Published: May 10, 2008 12:15 pm            

The difference made by one mother’s love

The day that we all dreaded has finally arrived, as we said our goodbyes, and hugged our loved one's one last time, we knew that the person to our left and right was our new family. My name is SSG Buffington, and I am currently serving in the U.S Army in Kirkuk, Iraq. I am fighting next to 21 of the Army's finest soldiers. We have all developed a long lasting relationship that will never be forgotten.

After a month of being in Kirkuk, the boxes started coming in by the dozens. My mother, being the number one soldier supporter the Army has, made sure her son was taken care of even though he was on another continent.

As the boxes kept coming, I realized not everyone was getting packages. Without hesitation I was sharing my care packages with my new family. A few days later I was able to call home. The first thing my mother asked was, “Are you getting enough to eat?” I told her we were doing good, but if she could send more peanut butter and jelly. She was more than happy to send it, but said, “I just sent you some last week”. I explained to her that not everyone was getting care packages, so I was sharing mine.

My mother was in total shock, as to why some soldiers weren’t getting packages. Shortly after that she asked me for the names of the soldiers not receiving packages. It wasn’t two weeks later when my room mate received his first box. I will never forget the expression on his face when he received the package. A thousand words could never describe the emotion he felt that day. In my line of work it is very rare to see a soldier cry, but that day was something very special to him, and he couldn’t keep it inside.

A few weeks later I was talking to my mother and she was telling me she was thinking of starting a Mayes County Blue Star Mothers Group. I couldn’t believe that all this time she was doing all those packages by herself. She knew nothing other than a soldiers name, and she would immediately send a package.

Today I am proud to say that my mother is the proud mother of 84 sons and daughters that all know her Momma Buffington. You will not find a soldier in all of 10th Mountain Division, BSTB, that doesn’t know Momma Buffington.

This is what a difference one Mother’s love can make.

        

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