I just say give Jessi Lynch the same respect and privacy everyone allowed Ron Young Jr and David Williams....once she leaves that hospital, let HER and those who love her determine when and who she talks too, and what she discusses.
If three or six months from now Jessica feels like appearing on Oprah, Jay Leno, or the View and discussing some of what happened to her...I say God bless her; if not...I say leave her alone. The same goes for a homecoming at Wirt County High School.
We postponed the homecoming celebration for Ron Young Jr TWICE -- until HE was ready for it; allowed him and his folks time to relax, clear his head, and de-stress...and we would have gladly allowed him all the time he needed.
I offered to carry Ron and his parents out to dinner EVEN before his rescue. He hasn't accepted, and most likely never will. Are my feelings hurt? NO WAY! I offered just to let him and his folks know how much I cared...the respect I felt for him; to be nice.
I've shook Ron Jr's hand, welcomed him home, and told him how proud I was of him ("I'm so proud of you...God Bless you son"! he grinned from ear to ear
....I didn't seek his autograph, didn't ask him to pose with me for a photo (a lot of folks did). Ron hugged my little Granny when she told him she was so thankful he was safe....his dad and mom both hugged me on Memorial Day; thanked me -- because I prayed for him, called to make sure they were okay, see if they needed anything, and tried my level best to get a performer RON was a fan of (Eric Horner) added to his homecoming celebration.
I didn't do any of it except for one reason....TO BE NICE..be a good neighbor. That's the way we are in Douglasville, Georgia; and is why I'm so proud to call it my hometown. Like I told Ron Sr last Monday...if I were a POW, or my son was...I know he'd have done the same thing for us. Ron Jr is heading back to Fort Hood, but knows how much his hometown loves and respects him...enough to give him space. His mom and dad knows there are so many here just like me...old and new friends alike that are thrilled for them, thankful for them....that sought their friendship ONLY because they value friendship (no ulterior motives).
In my honest opinion, Jessi Lynch needs to go home as soon as medically possible...to the family and neighbors she knows and loves, to her friends from high school. Why?? Because I know they are just like me and folks in my hometown. Those folks in Wirt County WV want her well again...happy and healthy. They'll give her that time to recover (all the time she needs!), be the shoulders she needs to cry on, the girls to pray with her, to give her a hug when she needs one.
I don't need to ever know what happened to Jessi Lynch in that desert, just as I don't need to know how Ron Jr suffered. I know it was bad, from the weight Ron lost, from the pain in his eyes (on 60 Minutes II); from Jessi's broken bones and other injuries.
All I want from Jessica Lynch is to know she's happy and healthy....the fact my humble website was a small part of her recovery, something that made her smile through the pain...that's all the reward I seek or desire....knowing it made her feel better is total justification for creating it -- the sole reason I did.
God Bless our military....God bless those brave young men from Georgia and Virginia, and brave little country girls from Tennessee and West Virginia, and from every corner of America that serve with honor and courage. They all make us so proud!
