March 14, 2006
Today we are going to a military hospital to meet the wounded. This is in Landstuhl, a two-hour ride. All of the wounded come through here before going back to the states. There are only nineteen soldiers her at the hospital. A couple of the guys were at the Anaconda show. We spend a little over an hour here. When we are on our way out, we meet the president of the USO and his wife on their way in. We gave each wounded soldier a cd and signed picture. Hopefully the music will help to pass the time while recovering. After we leave the hospital, we are off the meet the General. He has a private tour set up for us to see one of the oldest castles in Germany. This is in Heidelberg- hence the name of the Heidelberg Castle. This is a cool trip. I have always wanted to visit a castle. There are several up and down the river. During the summer they have an event called the "Lighting of the Castle's" the first Saturday of the summer months. The castle is cool. It was built in four different periods. We will have to revisit this. The day is cold here. The stories are amazing. I will have to research more of the family history and castle history. The General is going to send us a book on it. After the tour of the castle, we head seven miles down river to dinner where the General's wife meets us. They serve wild game here. The food is excellent. I have the elk with brussel sprouts and potato sticks- look like french fries, but soft like a potato cake. This is another place to revisit. After dinner we all head back to the General's house for a night- cap. They have some really nice antique pieces. They are collectors. Everybody hates that it is the end. We all promise to stay in touch and come back to visit. We truly have made some great friends on this trip. I am so glad that I made the trip.
We head back to the hotel for our final nights stay. Pack up and recharge all the electronics for the long flight back home. Can't wait to see my girls!!!
Checking out went smooth. Eddie was running a little late. He thought that he was on a later flight with Johnny. This had to stem from the conversation about Robin and I catching a different flight from Washington to Nashville non-stop. We didn't want to fly all the way to Atlanta and get back so late. We will save three hours of flying by doing this. Our flight boards 30 minutes late. The flight is good though. I sleep some and watch some weird b-movies. I think we only have an hour till Washington. I can't wait to be back in the states and hug my girls.
Overall I am really glad that I made the trip. I was in places and met people that most don't in a lifetime. And what a great cause! The USO has been helping to keep the moral of the troops up for years. These men and women provide a service to this country that goes thankless too often. Thought it is better these days, these men and women lay their lives out on the line so that we as Americans can enjoy the benefits we have here at home. (Like the job that I have.) We are living in a better world because of these men and women. And though it was a short trip to visit them, I honestly believe and feel in my heart, that we made a difference. If only for the moment we were playing they were able to forget about the war and be able to relax and just have fun for a little bit. There are people who couldn't believe that we were over there, let alone at the FOB. This is an event we need to do more of!
If I were asked the one question, "Would you do it again?" HELL YEAH I WOULD! It was an experience of a lifetime for a great cause.
What would I do differently? I would love to stay longer and see more of the troops. But for now, I have to get back to my family.
