A Welcome Home(coming)

Yesterday I was honored to attend the welcome home ceremony for Fox Company, 2/24 Marines. It had been a rainy, and dark morning, and the clouds did not appear to be dissipating at all. However, no matter what the weather, it was certainly a day of celebration, remembrance, and memorial.As the families gathered through the hangars at the Wisconsin Air National Guard's 128th Air Refueling Wing, a sense of urgency and excitement was building. The banners hanging on the wall, the smiles and worried faces throughout the crowd, and the families waiting to see their loved ones energized the room. You could see girlfriends, wives, fathers, mothers, brothers, and sisters waiting in the most impatiently patient way, with legs bouncing, hands tapping; anything to keep the time moving until they could see their loved ones again.The message went out via text message. The marines were over Milwaukee, and were going to be landing shortly. As a white and blue aircraft flew by and landed on the runway in front of a gathering crowd, you could hear the feet clamoring to get to the fence, as close as they could to the tarmac where that plane was going to pull up.The plane began to taxi, and signs went shooting up into the air. Hands began waiving, people began crying, and the cheers began to ring through the thick summer air. As the plane drew closer, the Navy band, dressed in their Navy white, began playing, filling the hangar with music. The instruments beamed gold while reflecting the bright sunshine. The clouds had parted, and the sun was shining brightly as the plane pulled up to the tarmac; no rain, no clouds, no dreariness, but overwhelming joy. There seemed to be a reason for this. Two marines were not coming home physically on this day. Cpl. Ricky Nelson and LCpl. Dean Opicka were lost in combat on April 14, 2008 to a roadside bomb. Although they did not physically step off the plane, they had been with the Marines the whole time; in the desert, in the air, and in their hearts. They had cleared the path for those Marines, as they made their final trip home. As Moses once parted the seas, Nelson and Opicka parted the clouds, to let the warmth of the summer, WISCONSIN sun, shine upon the waiting families.As the Marines began filing down the plane steps onto the hot concrete tarmac, family members began to pick out their loved ones in the crowd. Names rang out, louder and louder by the minute. The Marines remained professional, waiting to form-up for the last time, before heading to see their families. As the last Marine stepped off the plane and filed in, the excitement became unbearable. The Marines came at attention, and then were let go to reunite with the ones they loved.Tears began falling, smiles beamed bright, and warm embraces were being shared all around. The colors of Marine Digital camo mixed with the blue and black mission shirts for the 2/24, and homemade t-shirts with family names on them. Two Marines did not come home, but two woman carried on their mission, their memory, and their grace. They showed strength, dignity, determination, and support to the Marines that had served with Nelson and Opicka. Although their Marines were not coming home, they welcomed home their brothers in arms, with open arms.Major Rosales addressed the crowd, describing the mission as operationally successful, but personally very difficult. Maj. Rosales had not returned with all of his Marines, and he pointed out the banner behind him, that beared the names of Richard Nelson and Dean Opicka. Rosales addressed the men, had them stand at attention, and then:Dismissed.Although Fox Company, 2/24 Marines have returned, we must not forget those who still fight for us and others in foreign lands. We must not forget those who will not be stepping off of that welcome home aircraft, and we must remember the families of those service members.I know I have become a better person through knowing two people, one since college, but only recently reunited through tragedy, and one only through distantly watching her strength in family and God. Katy and Kristen are two of the strongest people I know, and I hope someday, I am as strong as they are.I only wish I could do more.Semper Fi.