During an emotional homecoming, a group of about two dozen people gathered at Durango-La Plata County Airport on Sunday afternoon to welcome home Military Police Officer Cody Hawman, who returned to Durango after being stationed in Iraq and South Korea for the last two years.
Among the crowd were several members of the Blue Star Moms of Durango, the local branch of a national organization, formally known as the Blue Star Mothers, that began in 1942, to support servicemen deployed abroad for duty.
Hawman’s mother, Vicky, said the group sends packages of supplies every six to eight weeks to friends and family who are called to duty in other countries. The care packages may include anything from food items and personal hygiene goods to letters from loved ones and anonymous gifts.
“It gives them a little piece of home,” she said. “We’re just mothers, fathers, friends and family who have or have had children who are serving honorably.”
She said she is proud of her son for choosing his path.
“He’s grown in leaps and bounds,” she said. “Coming from Durango and seeing things over there, he’s really grown up and experienced quite a bit.
She said while it’s hard to see him go when he does, she believes it’s worth it.
“It’s tough, but it’s a wonderful feeling,” she said. “You’re just so proud of you own child, or any person, knowing the sacrifices they make being away from family. Just to know they do their jobs to keep Americans safe. It’s just a wonderful feeling.”
Blue Star Mom and local chapter president Jill Coddington knows what its like having a son in the armed forces. Her son, John, had three deployments back to back, in Qatar, United Arab Emirates and Kyrgyzstan, and is now a staff sergeant in the Air Force stationed at Fort Lackland in San Antonio.
“We’re just glad to have him stateside,” she said.
Coddington said enlisted men and women abroad truly appreciate getting care packages, and the group is always looking for friends and families of those in service, to see how they can help.
“We ask people if they have relatives who are deployed,” she said. “We want to do what we can. We have kids stationed in Afghanistan, Korea, Okinawa, Europe. They’re all over the place.”
She and husband, Jim, agreed Christmas is a busy time for the local patriotic group, when care packages can number 150, up from the typical 30 to 40 every month and a half. She told the story of sending an entire platoon gift packages and stockings one Christmas.
“Things like toothbrushes and laundry detergent, coffee and powdered drink mixes for their canteens,” Coddington said, “and beef jerky – they love beef jerky.”
“We get those large flat-rate boxes and just pack them full,” she said. “You might think that everybody has somebody that is sending them packages, but they don’t.”
Hawman said he enjoyed the support from the Blue Star Moms but was glad to be back, saying he missed being home in the United States. But he won’t stay put for long. He and fiancée Teresa Hood will be married Friday, and in December, they are off to his new post in Washington at Fort Lewis. In the future, he intends to join the Durango Police Department or the La Plata County Sheriff’s Office.
Hawman didn’t expect the reception that he received upon his arrival. He also said he came back a changed man.
“I’ve been everywhere, and I’ve learned so much,” he said. “I’m a different person than when I was 18.”
Hood said she’s simply happy he’s home. While she was waiting at the terminal she held a sign patiently and stood by the gate.
“He better hurry up,” she said. “I’ve waited long enough.”
bmathis@durangoherald.com
