Ryan and Christy's Place

When I was talking to a friend (Sheri) yesterday about her son's deployment to Iraq, she said something interesting that I'd never thought of -- she called us (the wives, fiancees, girlfriends, etc.) of deployed soldiers a "Band of Sisters." And I really like that. Yes, there are men who are waiting at home while their wives, girlfriends,etc. are deployed. But I thought the term was very appropriate, regardless.

Ryan told me the other day that those in the Army with him consider themselves a Band of Brothers. Now, as a lot of you know (and I'm doing Internet sourcing here, so correct me if I've got some of it wrong) Band of Brothers is a term for the Easy Company, 506th Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division, U.S. Army, in World War II. They were an elite rifle company that parachuted into France early on D-Day morning and faught in the Battle of the Bulge, capturing Hitler's Eagle's Nest at Berchtesgaden. Stephen Ambrose wrote a book titled “Band of Brothers“, and there also is an HBO miniseries.

So that's the history behind the term, and I like it, both Band of Brothers and Band of Sisters. Because truly, since Ryan left, I have come across and into contact with some amazing women going through the same things as me. Somehow, through contact of a friend-of-a-friend, the Family Readiness Group, or through this blog itself, I've come to know my own Band of Sisters. And truly, it's the best support group I could have ever asked for. It's often hard to explain myself on days I'm feeling sad or worried, and with these women, I don't even have to try.

So, my advice to anyone reading this blog wishing for someone to talk to: Contact me. Contact women (or men) in the Family Readiness Group in your area. Read up on message boards or Web sites for military spouses (I've listed the ones I frequent on the sidebar under “For Spouses/Families“). Message boards and groups for military spouses/girlfriends/anything else also can be sought out on Yahoo, where I've found many. Make your own Band of Sisters, because it makes the waiting and worrying a little easier. Our soldiers have each other over there, and we have each other over here.

I would like to thank every woman in my Band of Sisters for YOUR sacrifice and YOUR strength. You (we) will get through this. And thank you, infinitely, for your friendship.

-- Christy

P.S. On a side note, I've recently discovered Military Spouse Magazine. Worth checking out.