TwinMom7
Proud Mom of a United States Marine
- Joined
- Feb 16, 2000
- Messages
- 1,479
OK Guys....here's the details...but, bear with me - I'm functioning on about 3 hours of sleep. I'll post some photos a little later. My best friend came with us and took most of the actual "reunion" photos because she knew I'd be "too busy".
All of the relatives have left, my house is once again picked up and I've watched the video tape countless times - crying a little less each time.
We arrived at the Drill Center at 10:00 p.m. (about the same time our Marines arrived at O'Hare Airport in Chicago). It was a HUGE party on our end - everyone decked out in patriotic clothes, balloons, posters, etc. Two TV stations were there, along with newspaper reporters and photographers. The families were all gathered in a building very similar to a large gymnasium - with one end open to the outside by a huge rolling door.
The Marines were given a police escort to the Indiana border, where they were met by Indiana State Police for the final hour home to South Bend. The convoy consisted of a semi truck packed with all of their belongings, and two buses full of our Company B Marines. Aboard the buses, Major Bertschy stayed in contact with the Drill Center via cell phone....so, we were constantly updated as they got closer and closer. The final announcement game at 12:10 a.m. - they had reached downtown South Bend. I think that's when the tears really started.
The semi truck pulled up past the open door and the cheers and screams started - all of this JOY for a semi truck full of sea bags???
...but then came the first bus, honking - with our Marines peering out through the large windows. To say the entire scene was chaotic would be putting it mildly. Our entire group of family and friends - probably 40 of us - were waiting just to the side of the entrance, with 3 of Bobby's sisters waiting right at the door. The Marines came in slowly, all searching the crowd for faces of their loved ones - each one with a huge pack on their back, and carrying a rose. We waited and waited. I knew that if I saw Nick (his best friend) Bobby couldn't be far behind. Sure enough, there was Nick and then I heard Chrissie scream "BOBBY" and she was in his arms sobbing - followed by Kelli, Colleen and Katie - and then finally it was my turn. I just held on and didn't want to ever let go! As I watched the family video tape over and over last night, the most touching scene was Bobby and his dad -hugging and crying - neither one afraid to shed those tears.
After probably 20 minutes of hugging and crying and greeting all of the family and friends who had come to see him, we loaded all of his gear and brought him home to our house. I was so thrilled when he said that he wanted to come HOME with us and spend the night and just "hang out" with family. We finally "crashed" about 3:30 this morning, but found out later that he sat outside in lawn chairs with his best friend until 5:00 a.m., just talking. The friend told us later, that Bobby got so excited just seeing a couple of Robins and a rabbit in the yard.
This morning, we sat around (about 15 of us) and drank coffee and listened to his stories until about 11:00 and then he said that he was ready to go back to his house. I watched him climb into his Expedition and heard him "laugh" about the fact that he hadn't driven in 5 months!
Tonight, he belongs to his friends and he'll be with us tomorrow morning at church. I'm actually going through "withdrawel" today - I just want to see him constantly - BUT, I know that he has his life, and his home and his friends....and I have to share.
Thanks to all of you - my wonderful DIS friends who have shared my joys and fears over the past 5 months.
GOD BLESS you all!!!!
All of the relatives have left, my house is once again picked up and I've watched the video tape countless times - crying a little less each time.
We arrived at the Drill Center at 10:00 p.m. (about the same time our Marines arrived at O'Hare Airport in Chicago). It was a HUGE party on our end - everyone decked out in patriotic clothes, balloons, posters, etc. Two TV stations were there, along with newspaper reporters and photographers. The families were all gathered in a building very similar to a large gymnasium - with one end open to the outside by a huge rolling door.
The Marines were given a police escort to the Indiana border, where they were met by Indiana State Police for the final hour home to South Bend. The convoy consisted of a semi truck packed with all of their belongings, and two buses full of our Company B Marines. Aboard the buses, Major Bertschy stayed in contact with the Drill Center via cell phone....so, we were constantly updated as they got closer and closer. The final announcement game at 12:10 a.m. - they had reached downtown South Bend. I think that's when the tears really started.
The semi truck pulled up past the open door and the cheers and screams started - all of this JOY for a semi truck full of sea bags???
...but then came the first bus, honking - with our Marines peering out through the large windows. To say the entire scene was chaotic would be putting it mildly. Our entire group of family and friends - probably 40 of us - were waiting just to the side of the entrance, with 3 of Bobby's sisters waiting right at the door. The Marines came in slowly, all searching the crowd for faces of their loved ones - each one with a huge pack on their back, and carrying a rose. We waited and waited. I knew that if I saw Nick (his best friend) Bobby couldn't be far behind. Sure enough, there was Nick and then I heard Chrissie scream "BOBBY" and she was in his arms sobbing - followed by Kelli, Colleen and Katie - and then finally it was my turn. I just held on and didn't want to ever let go! As I watched the family video tape over and over last night, the most touching scene was Bobby and his dad -hugging and crying - neither one afraid to shed those tears.
After probably 20 minutes of hugging and crying and greeting all of the family and friends who had come to see him, we loaded all of his gear and brought him home to our house. I was so thrilled when he said that he wanted to come HOME with us and spend the night and just "hang out" with family. We finally "crashed" about 3:30 this morning, but found out later that he sat outside in lawn chairs with his best friend until 5:00 a.m., just talking. The friend told us later, that Bobby got so excited just seeing a couple of Robins and a rabbit in the yard.
This morning, we sat around (about 15 of us) and drank coffee and listened to his stories until about 11:00 and then he said that he was ready to go back to his house. I watched him climb into his Expedition and heard him "laugh" about the fact that he hadn't driven in 5 months!
Tonight, he belongs to his friends and he'll be with us tomorrow morning at church. I'm actually going through "withdrawel" today - I just want to see him constantly - BUT, I know that he has his life, and his home and his friends....and I have to share.
Thanks to all of you - my wonderful DIS friends who have shared my joys and fears over the past 5 months.
GOD BLESS you all!!!!
