we have a new Resiliency Center on post and i had occasion to be there earlier this week for an FRG meeting. one of the ladies at the meeting also works there and offered to give me a tour of the new facility. like any 100 year old building that has been given a face lift, it was interesting to see the way they updated the building guts with new paint and nice woodwork but also maintained the original ceiling and light fixtures, etc. no matter how you slice it, most of the buildings at fort leavenworth are just cool. they have a lot of history and charm and it's difficult to be here in this environment for as long as i have and NOT gain an appreciation for architecture.
so anyway, as we were casually going through the rooms "this is where the chaplains' office is, they have their own entrance", "upstairs is the school liason office", "the on-site child care is downstairs", etc., i was led through an inconspicuous doorway in the back which opened to yet another private entrance - this one for the Gold Star Family Room. if you are not familiar with the term "Gold Star Family", i sincerely hope you never become personally so. have you ever noticed people with little red and white flags on their house or as a sticker on their car?
this is a Service Flag. the blue star in the center indicates there is one living active duty military member serving in this family. some stars are blue with a yellow outline, meaning a wounded veteran (i think), and the solid gold stars indicate a service member in the family who has died in the line of duty.
so back to the room - it was beautiful and gut wrenching at the same time. it was beautifully decorated and had an ornate fire place and leather couches placed comfortably around the room. the walls were pale gold. more importantly though, on tables around the room and spaces on the walls were photos. i couldnt stay in there long enough to really get a good look, but i would guess maybe 40 or 50 framed photos of sons, daughters, husbands and wives who have died in service. there were folded up uniforms and stacks of service ribbons also. the room was empty of people, except myself and my tourguide, but at the same time you could feel that it was full. it was full of memory and emotion and a tangible feeling of honor and love. it struck me that i cannot fathom how anyone would ever feel comfortable being in that room unless someone they loved was represented there. i'm deeply grateful that a place for these families exists, and i'm honored to have it just down the street, but it is terrifying and overwhelming and incredibly intense at the same time. never has my connection with the military been so deeply touched as when i was in the yellow room.
