Returning From Duty, Finding Families' Embrace
StoryCorps' Military Voices Initiative records stories from members of the military who served in Iraq and Afghanistan. Many of the participants in this project have been speaking about being separated from their loved ones.
This week, Weekend Edition is featuring two stories of families reuniting after deployment.
Willie tells his mother he initially though she was just running an errand, but then, he says, "I noticed you weren't coming back."
"I probably did a poor job of explaining to you where I was going and what I was up against," Felicia tells her son. "But at your age, you shouldn't have to worry about me. I'm the one that's supposed to worry about you."
Talana is upset her mom did not come back for her two weeks of "rest and relation." Felicia thought it would be too disruptive and decided to stay away for the whole year continuously.
When she did finally return, it a big day.
"I got really excited when I saw you coming towards us. I got the biggest hug in the world," Willie says. "And I didn't know if you were going to leave again or not. I was just happy to see you."
Talana didn't know who her mother was at first.
"I remember the look on your face when you realized who I was. Your eyes got really big, you just started ... hugging me, I think you were choking my neck," Felicia says.
Talana says she's proud of her mother for serving the country, but she prefers having Felicia home.
Audio produced for Weekend Edition Saturday by Yasmina Guerda.