who was without a family member.

I can only imagine how he felt. Gone for 22 months and his Mom's not here. Seeing everyone else in absolute joy, and no one here for him.

John and I struck up a conversation knowing that it was just a matter of time before this young soldier would be reunited with SOMEONE. Both John and I commented on his last name and how it would be a natural for him to join our group.

"Mom's on her way, she's just lost in the crowd of a few hundred folks, we'll help you find her." were the words of encouragement we offered but you could still see the concern on his face.

John let him use his cell phone but Mom must have had hers turned off. Soon Jeff Good joined in the search. Still no sign of Mom. She's just got to be here somewhere!

Must have been 45 minutes and I'll bet it seemed like hours to this kid. We walked the field, around the concession stand, the parking lot, everywhere we thought she might be. Jeff got the PA guy to make an announcement, all in vain.