This is My View, as a Military Spouse, on the Tragedy in Chattanooga
After the shootings this past week in Chattanooga, Tennessee I had overwhelming feelings of anger and sadness. The fact that one person, for whatever the reason choose to attack those that volunteer to protect our nation is unnerving. Not only did this shooter attack one military location, but then he drove 7 miles down the road to attack another. The news can dispute it all they want, this was an act of domestic terrorism.
A tragedy like this where military personnel are attacked at home, is unfathomable in my mind. People may not always agree with the fights our military are currently involved in, but regardless of what is going on in the world, these men and women have volunteered to serve and protect our country. Military personnel know when they volunteer to join the military that they will make many scarifies and may be required to give the ultimate sacrifice of their life to protect their country and its freedoms.
Every time my husband comes home with deployment orders I have to start preparing myself for the sleepless nights and fear and anxiety that comes along with a deployment. With recent events those fears and anxieties are becoming an unnerving part of everyday life. Every time my husband is late coming home from work, which is daily, I fear the worst. Any time I hear a “breaking news” alert on the television or radio I hold my breath. I worry about who might see my husband in uniform. I worry about my families safety, and in my mind this is unacceptable. I believe my husband has chosen a very honorable career, and the thought of his sacrifices costing him his life here on the home front is terrifying. No spouse, should have to worry about their husband/wife being attacked at work just because of the uniform they wear.
In cases like the Chattanooga tragedy, the military personal that were attacked at some point fought and/or stood to protect the freedoms of their attacker. I just can’t understand why someone would want to hurt those who job is to protect their freedoms. A majority of military personnel are simply following the orders of those above them. They are trusting that those who are making decisions are making the “right” ones. So attacking someone just because of the uniform they wear will not change the fact that their uniform stands for freedom. It is a senseless killing, period.
My heart aches for the spouses and loved ones of the four Marines in Chattanooga that gave the ultimate sacrifice for our country. Military spouses know that their loved ones have made a promise to serve and protect and every spouse has to prepare themselves for the terrifying reality that their spouses job may cost them their life. Every military spouses worst nightmare is answering the knock at their door to find a group of men and women in uniform staring back at them. Spouses and loved ones in Chattanooga had to live this nightmare last week. They lost their loved ones because someone decided to attack them because of the uniform they volunteered to wear.
The Chattanooga tragedy is yet another in a growing list of domestic terrorism that has cost the lives of some of our service members. It is unacceptable. The men and women of our military are willing to sacrifice their life for our freedoms, I believe they have earned the right feel safe at home.
To all those in and around Chattanooga effected and suffering because of the senseless and selfish actions of one individual you are in my thoughts. To every Marine who is mourning the loss of their peers, Semper Fidelis. To all military personnel, past, present & future, thank you for your sacrifices.
If you aren’t aware of the tragedy in Chattanooga, TN you can visit any major news source and find a slew of articles about what happened on Thursday July 16th 2015. CNN, USA TODAY, FOX NEWS, MSNBC, ABC NEWS or you can visit the news source of your choice. I have chosen not to use the attackers name, ethnicity, or religion because in my opinion those facts do not change the outcome of the tragedy. This man, choose to attack members of our military, and I do not believe the media should be giving him the personal attention that they are currently bestowing upon him.
