National Guard Members Enjoy a Send-Off Reminding Them They are not Alone

May 8, 2015

 

 

by Len Lathrop

Amy LaBlanc knew how it felt when her husband, Steve, was called up in 2004 and 2010, so when the New Hampshire National Guard 3rd Battalion 197th Field Artillery answered our nation’s call recently, she wanted to do something for the families just beginning to understand what a deployment meant.

Her family and friends joined her to put together a brunch and family day. Hudson‘s American Legion Post 48 donated its hall and facilities for the event. While the brunch was amazing with quiches, sausage, bacon, French toast, and fruit pastries; the hall was decorated with flowers on every table, color placemats with the unit’s logos and insignias.

Alvirne High School senior cadet officers were there, greeting the families, helping them with the raffle tickets and giving out carnations to every wife or mother who came in.

National Guard soldiers are used to training two weeks every summer and serving two weekends a month, but their lives change when they are called up. Amy and her husband mentioned that in 2010 he was gone for 17 months; from Amy’s face you could see that she still remembered that deployment. This event was more than just a breakfast. It was a wish for the best and a shout-out that these families don’t need to feel alone; the guard has family resources and the American Legion is always there to help. Saturday showed the bond that former military still have for the families of those currently on active duty.