Stryker Brigade News

We got there early and the gym was already filled with families and friends. About 200 to 250 people. The kids were so excited! They were racing back and forth across the gym floor! Some were dressed up in tiny BDU's! How cute was that. And the babies, all dressed up waiting for daddies! Wives, girlfriends and family members were all chatting while they were waiting. We were told that the soldiers were already on the base, (and had been for a couple of hours). They had turned in their equipment prior to coming to the gym, which meant they would not have to do anything but leave with their families once they were relieved.

There was a military band playing, the gym was decorated with posters of units, families had flowers, ballons so there was a lot of vivid colors around the gym. Finally the soldiers marched in and the noise was incredible! Screaming, clapping and yelling! There was a short speech and they were dismissed!! Then it became total bedlam! Families hugging and crying and smiling! We met a guy from Boston who had come out to surprise his brother and I took some pictures of him and his brother which I will email to him later today. I was surprised at how quickly the gym emptied out. I am guessing there was a lot of private celebrations going on.

My husband and I just snapped pictures whenever we could of whoever we could and we will post them later.

We had taken our son's truck with us to the base and he gathered up some of the single soldiers in his unit who did not have family there and made sure they were able to get to where they needed to go. I am thinking it was the local watering hole, but not positive about that!

We will see our son later today. Had he not been home on leave a few weeks ago I would have hauled his butt home with us but I also know he had committed to helping the single guys in his unit.