PRAY FOR OUR SOLDIERS IN AFGHANISTAN AND THOSE IN OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM.

When Col. Joe Geren of the 196th Field Artillery Brigade left for Afghanistan recently, he left behind a loving and proud family, among those being his big brother, Don Geren. Col. Geren is to serve for a year.  Col. Geren, 54, who has been in the Tennessee National Guard for 38 years, is one of 96 members called to active-duty status. He also served in Desert Storm. Don, said it was especially hard for him to say goodbye to his brother because he doesn't expect to see him again, not because of the war, though, because I have congestive heart failure and have been told I has less than a year to live. I huged him and said, next time I see you will most likely be in heaven. My health and prior surgeries have taken a toll on this body. God has kept me around for a reason. I pray daily for little brother and all our soldiers serving in Iraqi and Afghanistan. I enlisted in the National Guard, but was cut because of my weight problem. I then became a police officer, and served our country in a different way. While the men and women in the National Guard used to be considered, "weekend warriors", they are now earning the respect they deserve. Many of these troops are older in even their 50's to help with the young ones age 18 to 20, which help save lifes. Thanks to email I'm able to communicate with my brother on a regular basis. Col. Geren is part of one of eight embedded training teams in Afghanistan. This article was in our local paper, written by Don Geren.