I'll keep my political viewpoints to myself here, and focus on the human side of how I feel when I see hundreds of men and women coming home again.
I saw faces smiling, children staring in awe, some of which don't ever remember seeing this person in uniform before. Some of them are so new that they really never have seen this new person in real life. Mom's cried, wives, husbands, brothers, sisters, all so happy to finally see and touch their loved one(s) again. In today's press video there was one little boy who stood out from the rest. Dressed in nearly identical cammo as his father, awaiting the dismissal of his fathers troop, he walks across the gymnasium floor, timid and slow, straight to his father. Daddy tried his best to not break formation but when his son got to him he reached down to hold him close as the boy hugged his Daddy's thigh. For those of you who don't know, leg hugs from little kids are the coolest thing. You just feel like the mighty oak, strong and loved for what you are. The moment the troops are dismissed this father grabs his son, hoists him up in a hug, runs to his wife and new baby and picks them up too! Okay, when you're able to pick up 3 members of your family at once, you are one happy person!
Aside from the reason behind the reunion, what this story showed me was how important it is to cherish the ones we love, hold them closely and to tell them, as often as possible, that we love them and are happy about having them in our lives.
I should try this more. We should all try this more.