September 11 - Revisited

On this, the 11 anniversary of September 11, it seems appropriate to talk one last time about my brother.

Since my September 11, 2006 post, my brother has been deployed two more times. Both deployments were served in the United States, on a base outside Atlanta. He stayed behind to replace units sent to Afghanistan. All of us think about the soldiers he replaced who did not come home.

Deployment number two resulted in the postponement of his wedding until his tour was finished. Over half of deployment number three was spent traveling back and forth from Atlanta to his home, as his wife was diagnosed with a brain tumor.

This year was my brother’s twentieth year as a reservist. With twenty years in, my brother can retire. We all waited for the letter marking this twentieth year. The letter came and preparations were made for his retirement.

Because he actively served in the United States Military, my brother is entitled to an increase in his pension. However, this increase only counts toward his first and second tour, as the law granting military reservists additional pension was not grandfathered back far enough to cover his first tour.

On September 9, 2012, the same day that his unit was officially deactivated, M retired from the Army Reserves. On the way home from the Inactivation ceremony, he and his wife stopped at for dinner.

Someone picked up their check. To that person, who saw my brother and his wife at the Eat N’ Park in Altoona Pa, I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

My brother served safely. He is able to retire, to live his life, to love and be loved. Since the operations in Iraq and Afghanistan began, 6510 members of the United States Armed Forces have died. Countless civilian women, men and children are dead due to an unholy combination of incompetence, ego and the desire for vengeance.

Pray for Peace.