From My Backyard to the Battlefield
His name was Eddie.
Though his family attended a church across town, his teenage sister was part of the youth group my husband pastored. When our first baby was born, we asked her to babysit.
It started a friendship between our families that lasts to this day.
Their Eddie and our Kenna were just months apart. As they grew, they became childhood friends.
Both were homeschooled and once both moms decided, since their public school friends had no classes that frosty, foot-of-fallen-snow January day, we’d give them a snow day too.
Here they are in my backyard before retreating inside to warmth to sip some hot cocoa.
Eddie was always a delightful, polite and fine son.
Today, now a young man, Ed (forever Eddie in my mind) wears a scar of war.
He also wears an artificial foot. The one given at birth is no more.
Hear his sister Shari’s words after returning from a visit to his rehab hospital:
I reluctantly returned last night from my visit with my brother. I really do not have adequate words to describe the trip: amazing, overwhelming, heartbreaking, inspirational.
Even though I thought I was prepared, I have to be honest and say I held in the tears and really had to take a few minutes to adjust. I tried to hide that from him but I’m sure he knew.
It’s not just seeing my brother that is a mixed emotion it’s being at that facility that is completely life changing. I believe every American should have to take a trip there. I don’t think anyone realizes the obstacles these boys have to overcome when they are injured. Nor do people realize the volume of injuries that are taking place.
My brother is now in an apartment building with two wings. One wing is five stories the other eight, totally filled with amputees!!! These are kids most of which are under the age of 25 and most losing at least two limbs (usually both legs).
A large majority are without 3 limbs (both legs and an arm). You can tell they try very hard to salvage at least an arm for these young men. Many have one arm, however mangled and without all their fingers, their attempt at giving them something.
You walk through the halls of this apartment building knowing there is a different story and heartbreak behind each soldier, but also courage and hope to find their place now.
As if walking through the hospital and apartment building isn’t enough to give a whole new meaning to our American Flag and everything it stands for I got to take two trips to physical therapy with Ed.
I couldn’t help the tears that came not only for my brother but the others whose injures are so extreme. To see them in tears of their own pushing and working so hard to overcome their injuries and simply try to live a “normal” life was again was something I cannot put into words.
The things you see them do (those without limbs literally rolling from one place to another) with a smile or pain dripping off their face made my life look like roses.
This may sound weird but I felt very blessed to experience that and be taught the appreciation for …well.. basically everything. You don’t realize how much you have until you experience what I did at Walter Reed.
A few weeks ago our Kenna hopped in her car after work late on a Saturday and traveled from her home in North Carolina to the nation’s capital to visit her childhood and still close friend.
Like old times, they made pizza. Laughed. Fell asleep watching movies. She even gave him a haircut (legally now that she’s a real cosmetologist!)
She even proudly witnessed his very first post-war step.
Mom Sharon got to be with them all weekend.
I got to stay home and pray as the update tweets rolled in; pray for the little boy from my backyard who grew into a man, gladly giving limb, and nearly life, so others could live free.
Sweet sisters, I have no words of help here today.
No clever quips.
No organizing tips.
No fun giveaway to offer you by a comment left.
There is nothing in this post here for you today.
Instead I am asking you to take an unselfish moment of time to leave a comment for soldier Ed.
Even a simple thanks to this man whose life was altered forever because he tried to fight for a better life for foreign strangers whom he did not even know.
Veterans Day is sorely and sadly overlooked.
Will you make in not be so here?
I thank you.
And I know Ed and his sweet, sacrificial family do too.
Gratefully,
Ed, I thank you and your family. No words could begin to capture how deeply I thank you.
Ed-
Thank you so much for your dedication and service to our country. I will pray for you and your family. Words will never be enough for our appreciation of all that you’ve sacrificed. God bless you.
God Bless you, Ed. God Bless you!
Ed,
I can not imagine what you and your family are going through~ but I want you to know that you have a lot of people who appreciate your sacrifice and your service for our country as well as for others. You are a hero! My heart breaks that you have been dealt this but so thankful that your life was spared. Please know that you are being lifted up to our Heavenly Father. I will continue to pray for you and your recovery. Thanks again for your service! God Bless You!
Angela
Ed.Thank you for your willingness to serve our country.Thank you for your faithfulness.Thank you for your sacrifice for the freedom we have here.May we never take for granted those freedoms and those who fought and served for them!May God give you His grace for the coming days ahead.Always share what he has done in your life with others.Thank you!
Ed, Thank you for your service and sacrifice. I pray God will be with you every step of the way and may you always feel him walking by your side. Words are never enough to express the deep gratitude to all of our Veterans past and present. May you always know we do care.
Hello, I am from Brazil, I just want say THANK YOU !! and I believe that reward and peace will come only from our God, God will reward him for sure, all that I know heavens will be a place of no tears, no pain, no problems, our body’s will be perfect, that is what I look for.
Thank you seems inadequate. From a proud family of veterans and married to a 3x currently deployed veteran, who began a tradition of service in his own family that grows every year, I truly appreciate what you do, but I will never know what you have been through. How do you thank someone when you don’t know the depth of what they face? I don’t really know. I can offer you the best I can: I will pray God blesses you and honors you as you honor Him with your life. Praying it isn’t just a good life, but that it becomes great for Him. Thank you.
Dear Ed, words just do not seem to be enough. I am so thankful Karen shared your story. That she let us know about you…so that we can pray for you by name and so that we can say THANK YOU! Thank you for your sacrifice. Thank you for your bravery. I have three little girls, and I know they would wrap their arms around you in the biggest hug to thank you. Know that my girls and I will be lifting you up specifically by name as we pray for all of our brave and wonderful veterans. Thank you, thank you, thank you. And God bless you!
Ed, I don’t think thank you is quite enough for your sacrifice. I and my family are forever grateful for your service. God bless you!
I pray that you grow stronger in heart and body everday!
Thank you!
I just wanted to Thank Karen for putting this out, and to Thank Eddie for all he has done. I know how much Ed (Dad) and Sharon appreciate all of this . They have gone through alot also. Most of all Thank you to our Eddie (Nephew) yes he will always be Eddie to us , for all He has done for our Country. Love, you Eddie, Uncle Ted and Aunt Karen.
Ed, Thank You, Thank You, Thank You for your faithful service to our country. I will pray for your recovery, and God’s Blessings to be poured upon you. Thank You, Ed, for your commitment to the country that we are all so blessed to a part of!
Blessings,
Brenda Sanders from IL
Thank you Ed for serving our country and for fighting for our freedom!!! Much love to you and God Bless you!! Prayers for you and your fellow conrads!!
Ed,
There are no words to express my gratitude for your service, (and that of your fellow service men and women), and sacrifices made to keep this country standing! Even now, where you are, you are still a soldier doing battle, and setting example for others. Your determination, and that of those around you will be and is, inspiration to people facing whatever kind of obstacles in their lives.
Prayers for strength and healing in every aspect of your being, much love and respect, God Bless you!
Ed, THANK YOU so much for the sacrifice you made to defend our country! You and all your fellow troops are true HEROS in my mind and always will be. May God bless you abundantly! I am praying for your recovery as well as all the other injured soldiers!
Thank you Ed. You don’t know me, yet you fought for me, my family, and all that we hold dear. John said “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.” John 15:13. You did this for all of us, your friends that you don’t even know.
Thank you, Ed, for your service and sacrifice for our country. Thank you, Karen, for this reminder of what we owe to Ed and thousands just like him who have given so much for us.
Ed, I pray that God will bless you with healing, the continued support of family and friends, and many, many purpose-filled, happier days ahead. My heart is filled with gratitude.
Ed! You R.O.C.K!! Thank you from the bottom of my heart for being part of the 1% (cream of the crop) to fight for us, the other 99%. Because of you . . . so much I’m thankful for and enjoy. Such sacrifice on your part. Thank you doesn’t seem enough. Holding you close in prayer for your continued recovery. Hugs to you and your precious family and friends, Allison in Plano, Texas
Ed, I thank you and all of the others in that hospital for what you do and what you have given for your country. Tell them their sacrifice is valued, tell them they are loved, tell them the people of this nation are grateful that there are those who are still willing to ‘stand in the gap’ that we might continue to call this nation “the Land of the Free amd the Home of the Brave”. To all of you brave men & women and your families – I salute you and pray for you. My husband was in the Marine Corps. during Viet Nam and he certainly feels the same.
Dearest Ed and family:
Thank you from one family to another. Thank you for your sacrifice for us. We are truly humbled by your service. May God bless you now and in each and every step of your journey to Him.
Dear Ed,
Read your story with heavy heart and much love, and gratitude for the sacrifice you made so that people could live free and without fear! My brother gave his life in the 2nd World War when i was only 7yrs. old. I was cheated out of a whole lifetime of growing up with him at my side.
I’m extremely happy that your life was spared so you can go on to bring joy to your family, just by being here!. I pray for healing in the days ahead and many blessings to be poured down on you! Thank you for being you!
Dear Ed,
May your healing be certain and prompt, as I pray that God will bless you with a double portion for the courage and commitment that you have shown. Thank You
Ed, thank you so much for serving Our Country. God Bless you for your strength and your courage. God Bless You and Your Family.
Thank you Eddie for serving our country. My husband is a Vietnam Vet and I know the sacrifices of the fine young men like yourself. God bless you and your family