"Freedom Isn't Free"

I hope I can adequately express my feelings that I have had this past weekend. Riley returned to the states from Iraq on Dec. 5th, after being deployed for 14 months. Bart and I felt like we should be there for the homecoming celebration!!! Our flight from Atlanta to Savannah was quite a humbling experience for us. After we took off, we were told that when we landed in Savannah we were to remain seated as an Army escort was accompanying the remains of a soldier returning home. I spent the next hour crying for a family who would not see their son alive, knowing that mine was returning safely. On the base where the celebration was to happen, they have planted a tree for each soldier who has lost his or her life in Iraq. Many of the plaques around the trees had the saying "Freedom Isn't Free". Needless to say, I contemplated the meaning of this statement. After a long wait, the soldiers unloaded the buses and marched onto a field where we all sang our National Anthem, as I sang the words and thought about them, I was brought to tears once again for the sacrifices these soldiers and others are making for us, so that we can enjoy this land that we are so blessed to live in and the freedoms that are ours for the partaking. The soldiers then sang a song and we were told to go find our soldier!!! We spent the next couple of days with Riley shopping, meeting his buddies, eating, and watching him sleep!! He hasn't shared many of his experiences in Iraq, I think he didn't want to worry his mother, thank you son, but as he opened up and shared with us this weekend, I thank my Heavenly Father that he protected my son, and I know he was protected. So to Riley and all the other soldiers serving our country, Thank You from the bottom of my heart. "Freedom Isn't Free"!!!