Ashling Ganes
Submitted by Ashling Ganes on Wed, 11/05/2008 - 16:05
My name is Ashling Ganes and I am currently a Construction Superintendent living in New York, NY. I completed my service in the Army at the beginning of 2008 after six and a half years as an Engineer Officer. In March of 2003, I deployed to Tikrit, Iraq as a member of the 299th Engineer Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division out of Fort Hood, Texas. I spent a long, physically and emotionally grueling year in Iraq, but my best memory is when I first stepped back onto U.S. soil.
After spending my last two weeks deployed in Kuwait arranging for the Soldiers in my unit to board their planes home, it was finally my turn. On March 17, 2004, I boarded a plane headed for Germany, then a stop in Maine with a final destination of Texas, where my family would be waiting for me. We were able to get off of the plane in Germany, where every Soldier felt their first semblance of modern culture. Each one of us rushed to wait in line for the pay phone, a real bathroom and the junk food at the USO. It was a great feeling to be on our way home after a year away.
When we re-boarded the plane in Germany, I just wanted to skip the stop in Maine and head straight for Texas. The thought of seeing my family again was overwhelming. However, when I got off of the plane in Bangor, Maine at 7am I realized that my immediate family members were not going to be the only people happy to see me home. I found myself being welcomed into a different family, the family of Veterans. To my complete surprise, the entire lobby of the airport was lined with Veterans clapping and cheering. There were a countless number of World War II, Korean War, Vietnam and Gulf War Veterans mixed in with the families of Veterans and people from the area who wanted nothing more than to shake our hands, give us each a hug and welcome us home. We were in the airport for less than an hour, but in that time I was offered every type of homemade baked goods imaginable and everyone was offering us their cell phones to call our loved ones. We were complete strangers to them, but it didn’t matter, they just kept referring to us as heroes. They were embracing us as if they were our own parents, grandparents, brothers and sisters alike; meanwhile they were local Veterans and American citizens who gave up their own time to give us the homecoming that they thought we deserved. The entire experience was extremely special and especially being called a hero, by Veterans who I had always considered heroes, was truly humbling.
The homecoming in Texas was surreal, running into the gym through smoke with loud music blasting, to see my family waiting for me. But I will always have an everlasting memory of the Bangor, Maine airport. My gratitude for the people of that community who came together to welcome all of us back onto U.S. soil was the ultimate heartfelt surprise that each one of us wanted.
I don’t think I realized until later, that upon my homecoming that day in the Bangor airport, I was no longer just a part of my unit or the United States Army, but that I would always be a part of something so much larger.
Giving Soldiers a Sign of Gratitude
Think back to the last time you were in an airport and saw a member of the armed services in uniform. Did you want to thank them for their service, but didn’t know how to make the approach, or wondered if you should at all? It’s a problem many civilians have.
US Family Health Plan, located at Brighton Marine Health Center, has made it a mission to inform its members and the public about the importance of saying “thank you,” to members of the military by spreading the message of the Gratitude Campaign.
Most soldiers have left their jobs and their families behind for months at a time. They voluntarily return to war for second or third tours of duty. They miss birthdays, anniversaries and holidays with their loved ones. They protect our country and our way of life. They deserve our gratitude.
The Gratitude Campaign, a grassroots effort founded in Seattle, is a mission to engage as many people as possible in offering a silent gesture of thanks to men and women of the military.
Consider it a civilian salute. No words necessary. To make the sign of gratitude, place your hand your heart as though saying the Pledge of Allegiance. Then pull the hand down and out, bending at the elbow, stopping for a moment at the naval, with the hand flat, palm up, and angled toward the person receiving the gesture. The sign, deriving from18th century France means, “thank you from the bottom of my heart.” See it pictured above or watch the short film here: www.gratitudecampaign.org
About US Family Health Plan at Brighton Marine:
US Family Health Plan, recognized nationally for consistently high satisfaction ratings, has been providing healthcare to military families for 27 years through six nonprofit organizations around the nation, including Brighton Marine Health Center. US Family Health Plan is a TRICARE Prime option available to families of active duty military, National Guard, and Reserves, as well as to military retirees and their eligible family members. US Family Health Plan at Brighton Marine currently serves 11,000 in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. For more information about US Family Health at Brighton Marine, visit www.usfamilyhealthplan.org.
Statistics
I am a statistic. I am one of the many homeless veterans in America and also a veteran that had his home foreclosed. My family and I have been homeless for over 1-year, due to a quick honorable discharge for a pointless medical reason. You see the Navy doesn't want me. I'm not medically qualified to serve the Army, however, I am still medically qualified to serve the Navy.
Even though I am bitter toward the Navy over tossing me and my 14 years of service away, I have been welcome by veterans here in Fort Wayne, Indiana. My family and I still remain homeless, but we have hope that we'll find housing that we can afford on our single job and get out of the cold this winter. I just started a new job and everyone has been so compassionate toward us since we got here. My government may not be keeping their promise to make sure we don't fall through the cracks, but Americans are there to help us up and brush the dirt off our backs.
I couldn't be part of a better people - I love Americans and especially my fellow veterans.
1 BCT
It was great, the first story i saw on here was yours. We deployed at the same time. i was with 1-66 armor. Its always good to see someone from 4th ID doing well. Another one of my friends from 1-66 is down there with you in NYC, he is a cop in Manhatten. Also, one of my friends that worked for brigade is in Queens. well happy veterans day, we earned it