09/04/2026
A moment, before the holiday.
While we're sitting back with a beer, firing up the grill, out on the boat, or driving to be with family this weekend — take a second to think about the young soldiers still deployed in the Middle East.
If we don't see it in the news, it's easy to forget it's still happening. We have not forgotten you.
If you have a family member out there, you understand this in a way words don't quite capture.
Roughly 2,000 soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division were sent to the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility back in March. Their deployment was recently extended — some units now serving a full 12-month rotation, keeping troops in the region into March 2027.
As an Army Medic myself, I think about them constantly — not just their physical safety, but the mental weight of it. They're protecting us, protecting our families, following orders they didn't write. I'd imagine most of them would rather be home right now, doing exactly what we're doing this weekend.
To the families who've lost a loved one, or have a loved one injured — our prayers are with you. We are here for you, in whatever way we can be. If you need help, reach out. There is help out there. You can reach me directly, Darrell, at [email protected].
The cost, as of this week:
🕊️ 18 U.S. service members killed
🩹 Over 750 wounded in action
Source: Stars and Stripes, Aug. 31, 2026
Thank you all for your service. Less than 1% of our country carries this weight for the rest of us.
Prayers this weekend — for those serving, and for the families waiting for them to come home. 🇺🇸
