Our 'Family of One' is blessed with so many heroes. I have watched as so many have come forward to offer support and encouragement whenever and where ever it is needed. The members of our National Guard Family each has his/her own trials daily and yet, there is no hesitation when a need is made known. There aren't enough weeks in a year to identify everyone who has stepped forward when needed. Each member of our Family has his/her own special role.

What is a TANG 'Family of One'?

Above all else he/she is an American. An American with pride, with feelings, with needs, with his/her own thoughts, his/her own problems, his/her own dreams and his/her own fears. The age is not important, but his/her heart is pure and full of pride in our Southern American heritage. We proudly wave the red, white and blue.

He/she is a spouse trying to raise a family while the soldier is away from home. Continuing alone, possibly raising children and teaching them the morales and values that's so important to the idea of freedom and patriotism...honesty, integrity, love of God and country. He/she talks to the children of their soldier, a tear often falls. He/she often feels alone and lonely.....living each moment waiting for a phone call, an email, a letter... any communication at all. The time passes slowly.

She is a girlfriend, he is a boyfriend, of a TANG soldier. The days are spent in thought and a lot of prayers, beseeching God to guide and protect his/her soldier. A part of 'self' is disconnected by distance. He/she waits; planning, dreaming of a future together but time passes slowly.

He is a father - trying to be strong as he watches and waits for his child to come home. He's proud of his child but sometimes the fear manages to creep in. He closes his eyes and silently whispers a prayer. Time passes slowly.

She is a mother - spending her time on her knees praying for her child and all his TANG brothers and sisters. She knows that God alone is in control, she can no longer sooth the fears of her child, her soldier. So she prayerfully waits. And the time passes slowly.

He/she is a child or grandchild of a soldier. Proud and patriotic - holding a flag in one hand, a yellow ribbon in the other. Tears may fall, but those tears contain as much pride and honor as they do sadness at the empty place at the family table. Waiting .... and time passes slowly.

She is a grandmother who struggled to raise her own children and is now awaiting the return of her grandchild. She sits by the window, praying, thinking, remembering... time passing slowly.

He is a grandfather who served his country with pride and honor when he was in his prime. He's so proud of his grandchild. He remembers that small hand holding his. He remembers the past but looks toward the future, whispering a prayer and time passes slowly.

He/she is retired, no longer wearing the uniform. - unable to answer the call physically, but his/her heart is there with his/her brothers and sisters. Memories of time spent together .... brothers - sisters... still. Time passes slowly.

He/she is a widow(er). His/her soldier having made the supreme sacrifice. His/her heart aches......proud of the service performed... so very proud but time passes so slowly.

He is a soldier in a strange land. Whom does he trust? Only his Heavenly Father and those who wear the same uniform. He prays for those he left at home and for those with whom he serves and the time passes slowly.

Time..... measured in seconds, minutes, hours, days.... the clock ticks slowly. What to do with all this time? We know what to do. Reach out ..... a phone call, a visit, a card, an email, a package, a meeting, a prayer. We use the gifts that God gave us. We reach out a hand - we touch a lonely heart , we soothe a fearful soul, we comfort a troubled mind. Just as our Heavenly Father identified His church - we identify our 'Family of One' ... one body with many members. You have a need in your life? Reach out. Someone will take hold of your hand. You have a gift to share? Someone is in need.

So what is a TANG 'Family of One'? It's each of us - each being a single member. But it's the whole of us also. United in spirit and heart. There are truly Angels among us.

~ Mary Jane (MJ) Stokley - May 2005