As I make my way into work everyday, I see them. Banners made by loving hands in anticipation of a long overdue reunion decorate the otherwise ordinary chain-link fence surrounding the military base. I smile once again as my eyes catch the messages left for those who have had to leave their families in defense of our country. “Welcome home, Cpl. Jones,” I read out loud as I drive by the white sign with purple lettering. I can picture the ones who have spent hours making these signs, each one filled with an anticipation rivaled only by a small child staring in wonder at the fireplace on Christmas Eve. Most are waiting for that moment that they will see their mother, father, spouses or siblings for the first time in months.
As a case manager for the finest military system in the world, these simple signs take me back to a reality most Americans seem to forget as they are caught up in the hustle and bustle of their daily lives. I am one of the lucky ones. As most people dread their Monday mornings, mine are filled with the sights and sounds of our most cherished soldiers greeting me with a warm smile and a “Good morning, ma’am” as I make my way to my office. Most of these blessed people are hundreds, if not thousands of miles from their homes, assigned to this base for training with assured deployment hovering over them like a cloud of smog on the city skyline.
I consider myself to be very fortunate, working among those whose very lives are dedicated to the freedom Americans enjoy every day. I can dedicate my entire day to helping those who will be on the frontlines defending one’s right to go to work on Monday and sit through another meeting. Whether I am arranging resources for transportation to medical appointments, researching referral requests or spending time counseling, I am proud to say I can be on the frontlines for a day. My frontline doesn’t compare to the one these brave souls have been on or are going to, but I can say that my job is making a difference for all Americans. If I can help one soldier have a better day, help a soldier feel more at home, or make a soldier’s life less complicated, even for one hour, I have done my job. What is my proudest moment as a case manager for the United States Military? That’s easy. The day I took my job, the minute I signed the contract and agreed to be part of something greater than myself, that very moment, that very second, I knew I could make a difference. My career is to serve my nation by serving those who protect it!
