A day full of thanks
Even harder than leaving, sometimes, is being left behind.
When their loved ones were deployed for war, the spouses, children and parents of the soldiers in the 81st Brigade had no choice: They had to stay strong despite the absence. They had to forge on, even with all the extra responsibilities.
“When your spouse, son or daughter puts on that uniform, so do you,” said Brig. Gen. Gordon Toney, addressing the families of the men and women of the Washington National Guard. “This was a hard deployment, a heroic deployment, a historic deployment. I thank you so much for your service.”
The sacrifices made by family members were acknowledged Saturday during a ceremony at the Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena’s Champions Room. The event, which specifically honored the soldiers and families of Bravo Battery, 2nd Battalion 146th Field Artillery, was one of 23 “Freedom Salutes” that have taken place since August to recognize the 81st Brigade’s service during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
While Sgt. Scott Dewaide endured 140-degree heat in the desert of Saudi Arabia, his wife, Suzanne, continued to run their household in Spokane. Shortly after the deployment in the fall of 2003, Suzanne fell and injured her elbow. With her arm in a splint, she managed to move all their belongings into their new home while taking care of their sons – 10-year-old Jordan and Jarrett, who, at the time, was less than a year old.
“It was hard to be gone so long and not be able to help,” said Scott Dewaide. “I missed out on so much at home.”
Kathy Weidinger, of Mead, was sick with worry when her only son, Staff Sgt. Larry Weidinger, left to help protect Eskan Village, a compound outside of Riyadh. To cope, she and other family members baked cookies and put together goodie baskets filled with snacks, cards and other treats for Weidinger and the other men of Bravo Battery.
Watching the news and hearing about the soldiers who died often made her cry.
“It’s very hard,” said Weidinger, who also has a son-in-law who’s now deployed in Iraq. “You take it one day at a time. You pray every day for their safety.”
She and many others were relieved when the men of Bravo Battery came home last winter.
“Without you, these soldiers wouldn’t be able to function and our mission wouldn’t have been accomplished,” Lt. Col. Grant Lingg told the families Saturday. “This is your tribute as well.”
The soldiers and their families, who traveled from all over Spokane and Eastern Washington for the Freedom Salute, received several gifts including a certificate and an American flag folded inside a wooden display case. Their spouses or significant others received a lapel pin set, while the children each got a footlocker kit filled with games and other fun items. Even the guardsmen’s employers were acknowledged with medallions.
The ceremony was originally scheduled to take place in October, but many of the men of Bravo Battery – including Dewaide and Weidinger – were in New Orleans at the time. Even though they had just returned from Saudi Arabia, they volunteered to spend a month or more helping the victims of Hurricane Katrina.
“Be proud of what you’ve done,” said Toney, who noted how the Washington National Guard has helped with floods, fires and other disasters in the state. “You’ve presented a great gift to the people of America.”