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.

Thursday, September 16, 2010

Making Military Children Part of "The Big Day"

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A park in Richmond Hill, Georgia was recently the venue for an outdoor bridal show featuring professional wedding and event planners, photographers, florists, and caterers. Activities over the course of the day netted $1025 in contributions which were donated to Operation Homefront Georgia. 
Operation Homefront was chosen as the recipient of the donation because of their nationwide support for service members, wounded warriors, and their families.  

Charitable efforts play a big part in keeping issues affecting military children in the public eye. It’s encouraging to note that during the flurry of preparations for what is a happy, and admittedly self-centered time, that people are thinking about those whose worries are far different from such things as the perfect cake and the color of bridesmaids’ dresses. 

Pictured are: Corrie Connor, Operation Homefront (left0; Al Smith, Richmond Hill City Center; Christina Anthony Operation Homefront and Christina Waters, Richmond Hill City Center.Courtesy of James Mahon

Posted by About AART at 7:49 AM

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