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Contributed by: MELISSA dockins on 5/15/2008

There are two sisters, two brothers, three sons whom serve the U.S Army, three cousins, three grandkids, two daughter-in-laws, and three countries! In every turn you have bonds that have started at birth, with sisters marrying brothers and from that stemming four sons and two daughter who would later bring in grandkids and in-laws would only gain momentum in the bonds that are shared. Growing up we were as cousins so close, being potty-trained together, going thru puberty together and even later seeing marriages evolve. With these two families always being so close we are about to face the biggest change ever. When Slick (aka Ricky), Pops (a.k.a Brandon), and Dookie (aka Joshua) with those names you know there is much character involved, all decided to join the army we never thought that the departures of these three cousins, sons, and fathers would all be gone at the same time "ever." Knowing that the skills we had been raised on was not enough to have a career on nor did we have the sources to learn what college had to offer us! Our parents worked hard to give us the foundation on being "great" people, but other than that for these boys they thought this would be their best alternative. Not knowing that in less than three years of being enlisted each one of their lives would be transformed with wives, babies, and a whole new responsibility which brought on a all new matured man! With these changes their view on life would be completely altered with someone saying, "Daddy I love you!," or seeing your wives pain when in came time to depart yet again for months on end! Even having to make the easy decision to serve for two years out of the country alone or three years with his family present. I have seen first hand the boys who signed their lives away for years at a time, to them becoming men to attempt to keep their composer when being shipped off to Iraq for the third tour. Having to leave the wife to tend to the three year old cry in the middle of the night for daddy. Thank God that between these three brave soldiers that there have never been any fatalities, just some broken bones and imbedded memories of their fallen comrades, all together they have served five tours in Iraq at times being over there at the same time to never see each other not even once! With that said there are many journeys that are taken in ones life but for these families the feelings are unexplainable. For many some say what's the big deal? Isn't this supposed to happen when we grow up and go your separate ways? For some maybe, but for us every day that passes is only a mere countdown to when we will "all" sit under the tree together again and enjoy each others funny faces (Ricky), smiles (KK), hugs (Dookie), kisses (Pops) for our hearts are spread far and broad it doesn't matter because the bond that was formed decades ago remain stronger than ever now!! For Germany has gained four strong hearts and beautiful smiles, Iraq has one of our biggest sweetest huggy bears there, and Honduras has our heart that holds all true hugs!! Each one of you are missed beyond words but always remember that our family hold the true meaning to deep ties just as we celebrated your farewell so will be your homecoming that much grander!! It will be sometime 2010 or 2011 that every soldier in this circle, gone on tours will be reunited with their fathers, mothers, brothers, sister, nieces and nephews! Until then we hang tight to the last memory made with each one of them and know that God will bring us all back together once again! Hold on to what you have because sometimes separation comes without a decision it just happens!

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