Some of you will remember a post to this blog on October 9, 2010 that carried a now pretty famous photo of a group of soldiers in formation waiting to be depart for a year in Iraq. The real moving part of the photo was little 4-year-old Paige Bennethum as she held tightly to the hand of her father (one of the soldiers) Staff Sgt. Brett Bennethum, of Pennsylvania.
The photo once again has been making the rounds in national media but this time a more happy theme surrounds it. Sgt. Bennethum has returned home from Iraq and has been reunited with his wife and kids, including little Paige. He is home for good, according to an article that accompanied the photo in the news. I remember, like many other people, being especially moved by the original publishing of the picture. It seemed like such a horrible thing for a 4-year-old to have to go through not to mention the dad and the rest of the family. However, the photo stands as a stark reminder of the reality we as Americans have had to come to grips with as we deal with protecting and preserving this wonderful gift we call freedom.
I have no hidden agendas in reporting on this story, no “anti war” messages, no “give peace a chance” rhetoric….just wanted to take the opportunity to say that thanks to God’s grace and a safe tour of duty in Iraq Paige’s daddy is back home and playing his best role yet…..husband and father.
Yes, we live in a world that knows violence, war, crime, hate and a host of other negative experiences, unfortunately. But, thank God there are still happy endings.
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Thanks Tom. Your kind, encouraging words mean a lot. Take care.