“If you believe in Him, no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come to your tent." ~ Psalm 91:10
It was a normal day at Fort Hood
in 2011, then the military’s busiest deployment hub in the nation. Eight flights crammed with hundreds of
soldiers headed off to fight terror in the Middle East. In the lull before the first takeoffs,
anxious men and women huddled for last-minute briefings, grabbed coffee from
the USO, and lined up with their gear.
Throughout that long and frenzied day, they could count on
one calming certainty. Before boarding,
they would get a loving embrace from the “Hug Lady.” Since 2003, Elizabeth Laird (79), wanted to
show them her appreciation as a Salvation Army volunteer. She gave each one a hug, a loving smile, and
a Psalm 91 prayer card.
In return, she saw the pride in their eyes at being able to
serve their country and protect their loved ones at home.
Sometimes, a simple gesture can
mean the world. For those going off to
war, there was something so warm, something so right. She cradled them like cherished children. In her gentle squeeze, worries lost their keen
sting and optimism prevailed.
Wearing a yellow ribbon in her
hair adorned with the 1st Cavalry Division pin, Laird tried not to miss a
single flight - even those that left at 1:00 in the morning. It’s probably not a stretch to say she
touched millions if you count the family members who’ve given thanks for the
hugs their loved ones received - leaving and returning home.
In November 2015, Laird was hospitalized, weakened by the
breast cancer she’d been fighting for ten years. So, the soldiers decided to bring hugs to
her. Sometimes the line outside her
hospital room was so long that she’d have to turn people away.
Some came from over 1,000 miles to give her a hug when they
heard she’d been stricken. A GoFundMe
account raised $94,000 for her medical expenses. She received a letter from former President
George W. Bush thanking her for her service.
Still others left comments calling her a blessing and thanking her for the
hug they’d never forget.
She passed away that Christmas Eve at the age of 83, but not
before leaving a lasting impression on the hearts of American soldiers and
their families. In a fitting tribute, the
very room inside the terminal where she hugged so many, was named in the Hug
Lady’s honor.
Father God, Elizabeth Laird reminded us of the
protection You promised in Psalm 91. As
we are ever mindful of the cost of the freedom we enjoy, continue to hold our
troops in Your loving arms. Protect them
as they protect us. Bless them and their
families for the selfless acts they
perform for our benefit. Amen
