Message From Our Chaplain

Solon American Legion Stinocher Post 460

Veteran-Owned and Serving You Since 1902

At Solon American Legion Stinocher Post 460, we know how much it means to serve. As a veteran-owned organization, we are committed to meeting the needs of those in our community. We’ve been open since 1902, and that means we’ve spent over 100 years helping people right here in Solon, IA.

As part of our mission, we are open to the public for meals, special events, and more. To learn more about Solon American Legion Stinocher Post 460 and what we’re all about, read this recent letter from our chaplain from December 2023.

A Message From Chaplain Doug Thompson

We often refer to police, firefighters, and military personnel as heroes. There is another hero that is often overlooked, and I, for one, hold these individuals with the highest regard. These unsung heroes are the family members who are left behind when a soldier, Marine, sailor, or airman is deployed, especially when they are deployed to a combat area.

Parents, girlfriends, boyfriends, wives, husbands, and children are left behind, sometimes with a short or long notice that deployment is pending. In either case, the preparation notice is never long enough, and the palpable anxiety and depression are punctuated with emotions of fear, anger, sadness, support, loneliness, and guilt. These emotions are repeated in a seemingly random order, which only compounds anxiety and depression. The service member must stay focused while preparing themselves for their mission while, at the same time, making sure everything is in order on the home front before they deploy.

After the service member says their final goodbyes, they must try to keep their focus on their mission while trusting they have not forgotten anything that would cause negative issues for their loved ones. Did they sign power of attorney documents, their last will and testaments, get the brakes checked on the car, or leave a detailed list on how to check the HVAC system? The list seems endless.

Those left behind fall into several categories - the parents, spouses, and dependent children. Boyfriends and girlfriends, as far as the military is concerned, have no legal standing, but like their married counterparts, they hope their bond of love is strong enough to last through the deployment and stronger still when they return.

Spouses without children are usually in a better position than those with children. Those with children must play the role of both parents, often leaving them exhausted with little time for themselves.

Compounding the stress of being both mom and dad, income is often reduced because dual-parenting forces them to either reduce their working hours outside of the home or they quit the outside employment altogether.

The children often express their anxiety by becoming either withdrawn or hyperactive. Grades sometimes go into decline. They will sometimes lash out at other kids, teachers, or the parent. The younger the child, these problems can create bigger issues, such as feeling abandoned. Sometimes their anger or depression is exacerbated when they think no one cares that their dad or mom could be killed. Especially when they see or hear people demonstrating against the conflict that has taken their parent away from them.

Parents too suffer from fear as they watch their baby boy or girl heading off into harm's way. To help relieve my parents' anxiety, my letters were often filled with funny stories. Despite my efforts, when I returned home, mom's dark hair was streaked with gray, and dad looked gaunt from his worry.

Saying thank you to these men, women, and children is the least we can do to show our appreciation for their sacrifice. We owe these Gold Star and Blue Star families a debt of gratitude that can never fully be paid. With that being said, when you see a person in uniform with their spouse and/or children, be sure to thank them for their service as well.

~ Doug Thompson, Chaplain