A Soldier's Homecoming: Welcome Home Michael Howell

Last Friday, Good Friday, a soldier came home to his family after 13 months overseas. On this tour, his deployment began when his baby girl was 2 days old. I had the privilege of joining his wife and their children on this intimate journey on the day of his return.

Michael and LaDuska Howell are from Eudora, KS. They met in high school and dated on and off until they realized that they were pretty much destined for a life together. Their children are son, Jayden, 2, who is learning to wear glasses just like his Dad, and Jaelyn, 1, who is all sweetness in ribbons and bows.

We arrive at the Expo Centre in Topeka along with hundreds of other families. I can sense the emotion charge humming through the huge arena. Mothers preen their children to perfection and children wave miniature American flags and crumpled homemade signs. LaDuska dresses Jaelyn in a star-spangled tutu and strangers pause to admire her adorable cuteness. Our 9 a.m. arrival provides us with seats just 4 rows back from the floor where the soldiers will gather in formation.

Today’s cell phone technology ensures the timeliest reports of the soldiers’ progress from the airport in Kansas City. “They have arrived at the airport!” someone shouts out. Cell phones whip out and the joyful news is shared to loved ones waiting at home. But what would be a 40-minute journey will take hours. There are hundreds of men and women to check in and tons of equipment to move.

  

The morning draws long, snacks are handed out, and diversions to keep restless children in seats are ineffective. Finally, heads nod and little ones are napping. LaDuska has been up since 4 a.m. This wait is one more hardship in a year’s worth of tough times handled alone.

LaDuska shared with me how proud she is of Michael’s commitment to serve his country for the past three years and his military recognitions for being an outstanding team leader. But as she watches and waits through the long morning, her frayed nerves are giving way to goose bumps as she holds herself together to the last possible moment.

The Expo Centre is filling. There are motorcycle riders in American flags on black leather watching from above. There is a sprinkling throughout the place of various other military uniforms as fellow soldiers are showing their support. I overhear one say that you never forget your return.

“They are just outside!” LaDuska says. A ripple of conversation grows as her words pass up the rows through the crowd of people hungry for news. Every once in a while the words are yelled out.

Jayden begins his plaintive, “Daddy! Daddy!” call which he doesn’t stop. He is too young to understand where exactly his Daddy is so he is calling out toward the ceiling, to the left to the right, to the floor. As much as it tears my heart to hear him, I know it expresses the feelings of the emotional crowd.

At exactly 11 a.m. the big side doors roll back. The red, white and blue buses pull up, but you cannot see any soldiers. You know they are right there, you can hear them moving the equipment, but you must wait. Suddenly, you see a formation leading with flags.

The roar drowns out Jayden’s calls for his Daddy as everyone joins in with their voices. In marches everyone’s Daddy, Mommy, Sister, Brother, Daughter and Son. From the crowd bulbs flash, signs are lifted, arms wave. But as difficult as it is, these are military families and they stay in their places, waiting for the formal release of the troop before any personal reunion.

The soldiers remain resolute without turning aside from the marching formation. There are speakers, prayers, and formalities. Then they are dismissed.

Again the roar. And then the chaos. The long seconds as loved ones are done waiting and containing their emotions. Suddenly, LaDuska is screaming as she is texting. “There he is!”

From the mass of uniforms, one emerges leaping over rails and seats to diminish the space between him and his family. He’s coming so fast and hard, it seems he will tackle them. But suddenly, as he arrives within a couple feet of his son, everything changes. Very tenderly, he picks him up and holds him high. His face holds the disbelief that he is actually home, holding his boy.

Then he moves to his little girl whom he barely knows.

 He is enraptured with her. He looks past her to his wife and nearly breaks with emotion. It is too much for both of them.

Now he worries about his fellow soldiers who haven’t located their families in the chaos. Suddenly, with his children in his arms, he disappears on a mission to help them have their reunions. LaDuska and I follow with the stroller and finally stop to wait. She is anxious to have him with her again. What seems like forever is actually only a moment. Then he is back, satisfied that all are having their reunions too.

He is delighted with his children and needs to set them down to let them move away so he can see them from head to toe. But then the distance is too much and he scoops them up again. For the first time in person, he sees his baby girl walk. She is adorable in her tutu and a newspaper photographer asks to snap some shots as she toddles about.

  His son has some questions and he crouches down to hear him. The crowd disappears for the two of them as they discuss what is on Jayden’s two year-old mind. What he thinks really matters to his Father. Finally, Jayden is done and it is time to get their bags and head home.

I say my goodbyes and thank them for the privilege of participating in their reunion. They thank me for coming. I am exhausted, yet thrilled. I’ve been a part of a moment in time where a family divided war is brought together by love. What an honor it is to experience first-hand and be able to share with others!

Thank you to all our service men and women and the sacrifices they have made to our country. Your safe return home is something we all celebrate!