In Remembrance
Yesterday, Steve and I had errands to run on Fort Wainwright. Now that Steve is retired, our trips on post aren’t as regular as they used to be. We go to the army hospital for healthcare, we do our grocery shopping at the commissary, and we use our bank branch located there. Because we’re not there everyday, I sometimes feel like we’re not as ‘connected’ to the military. At times it seems like army life was so long ago. Especially now that many of the families who we came to AK with have left Fort Wainwright, or are preparing to PCS to another duty station. Steve’s been retired for more than two years. That went fast.
Last summer (June, 2008) there was a dedication ceremony for the 172nd SBCT Memorial, which is located in Fort Wainwright’s Monterey Lake Memorial Park. Steve was deployed with the 172nd SBCT in 2005-2006. During that deployment, 30 members of the 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 207th Aviation Regiment, and Alaska Army National Guard died.
A few weeks after the dedication, I visited the memorial park. At the time of my visit, there was a group of uniformed soldiers walking along the pathway. I started to follow them, but became overcome with emotion. I went back to my car instead. I’m ashamed to say I never went back.
Yesterday, Steve and I finished our errands more quickly than anticipated. Snow was falling, and everything was so peaceful and quiet. I don’t know what made me think of the Memorial Park; I asked Steve if we could stop there before going home.
