On the Election from Cindy, the Military Mom

Joe, the Plumber.

Poor guy! Did he know that he would represent the heart of so many in America during the past few weeks of American History? Sure, Joe, the plumber, does represent Harold and I in one of our roles as American citizens. We are both business owners who have pursued the American dream. We have built two businesses that actually would have the target placed upon them by a certain party running for office that would penalize us for all of our “extra” that we are working hard to build and put aside for our future–so we won’t be a burden on our children or country. Maybe we can work less in the next few years…maybe even take a vacation to get out of the cross-hairs of those who would want to be modern day Robin Hoods and take our “excess” to give to those “less fortunate” than we are. HUmmm… THAT is not what this is all about. Actually, that is not even what this election is about. I have more than that on my heart as I cast my vote this year.

Actually, my heart is heavy out of concern for my son…my friend’s sons. You see I am not just Cindy, the writer and business owner, but I am also Cindy, the Military Mom.

I woke up a few moments ago and just wept for our country. The past 12 years have been tough on us, hasn’t it?

I cannot begin to understand the deep pain and heartache of the wives, children, families, or mothers who are grieving over losses of their husbands and wives, siblings, and sons and daughters. I cannot begin to comprehend the cost that so many have paid for me to be in my comfortable bed, next to the man I love today. I just have to pour out gratitude that I know is not enough. Maybe God can pass that on to those who have given so much–their very best.

This year I did begin to understand something that I have never understood before–the heart of a military mom. You see, tonight I rest well with my son away active in the military because I KNOW that our government is placing a priority on him, his life, his training. That is important to me. Even more important than my bank account. Definitely more important than possible benefits and entitlements on the agenda for some candidates.

Harold and I have spent 15 of the 23 years of our marriage in service to our country in law enforcement. We saw political agendas come and go in those years. We saw the influence of campaigns as they affected our pocket books, but there are even more concerning influences than that. Yes, political campaigns DO influence our pocket books in order to sway elections. I have seen it on a state level and a federal level through the years. But, the thing that few notice is the effects on those who are serving to protect all of us. When our pocket books were better, other things suffered. Tonight, I have my precious husband in bed next to me because of times that our pocket books suffered, yet leaders placed a premium upon the training my husband and his fellow servants received.

Let me explain…

Every leader, every political party has their “baby.” Some “babies” cost us more than others.

I heard a political candidate’s wife speak this past week–is this going to be obvious who I am talking about? Hope so! She made a comment that has ate at my gut all week. She said that she “understood” what we as military moms and wives “FEEL” about our sons and husbands being away serving our country because she and her husband have been apart for so much time this year. WRONG! She has NO IDEA. Sure wish it could be THAT simple. I can assure you that she cannot possibly comprehend what I feel as a military mom.

My husband and I have been apart SO MUCH this year and many years because we work hard in our businesses. That does not give me quite the same feeling that I had on January 3rd this year as I turned to go to my car with Harold, Jill, and Elisabeth leaving Matthew, my precious gift from God, in Nashville to leave for Ft. Benning. Oh! That does not give me the same feeling that I felt as I hugged his neck the other morning for him to go back to the strenuous training that I knew he would be going through during this 12 weeks. And, may I say, regardless of what that particular candidate’s wife is going through tonight as she misses her husband like so many of us who have husband’s whose jobs/businesses take them away for long hours, IT IS NOT THE SAME as what I am going through this week as I pray and fast for my son through this tough course of training. She and her husband are FREE because of the sacrifices of our men and women in uniform AND their families that they leave behind. NO, you do not “get it” or
even come close to “imagining it” until you have walked in the shoes of a military mom or military wife.

It is NOT just about getting them home. It is about what it takes to have get them back home.

Harold had years and years and years of training. The training meant the difference in just seconds. Every bit of that training was tested in just seconds. Unpredictable seconds.

I remember the cuts on training. Did they KNOW what that could have cost? It could have cost my husband being here tonight. I am so thankful that he is here. He is with me. I am positive that it is because there were moments that his training literally saved his life.

There were split seconds that it was essential that his discernment and reactions be trained into him like second nature. It made the difference in him being here today or our story having a different ending.

I have spent a lot of time at Ft. Benning and Ft. Bragg this year. My perspective of life is totally different than it was just 12 months ago.

Perhaps 13…14…definitely 20 months ago, I might have been tempted to believe that this year’s election needed to be about my pocket book. I may have forgotten what it was like to be a wife so dependent upon training to get my husband back home safe and sound each night. I may have even THOUGHT that it was possible for someone to grasp or imagine what it is like for a mother who has a son or daughter in the military. I may have been that naive. I am SURE I would have been that naive. But, this election is pivotal. It is absolutely essential that every vote count this year.

I have seen those guys who have something in them that calls them to step up to the call to become a warrior when they KNOW war is on the horizon for them in the next chapter of their lives. We now know their names, even their email addresses. We have seen their training. We have seen their mothers faces. We have seen their wives and babies faces. I see one face every morning when I stand in front of the mirror.

Beyond all of the rhetoric out there about getting our troops home, Harold and I have one issue that means the most to us today as we contemplate this turn in America’s story. It is all about being a military parent. Our vote will be going to the place where we KNOW that the leaders KNOW what we feel, not merely guess and disrespectfully THINK they can comprehend what we feel and know today.

Under the guise of “fixing” the problems of this administration, our son’s life would be at risk with just a vote. You see behind the rhetoric, what the eye does not see, is the cost that is involved with the wrong administration with the wrong priorities at this crucial time in history.

First, it lies with all of us. We cannot afford a weakened national defense for even ONE DAY. I can assure you that our enemies are not respectors of our political parties. They hate us. They will stop at nothing to destroy our country…to destroy US. Even ONE DAY could destroy us. They know that. Have we forgotten?

If you think that our economy is fragile, what would happen with another 911 today? We cannot afford weak leadership. We cannot afford leadership that is “getting on the job training.” We cannot afford leadership that has not served one day in the military. WE ARE AT RISK.

But, that is not all.

The news has portrayed our war from only one perspective. I certainly can understand that perspective. It was really “my” perspective until last year when my son felt that call to serve in our military. I could not even stand to see all of the wounded. In fact, I thought that they proved my point that we had no business in war. I am very different this year. I still can’t stand to see the videos of those injured in the line of duty. I still cannot stand to see the pictures of the caskets or of the mothers and wives being given a folded flag to hold in their empty arms. Oh, I yelled with the loudest American about getting our boys home. Now, I am seeing things different. Again, I have spent a lot of time at Ft. Benning and Ft. Bragg this year.

Having the wrong leadership at this time will not give us what we want. Yes, we want peace, but we do not want peace at any cost. Peace and change at any cost will actually put our guys even MORE at risk than ever before. Wonder how I figure that?

First, their training. Again, training is EVERYTHING. Now, Harold would tell you that with all of the amazing training that he had, you cannot have enough training to combat all of the wiles of our enemies today. Yet, our sons need as much training as they can get before they serve us. Otherwise, their lives are even more on the line.

I rest in peace tonight knowing that my son is getting the very best training in the world. In fact, much of the world depends upon the training that our guys get because our guys are training our allies around the world as well. Everyone is at risk when our training is cut. EVERYONE. It is for much, much more than for wartime. Yet, the training our guys are receiving can make a difference in how they come home, or whether they come home.

There are many things that I do not like about our political leadership in the past 12 years. But, there is one thing that they have done well in the past 8 years–they are putting a priority on the training of our men and women in uniform. My friends, this is SO VITAL. We cannot risk for this to change. Yes, this is one of the areas that one candidate has more than articulated that he will be “changing” if he took office. We cannot afford THIS CHANGE.

Cindy, the military mom, sleeps at night knowing that her son is getting the very best training in the world. I praise God that this has been a priority for the past 8 years. This cannot change!

One more thing…those who have my son’s back as he steps out in uniform need as much training as they can get. They are the ones who “catch my son’s six.” They are the ones who would rescue HIM if something tragic happened. They are the ones who must be strong, courageous, confident, and very well trained. Training makes a difference in all of that. It is the key behind our soldiers overcoming their own personal fears and bravely stepping up to the call as warriors. We cannot risk this for promises of “change.” This is one change that IS on their agenda, but we cannot afford this change today.

Secondly, their support. I hear almost every day the pressure to pull back our troops from war. I certainly understand the cry for bringing our sons and daughters back home–I treasure nothing more than having my soldier close by. However, we cannot build national policy from the emotions of our hearts, nor from the rhetoric on CNN or MSNBC, nor from our “just quit when it gets tough” American mentality.
Pulling our troops back, cutting our troops back means that those left to serve, serve with less support in personel and equipment. Pulling some out leave others at risk. We cannot have policy in our military dictated by CNN polls. We certainly cannot risk having the chief of our military being a man who has never served in uniform. We need solid leadership. Leadership that has been there, but even more so, leadership who ARE military moms, military dads. We need leadership with their own children in uniform. Only leadership that understands the need for support will truly protect the lives of our sons, daughters, husbands, and wives.

Not only is one candidate terribly underqualified and inexperienced (with less than a year of experience in actual service in the Senate), but that candidate has never served one day in the military. What is more, while others his age served our country, he and his wife were burning our flag and developing ties with questionable characters who have been domestic terrorists. On this side of the contest, we have a man running for office who still has small children. He nor his wife cannot comprehend the the need for good, solid support for our young men and women in the military. His experience leaves a great void in this area. His only answer is to quit now.

We can look at Bosnia and see the danger from a weak military. Without training, equipment, and personel, our sons and daughters are at great risk. Yes, our economy is important. But, we need to have our national priorities set by what we are really supposed to be about. Our number one commitment is for national defense. To have leadership that removes support at this crucial time is dangerous. We simply cannot buy the rhetoric and smooth talk. Again, this is NOT the change that we need at this critical hour.

Finally, their lives. The most obvious thing at risk for our sons and daughters in uniform is their life and limb, but there is more. This year, Matthew and Jill have been planning their wedding and their union as man and wife. Matthew signed a contract that assures him that as he completes training levels he will receive further training and also bonuses that are a part of “their plans.”

Cuts may sound very, very good. In fact, as a business owner, I am mortified at the state of the union. If I ran my business the way that the government leaders run our country, I would be in jail. Again, we have to return to the priorities that our leaders should focus upon as they hold the helm. The number one priority is for National Defense.

Matthew sat in the office with the recruiter after years and years of research. He KNEW he would stick with them. He KNEW he would give them his very best. He signed the bottom line committing 6 years of his life, 6 very precious years of his life, to proudly wear the uniform of the country he loves. He gave up everything he had always had and has always known to step up to that call.

Change means that there will be cuts. Cuts mean that our sons and daughters may lose the opportunity for the training they need. Losing that changes their careers. Losing that changes their contracts. Losing that keeps them from their life dreams. Losing that means that our country goes back on its word to those who have signed that contract for 6 years. They have signed the bottom line. They have given their all. Will we insist that our country go back on its commitment to them?

What will we do as we cast our votes? Will we believe the rhetoric? Will we fall for the smooth talk? Will we refuse to see the lives that we impact? Will we place those who give so much for our freedoms at such grave risk? I pray not. I beg God not.

My prayer as we enter into the last week before this crucial election is that we will all let go of party lines. Maybe this week would be a great week to turn off CNN, MSNBC and get on our knees to pray for our country, for our country’s leadership, for the direction that will be taken in just a few months. I pray that we will stop to care about the future for our children. I pray that we will slow down to think about the issues that will affect everything in our lives for the next four years.

There is one side that wants change. They declare that it is “Change you can believe in.” Yes, it is change that you can believe in. Of course, it is nothing new. This is change we have had before. You can believe in it. You can believe that it is going to cut back our military. It is change that you can believe will freeze spending on their equipment and training. It is change you can believe will bring some home and leave others without support that they need. It is change that we can believe will naively puts our daily safety at risk. It is change you can believe in, but can America take a chance on that change at this crucial hour?

From Cindy, the military mom.