Farewell, My Friends
As a new military spouse eons ago, I was fascinated with the traditions and customs of the Army. In particular, the events known as “Hail and Farewell” ceremonies, where everyone gathers either formally or informally to welcome or say goodbye to those in a fellow organization. I appreciated every attendee’s time and loved to hear the stories when one was departing. The experience allowed me to connect with the newly welcomed service members and their families, and it also provided an opportunity for those leaving a send-off as we showed our respect and bid them farewell for their next journey.
The more I attended these ceremonies, the more the brevity started to weigh on my heart by watching people do it over and over again at different duty stations, but carrying the same heaviness of the unknown with them as military spouses are always looking a year in advance. Carrying the anxiety, what-ifs, wonder, excitement, basically all of the above, as we pack up our families and say goodbye to our worlds, again.
The past year has absolutely thrown us all. With 65% of Americans feeling “lonely” because of the pandemic, it’s no wonder I felt emotional as I attended a Farewell luncheon for a friend a couple of weeks ago. I felt we were robbed of shared time leading up to her relocation. Also at the luncheon, I found out that three other girlfriends of mine were PCSing … and soon!
We are all members of the Soldier and Family Readiness Group that seemed to have deactivated in energy because of COVID, so to find out they were leaving left an impact on me that day. I was thrilled we were able to share in fellowship together and catch up, but I also knew in the back of my mind that we would soon say goodbye.
If you’re PCSing this summer, I just wanted to let you know that you will be missed. Farewell to all of my friends (Renee, Tina, Carolina, and Miranda) and to the friends that you’ll have to bid adieu. Cheers to you and the relationships you have made and well wishes to new experiences you’re about to make.
😭 Powerful post, Sara Jane! I feel this on so many levels… Many of our friend PCS’d right before (or in the middle of) the pandemic, so we weren’t able to do the big send off. Kind of feels like it lacks closure. I also know some milspouses who PCS’d recently have struggled to make friends after their move do the the restrictions. Here’s to hoping that face-to-face fellowship, hails, and farewells are on their way back!! Thanks for sharing this and best wishes to your friends off on their next adventure.