The Family of 4
By Blaike Koca
Hi. My name is Blaike Koca. I am sitting in an airport. Dallas Airport to be exact. I am watching the crowd hurry by. Trying to make their flights. I am smiling and waving to the unknown strangers. So silent they are, but so much is said in their silent passings.
This is a true story, but a different setting and different names. A family of 4 is what I would call it, but you may name it differently.
I am going to Florida. Orlando, Florida. We are at Gate D28. I am sitting here watching the crowd go by. So silent but so much is said by their silent replies. I see people from different backgrounds, religions and races. I greet each and every person with the same respect. But there is this family, they stick out from everyone else. They stand out in the crowd of hundreds of millions people.
It made me cry. You see, daddy was leaving. The 8 year old daughter, dressed in her pink camouflage. Baby boy in a baby carrier, dressed in green. Everyone’s eyes are swelling up with tears. They were taking daddy to his gate.
The daddy stood there, holding onto them tighter than ever, mommy, daughter and son. You see, daddy was dressed in green, green camouflage, brave and ready for battle. Heading to Iraq. As I write this, tears come to my eyes.
Have you ever looked into someone’s eyes? Could you tell what they were thinking? Mommy’s eyes said “Baby, I love you! Please hunny, don’t go!” The daughter’s eyes said “Daddy, who is going to tell me my bedtime story? Who is going to tuck me in at night?”
The saddest thing a person can see without even knowing the story. How can people walk by like it’s no big deal? I just think to myself “Does anyone notice? Daddy is leaving!” Have you ever been in public and seen someone in a military uniform? Do you walk by like you’re afraid to say something? Ha! I don’t, I go up to them and shake their hand/hug them, tell them thank you, you be safe and I pray for them every night before I go to bed. The thing you will never forget is the look on their face when you tell them that.
So when you are somewhere and you see a hero in the military TALK TO THEM! They are the one’s that keep this country free and protected. And one day I will be that hero you see that is walking down the street.
My message: When you see a hero in the military, talk to them and thank them. Pray for them.
