Wednesday night, Capt. Rodney Freeman of the Army National Guard came home for the holiday, after serving for 14 months in Iraq. And today, he will be sharing turkey and trimmings with his wife, Missy, and their four children.
Freeman is part of the 172nd Field Artillery, CORPS Rear Area Operations Center, based at Camp Adder in southern Iraq. They arrived in Fort Drum, N.Y., Tuesday and were expected to remain there for 10 days or so before coming home. They learned only Wednesday that they would receive a four-day pass to come home for Thanksgiving.
"We're so lucky. This shouldn't have happened," said Missy, who added the New Hampshire National Guard "pushed and pushed" to let them come home for a few days.
Missy spent Wednesday not only getting ready to greet her husband, she also put out the word via phone and e-mail to all of his friends and their fellow congregants at York Street Baptist Church.
A group was expected to line York Street Wednesday night as the family came through town in a limousine donated for the evening by Rivers Limousine Service in York.
And gather they did, about 50 in all in the frigid night air, lining York Street. In front of Town Hall was banner reading: "Welcome home, Capt. Rodney Collins. We missed you."
The limousine traveled through the center of town, behind an escort of York police cruisers, ambulances and fire trucks all flashing blue and red lights. The crowd, some bearing signs, cheered and hollered, welcoming York's soldier home.
Missy said she has been fortunate to have such a circle of friends during the past year while her husband has been half a world away. A competitive athlete, she said she plays league soccer twice a week at night as her "outlet, a way to keep me on an even keel." She has never had to give up a game, as a revolving cadre of people come to the house and care for the children.
As for the kids, she said they have been "amazing" during the past year. Jerrod, 8, twins Orrin and Mary, 6½, and Gibson, 4, are all home-schooled, so the family is close anyway, she said. But since their father left, they have been her rock.
"When Rodney left, he said, ‘Mommy's going to cry a lot, so you have to hug her,'" she said as her voiced choked. "Whenever they heard my voice break, they come running. They have been so strong and resilient and patient with me."
Fortunately, she said, the children have been able to see their father via a Webcam at Camp Adder, where Freeman served as morale, welfare and recreation officer. They also exchanged instant messages with him frequently. "We've been in it together thanks to the blessings of technology."
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