In 1939, a film was released by MGM that became an American classic. It introduced the amazing world of Technicolor characters — yet the story of “The Wizard of Oz” is best summed up with these words, “There’s no place like home.”
After 20-plus years of serving our nation in the U.S. Army, these words become more than a movie quote — they are a passion of my heart. As this is my first of what I hope to be many columns for the Plant City Observer, allow me to unpack the quote as it relates to my life and the life of my family.
I grew up in Plant City with my twin sister, Debbie, older brother, Michael, parents, Lloyd and Mary Ann Middlebrooks, and a host of aunts, uncles and cousins. I attended Berea Baptist Church on State Road 39. As a mater of fact, I was in church nine months before I was born — meaning I have always been in church. This is important, because my parents knew and believed that a strong faith foundation would help us as kids weather the storms that would come in life.
During my educational years of Trapnell Elementary, Glover, Turkey Creek Middle School, Plant City High School and Hillsborough Community College, I realized I had a desire to serve my nation. Both my dad and brother served in the U.S. Army National Guard here in Plant City, so the steps toward the military were familiar ones.
I left May 25, 1987, for Fort Jackson, S.C., and began my service as a soldier with a laundry list of addresses to follow. It was after my Advanced Individual Training in April 1988 that I came home to marry the incredible love of my life, Arienne. Although that will be a story for another time, let’s just say I married “up!” Throughout the years to come, we would add to our family — Erica, was born in 1993, in New Orleans, La., and Allison in 1998, at Fort Campbell, Ky.
In 1991, I surrendered to the call of the ministry and switched from physical therapy to becoming an Army chaplain. During the last 20 years, I have had the great honor to walk with and watch over our nation’s greatest treasures — the sons and daughters and moms and dads who answered the call to protect our nation with everything at their disposal, including their own lives.
This is where I take you back to the opening statement, “There’s no place like home.” I have traveled the world and have seen many things, met many people and experienced both happy and sad moments. But, the love for home never left. It is interesting to me that, as a young kid, I could not wait to get away from home. However, once experienced the trials, tests and tragedies of life, I spent the rest of my years waiting to come back home.
“There’s no place like home!”
I now return home with a deep desire to walk with and watch over the very community that raised me, loved me, prayed for me and supported me throughout all the years of military service.
The buildings of Plant City have changed. Homes and roads have been added, business have come, but the community’s heart still continues to beat out the cadence that makes Plant City what it is to others, to me and to my daughters — home.
Let me end with a funny thing my daughter said to me when we moved back.
“Dad, are we kin to everyone here?”
I smiled and said, “No, just half of them.”
But actually, we are all kin, because Plant City is a family, and it is a blessing to finally be back home with you again.
Chaplain Ret. Maj. Daniel Middlebrooks is president and CEO of Comprehensive Chaplaincy Care and Consulting. For more information, call (813) 767-2082 or email to chaplainmiddlebrooks@hotmail.com. 24″>http://bedgear.com/kupit-kreditnuyu-kartu-s-dengami.php