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Family relies on faith, fellowship

May-20-2004 » Filed Under: Homefront

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By BECKY SHAY, Of The Gazette Staff

Bryan and Ruth Gifford have prayed for their children since they were in the womb.

More than 20 years later, with their boys both serving in Iraq, the family's prayers are the same: May they be in God's protection.

The Giffords believe someone has to fight for country and family and are proud that their sons, Chris and Justin, are doing so. Faith and fellowship keep the family's worst fears at bay, but Ruth said she's on pins and needles thinking about her sons being in harm's way.

"You think of the worst of everything that can happen, and yet you are so proud of them you can't see straight," she said. [...]

Justin joined the Army and is a combat medic who has been awarded a combat badge for his service under fire in Iraq.

After 9/11, Justin could have opted out of the military. He would not quit. "He said it was important for him to serve the people in the homeland," Ruth said. He has served with the First Stryker Brigade in Iraq since last October.

Through e-mails and a Web cam, the Giffords keep contact with Justin. Bryan says he sometimes hears, in his son's voice, the effect of fighting a war and seeing death.

"There are days he just wants to talk about family. It's almost stuff you wouldn't converse about if you were sitting together," Bryan said. "He wants a sense of normalcy."

Some of that sense comes from care packages from home and the Giffords' church. And letters - Justin and his buddies love getting letters.


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