Jim Spiri in Iraq

On the door leading outside from my quarters here at FOB Falcon, there is a proverb that I read each time I exit the building. It says, "as iron sharpens iron, so men sharpen one another..." I love this proverb because it has become extremely real to me. Today is one of those days where I must write to convey to all stateside how to carry on as the days go by.

For many, a gap has been bridged into the world of their loved ones deployed, through a few stories and photographs that have appeared on this blog. There is nothing more rewarding than to receive an email from a family member who has longed for any kind of information about what their loved one does over here in Iraq. I have yet to come across anyone that wants to know about political wrangling or controversy.

Everyone is only concerned with how their loved one is faring and what they are doing on a daily basis. This has always been my intention, that is, to somehow give a small slice of history to those stateside awaiting the return of their soldier, marine, airman or sailor.

I believe it has had at least a small measure of success, judging from the hundreds of emails I have received.

Recently I received an email from a young girl who hails from the center of the USA. She lives in rural Oklahoma, in a place called Checotah. It is a town where bulldogging is a big thing and rodeos on the weekends is what the families do for entertainment among other things. It is also where the young country singer named Carrie Underwood is from. My wife took care of Ms. Underwood when she arrived in Kuwait for a tour to visit the troops.

This is where Gracie Blackwell lives. Her uncle and grandfather are both in Iraq serving their country. Her grandmother is serving in Kuwait

In an email she wrote to me how excited she was to be carrying the flag prior to the start of the weekend rodeo. Her mother has told me how she prays daily for those deployed to war. The Blackwell family is holding the fort down on the home-front while others are overseas. The mother of Gracie has told me in emails how difficult it is for those left behind and they try diligently to do their part for the troops.

She herself has organized in the last three years many events to send countless number of care packages to the troops where her brother has been deployed more than once. It is what keeps her going. She tells me often of her suffering having lost a brother who was a marine that never had the opportunity to deploy with her other brother and go into battle.

She is a true American patriot, on the home-front.

In my travels here in Iraq, the one comment all the troops have told me is that the only thing they need from those at home is their support while they are deployed. Nothing else is as valuable. NOTHING.

So I wondered about how to bridge that one request that I know would do more than anything I've written or photographed in the last five months. For my burden is to give to the troops whatever it is they ask. It came to me upon seeing this photo of Gracie Blackwell carrying the US flag with such dignity.

Yes, it is true, the entire nation seems to be embroiled in a perplexing situation called "The War in Iraq". However, I have witnessed and seen with my own eyes on a daily basis those we've sent here to do a job and what it is they do exactly. I've been there when times are very precarious and I've been there when times are melancholy as well. Time and time and time again, the troops long for only the support of what they are doing. As I have said in many previous posts, there will be plenty of time in the future to discuss the "details and the whys" of what is going on over here. But for now, it is important to take heed to support the troops, especially now, as the intensity of the mission increases. So what can those at home do in the meantime?

"Teach, your children well..." the song said by Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, nearly 40-years-ago.

For it is the young ones that carry the torch for those of us that have found this world an ugly place these days. When a young child, seven years of age, writes an email to an older man in Iraq detailing the excitement of carrying the "colors" before a rodeo begins on a weekend in Oklahoma, I see that the next generation, albeit maybe only a remnant, are being taught well from an early age what freedom is all about and the honor it bestows to be the bearer of the stars and stripes before all present.

This young child, knows more than most adults currently wrangling over politics. She knows only the important things, that being, to carry on the hope for all those that are waging war on terror so she and her family may enjoy freedom and a weekend rodeo in the center of the USA. If you look at the photo, which quality wise may not be perfect, you can see clearly the older cowboys in the background having tipped their hats covering their hearts as the young girl lopes around the arena. The older ones can see how the young one is leading. She is gripping the flag with her right hand in all sincerity making sure it does not fall. Her left hand is guiding the horse steadily. She in her own right, is a member of the Cavalry, on the home-front.

Would that all the adults across the USA would be as sincere in such a simple but profound expression of support for the troops. I believe wholeheartedly that if all would practice this one simple task at home, a well-spring of energy would rise up in immeasurable amounts carrying the troops to sustained victory here in Iraq.

In the mean time, all must press on. Those deployed, and those on the home-front. Teaching our children well is by far the most beneficial thing we can do as a nation. For I can attest that the children do in fact grow up and lead the way. This I have seen before my very eyes being among our "children" who happen to be warriors now, as they lead the way into battle for all of us at home. Their one request is for support. We must accommodate that request. It is our most reasonable service to those deployed. I can see nothing else more helpful than that. We must "sharpen one another" as each day goes by. By this we shall all be more enriched and strengthened to be able to encounter whatever comes across our path.

Grace Elisa Blackwell is seven years old, turning eight on October 25. She is the daughter of Mark and Melain Blackwell of Checotah, Oklahoma. She has a brother, Jakob and a sister Faith. Her mother, Melain, is the daughter of Jim and Candi Spiri.

Gracie is our oldest grandchild. She is leading the way.

Jim Spiri
FOB Falcon, Iraq
jimspiri@yahoo.com