Stryker Brigade News

Their opinion hasn't been formed by news media coverage, Bob Woodward's latest book, the loudest talking head on television or a presidential candidate. These local moms get their perspective from the telephone and from pictures sent home or over the Internet. They've quit watching and reading the news. They say the coverage doesn't provide the full story. [...]

While the rest of us have seen the picture of the Army reservist holding the Iraqi prisoner on a leash a thousand times, these mothers talk about all the pictures showing Marines holding children, laughing with children and even an old man kissing the hand of a Marine. [...]

''When they call, we tell them we're doing fine, that we're strong, that we're doing great and that we're thrilled to hear from them and that America is behind them 100% and we're praying for them,'' said Martha Morris of Franklin. ''The reason for that is if they are brave enough to go over there for us and to fight for us, then by God they will not spend one second worrying about whether their mothers are strong enough to handle what they're doing.

''We'll talk about that when they get home.'' [...]

Make no mistake. These mothers love their sons dearly and would prefer them safe at home. But the greatest love a parent can have for a child is in supporting him or her in pursuit of happiness and a meaningful life. So these Marine moms are always searching for ways to cope. [...]

What these mothers have to say about the war in Iraq is more than mere opinion. They are invested — in every phone call and every slamming car door that could be the casualty officer paying that fateful visit. Don't question them. Thank them. Then listen and learn the rest of the story.

(via Donald Sensing)