Sheets in the Wind

SHEETS IN THE WIND
By
Frank Pritchard


Sheets swayed back and forth in the wind as my Mom hung bed sheets on the line to dry. When I think of the home of my youth, I can see that old clothesline with its sheets. And later, my own wife would carry wet sheets out to the clothesline to dry in the sun so we could have the aroma of air dried sheets as we lay down at night.

The gymnasium was full. The bleachers were covered with bottoms. Excitement was building by the minute. The noise was deafening. The walls were covered with banners made from sheets, and homemade signs abounded in the bleachers. This wasn’t the big game at the high school. No basketballs were bouncing on the floor or rebounding off the backboards. The floor was covered with kids of all ages running around and playing. The scene was that of a big party – a celebration. The banners weren’t there to encourage the home team on to victory. The signs were not held by fans encouraging the varsity squad. And this wasn’t the local high school. This gym was on Fort Hood.

The banners screamed out “JOB WELL DONE” and “WELCOME HOME 3RD ACR” or a myriad of other unit names. The signs were held up by waiting families: “WE MISSED YOU DADDY”; “MY HUSBAND, MY SOLDIER, MY HERO” or “MY MOM IS A HERO”. The excitement this day was soldiers coming home from Iraq. The kids on the floor and the families in the bleachers were waiting for the words they had waited for 15 months to hear – “The aircraft has landed!” Later, “The busses are on the way”. Then soldiers running thru the doors and forming up…. Line after line, row after row as these soldiers – officers and enlisted – respond to the “FALL IN” command given by their Commanding General.

The Chaplain thanked God for their safe return and prayed for the safety of those soldiers still in Iraq. The General thanked the soldiers for their fine performance as they represented their unit, the United States Army and the American people. Finally, the much awaited command, “DISMISSED”.

Soldiers began searching as families were climbing off the bleachers. Eyes met, tears flowed and the slow trickle of wives, husbands, children, and parents quickened. In a matter of just seconds, the scene changed and where there was once military order on the floor, families were embracing, sweethearts kissing and children lifted up into daddy or mommy’s waiting arms. Teenage girls were crying, hugging dad and texting all at the same time.

The gymnasium started to empty as soldiers, who just moments before, had entered as warriors, were leaving as husbands and wives with their children in tow … families reunited.

This scene is not unusual in Army communities. Drive around the city and see magnets on the backs of cars - a torn heart saying “Half my heart is in Iraq”. Yellow ribbon magnets saying, “Support our soldiers.” And sheets hanging on fences. Soldiers, willing to sacrifice their very lives, sacrifice much every day. Children don’t save first steps or first words for daddy to come home. Daddy – Daughter dinners at school or church go on; and the Pinewood Derby at Cub Scouts takes place with Mom rooting her Cub Scout on to victory – her hands still covered with the paint she used to help prepare his car … the one he dedicated to his dad. And, that special anniversary passes with sweethearts half a world apart. Life goes on.

I have been privileged to watch several homecomings on Fort Hood, in gymnasiums, and on the parade field at the 1st Cavalry Division, where soldiers, lined up at attention, are greeted with a charge of the 1st Cavalry Horse Detachment. It is amazing to see 400 soldiers at attention with the horses and wagons charging across the field the bright Texas sun. It is just as amazing at midnight under a full moon. It will absolutely take your breath away when you see just one soldier, who has returned alone, standing at attention, with the full horse detachment making its charge.

I never gave much thought to sheets until recently. When going to work and then coming home, I see the sheets tied to fences, flapping in the Central Texas wind, and one says “WELCOME HOME MOMMY!”