Ryan and Christy's Place

There is one thing that continues to amaze me about being deployed so far away from home and that is the huge amount of love and support from people in the states. I say this in that I have never seen such an outpouring of love from not only my family but from so many people I don't know or barely know.

Today I got a reminder of how much people do care about our country's soldiers when I received two packages from my alma mater, The University of Tennessee College of Communications. My former professors and staff members that I came in contact with there all pitched in to send me two large boxes of food items from home. I was truly touched by this because normally when a student graduates from any institution they seem as if they are forgotten about or don't fit in anymore. Heck with all of the tuition hikes that UT experienced while I was there, I really thought the whole university was just out to get into my wallet. But I was very wrong. Not only did I get a great education from some of the best professors in the nation, I made friends that I know that will last a lifetime. Friends far beyond just the students I met and worked with at The Daily Beacon newspaper on campus. But professors that are much older than I, and have taken time out of their busy lives to send a word of encouragement through a letter or package to let me know that I haven't been forgotten. Many of them even came to Christy's and my wedding while I was home on leave in April. I e-mailed them to say thank you and as I told them, they are a reminder of why I am not only proud to be serving my country over here, but my state and my alma mater as well. I don't always agree with why I am over here, but the support that I get from people such as them is definitely great.

But the support doesn't end there. My entire platoon of more than 20 soldiers got a care package each from the caring people of a hospital in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., where my sister Connie works. They sent us music CDs, movies, hygiene items, and I even got a soldier teddy bear from a Girl Scout troop there to keep me company when times get tough. I have also received a care package from another Girl Scout troop from York, Pa., from an 11-year-old girl named Myranda in particular. The kind people of Temple Baptist Church of Morristown, Tenn., (my hometown) have sent me care packages. I have also gotten tons of goodies from my outstanding friends from The Daily Beacon at UT, as well as a couple from our family friend Tim, one of the head copy chiefs of the Los Angeles Times.

I haven't gotten around to thanking each of these individuals and groups to let them know how much their support means to me, but I hope to do so at least by the time I get home. But if any of you are reading this, thanks or thanks again for all of your support. I am saying that not only for myself, but for every soldier out there that has ever received a care package from home. Your support goes a long way in brightening up a soldier's day and makes dealing with being in a far away land and apart from our families just a little bit easier to deal with.

- Ryan