Despite the odds, a sweet homecoming for holidays

By MARCONI CALINDAS
REPORTER

The little girl eagerly grabbed her father’s brawny hand, squealing, “Daddy! Come, take a look!,” impatiently dragging him toward the American Memorial Park—practically writhing with excitement at all the sights the park had to offer Thursday afternoon.

As part of Troop Fest 2004, performers were belting out numbers after numbers to the delight of the audience, while the Garapan Street Market, a usual fixture at the Micro Beach, merged this time with the troop fest, boosting the amount of activity at the memorial park.

The aroma of mouth-watering food and the displays of accessories and fancy ornaments would make visitors ogle in delight but the glitter of handcrafted jewelry was what drew the little girl’s attention first.

Her dad, dressed in khaki camouflage uniform that identified him as a soldier, smiled indulgently but held on to her hand, apparently reluctant to let go of such a precious moment.

Chris Cepeda, a PFC, who just came home from training in Texas, said he is deeply excited that he would be spending Christmas with her three children. His eldest is already 13 years old; he said he got the shock of his life when his wife told him that his eldest child now rides a motorbike. This thrilled him so he is glad that he came home for the holidays. Chris admits to being so sentimental when it comes to his family that he keeps photos of his children in his bed when he is away. These photos keep him going everyday.

He joined the army in 2002 but it was never his intention to do so before that. He used to drink a lot and probably had the greatest time of his life on Saipan. However, when 9/11 happened, it tore his heart and bothered him so much that he decided to become a soldier.

“For my kids,” he shared, “I’d rather go there and fight the enemy, [rather] than let them come here.” His children have been his motivation ever since. “I’m doing this for their safety,” he added.

When he heard the latest news about U.S. forces being attacked while having lunch on FOB Marez in Mosul, Chris said he had a hard time accepting this.

“That attack is just too much. The place where it happened should be the safest place soldiers can go to,” he said, “Because once we get into the gate, that’s supposed to be our safe area.”

“So I’m very happy to be back here,” he sighed. Chris wants to spend the best time he could with his family, especially with his 1-year-old son because every time he tries to carry the child, the boy would cringe and look for his mama. This hurts him a lot so he would like to change that before he leaves again for duty.

Chris and his daughter later met up with his wife to watch the live entertainment going on in the amphitheater. He kissed his wife with his son in his arms, while the two other children clung to him.

Chris said he couldn’t ask for more than enjoy the tribute show for soldiers like him, with his wife and children snuggled up beside him, certain that this has been the warmest homecoming on the coldest of seasons.