Fort Bliss Deployment – The Ryan’s Leaving Again Edition

It's that time again.  About 3,500 soldiers with the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division will be deployed once again to Iraq this summer.  That means lots of fathers, mothers, sons, daughters, sisters, and brothers will be heading back into harm's way, including my son, Ryan.

I know all the families who are facing saying goodbye again would appreciate your prayers for their loved ones, and I would like to say thank you to everyone who asks about Ryan.  Each time he has deployed, our listeners have called and emailed and even stopped me at events and remotes to give me words of encouragement, and really, I can't tell you how much I love you guys for that.  It means more than I could ever say! 

I would only ask one thing  - the next time you see a soldier, thank them for their service.  They'll probably be a little embarrassed and not know how to respond, but a quick handshake and 'Thanks for your service to our Country' is all you need to say.  A lot of soldiers don't see themselves as heroes - they think they're just doing their job.  We know better! 

So if you hear my voice crack a bit when talking about the military, you'll know it's because of Ryan and the thousands of soldiers just like him who fight to keep our country safe. 

My prayers go out to the families of the soldiers at Fort Bliss and around the world.....