Jan 6, 2009 10:59 pm US/Eastern
A Mother's Goodbye To Her Soldier Son In Homestead
The Men And Women Will Deploy For About 6 Months
HOMESTEAD (CBS4) ―
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Berenice Chestaro has two sons. Alberto just returned from serving in Afghanistan. Christian is now leaving for the first time after two and a half years of training to Iraq.
A new round of men and women have deployed to Iraq. They took off from Homestead Air Force base where they left family and friends, but for one South Florida Mother, her son's deployment may be a little easier.
"You have one to your right and one to your left. You have to be the proudest mother in South Florida," said
CBS4's Jorge Estevez to Berenice Chestaro, who has two sons who serve our country. "You bet I am," she responded with pride.
Chestaro has two sons. Alberto just returned from serving in Afghanistan. Christian is now leaving for the first time after two and a half years of training to Iraq.
"I know what has to be done. I am steady I know what I have to do," said Christian Chestaro. Berenice Chestaro told
CBS4's Jorge Estevez that it's easier because she always has one son at home.
But for so many mothers and fathers, husbands and wives and of course the children they leave behind, saying good bye is tough. "He is the heart of the family; now he is the joker and he makes everyone laugh an there is not a sad moment when he is around," said Berenice Chestaro.
There was plenty of sadness mixed with pride as 200 South Florida men and women deployed as part of the 482nd fighter wing of the air force reserve command. And the one brother, Alberto Chestaro who already served in Iraq, had advice for his brother. "Keep your Kevlar on," said Alberto Chestaro to his brother Christian. Good advice for a man who voluntarily signed up to protect all of us and advice he plans on taking.
So, as one person read off the names for one last roll call, families said their good byes which are only tolerable for two reasons. The first reason is because you want to support your loved ones. The other reason is that you hope you will be right back at the base giving them the same hugs when they come home.
"I am very proud of them and I know we are safer, because my boys are there," said Berenice Chestaro.
These men and women will deploy for about 6 months to support Operation Iraqi Freedom.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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