When my father, Odysseus, and his men sailed off to the Trojan War, they were confident their gods favored a quick victory. Instead, the siege of Troy lasted ten years. After Troy fell, the survivors made their way home to Sparta, Mycenae, Pylos, and elsewhere in the ancient Peloponnese. Neither my father nor any of his troops arrived home with the rest. We waited for years as the news grew worse. Odysseus was dead, we were told,or imprisoned, or, worst yet, he had married another woman and abandoned my mother Penelope, my brother Telemachus, and me.


If he is alive somewhere, his thoughts may wander to Penelope and Telemachus, but he won’t be thinking of me. I am the daughter he doesn’t know exists. Odysseus went off to the Trojan War when his son, Telemachus, was barely old enough to walk. His wife, Penelope, was a teenage bride, and is now a young wife, mother, and queen who has to try to rule Ithaca without him.


I was born seven months after he left. I am a hero’s daughter and a princess of his realm, but I have lived my entire life without a father. I’m nineteen now, and still waiting.


All over the world, and throughout history children grow up as I have. This website will focus on the children of those men and women who have gone off to fight America's wars, and provide information and resources for all who care about military families and want to help.

Friday, August 27, 2010

A Life in Service of Military Children



Deborah Baeuchle, the newly retired superintendent of Fort Leavenworth schools was presented the Secretary of the Army Public Service Award Aug. 24, 2010, for her 39 years serving the district.Baeuchle, the daughter of a World War II veteran, began working at the district in 1971 as a sixth-grade teacher, went on to become an elementary school principal, and eventually became district superintendent.


Brig. Gen. Sean MacFarland, deputy commandant of the Command and General Staff College, presented Baeuchle with the award, which is the second highest award the Army can present to a private citizen. "We just want to recognize her for spending her life educating military children and having a positive impact on them.”


The award recognized Baeuchle for being a part of a district that sets high academic standards.Preliminary results show that in the spring 2010 testing cycle, children in the district met the standard for excellence in 34 categories.


Baeuchle called it a privilege to work with military children.“I know that military children face many challenges resulting in numerous moves endured during their parents’ careers, but they display an amazing resiliency,” she said. “I attribute their strength to the families and to the greater military community. I believe that our children belong to a select and special group that brings many unique gifts to society.”

A library at a local elementary school is also named in her honor.
Posted by About AART at 7:26 AM

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