The Trees
Welcome to Fort Stewart Georgia, home of the Third Infantry Division (Mechanized).
Welcome to Warrior's Walk, a sacred place to anyone here who has lost a loved one in the War on Terror. I have been to the walk numerous times, but never to a tree dedication ceremony. I finally attended my first ceremony last week. I didn't know any of the ten soldiers being honored that day. But I was one of the people who sent them off, so I thought it only fitting that I be there to remember them.
When my husband and i arrived at the walk, my first order of business was to visit the tree of my friend Rusty. I had him a new wind chime for his tree. To my surprise he had family members visit and leave momentos. I couldn't help but smile. I was so glad he was being thought of. I put his wind chime in his tree and looked down the walk. Sadly, new sidewalks have been poured to make room for more trees. It was time to go back to the place where the ceremony was going to be held. I saw a friend of mine who I will talk about another time. I went over and said hello to him and went to find a seat. It was a cloudy dreary day. I sat on the first row of seats on metal bleachers. Behind me, a sea of ACU's were also waiting. All of them there to pay tribute to fallen comrades. Suddenly they all stood up and came to attention. I had no idea what was going on. But I stood anyway. Then I realized what was happening. Across the street I could see the families making their way over to the walk. I was in awe of my surroundings. At the incredible amount of respect each and every soldier was displaying for these families. I wasn't surprised, just so very proud. The families filed in and I saw a small boy. He was holding his mommy's hand. His mommy was wiping tears from her cheeks . Then I noticed the tears running down my own cheeks. My heart ached for them. The ceremony began and it wasn't long before it was over. Then the trees were dedicated. Each name was read. Each marker uncovered. Each cover folded with care and held tightly until retreived by the family. And if no family attended, a yellow rose was placed at the bottom of the tree and the cover was accepted by another soldier and mailed home to the family. My words cannot express the emotions you feel while watching all of this take place. To see a family in pain go up and take that cloth out of the soldiers hands is unbelieveable. The great care and compassion that goes into the ceremony leaves you humbled. My words just aren't enough
