An extra-special holiday

[darrels joy]

An extra-special holiday

By SIERRA SEGRAVES

SELAH HIGH SCHOOL

A summer trip to Victoria, British Columbia, graces pages 14 to 20.
A mother giving her daughter a perm peers from page 22. And a family building and painting a fence is seen working hard on page 13.
All these events fill up 25 pages in Annie and Jessica Martin's scrapbook for their father, who is one of thousands of U.S. soldiers currently serving in Iraq.

When he left, "My entire life changed," says 15-year-old Annie, a sophomore at Selah High School. "I feel safer when he's here. It gives me a sense of security that I don't have now."

Her father is 43-year-old Sgt. Brent Martin of the Washington Army National Guard's 81st Armor Brigade. He's been serving as a gunman at Camp Anaconda in Balad, Iraq.

He's back home now for two weeks of rest and relaxation. But the scrapbook won't be presented to him until his birthday in May.

Meantime, "I'm really glad he's coming home for Christmas," Annie says. "We have so many holiday traditions that wouldn't be the same without him."

Her sister, 14-year-old Jessica Martin, an eighth-grader at Selah Junior High, came up with the idea to create a scrapbook.

When Brent Martin returns home for good, he'll be able to see the "highlights, everyday stuff and funny things," says his wife, Shirley Martin.

The family began the book as soon as Brent Martin left for duty last February.

"My dad has missed a lot," Annie says. But, "We take lots of pictures and write down everything we do (for the scrapbook). He's missed me learning to drive, going to high school, playing tennis, getting the guide-dog puppy, and all the day-to-day things. I miss every little thing abut him being here."

And Jessica agrees, saying, "I miss my dad playing sports with me. He's missed all my games."

Their mom has also been learning to deal with having to become a "single parent and sole disciplinarian" to two teenage daughters.

"I have all the adult responsibilities," Shirley Martin says. "It has given me more confidence in my ability to handle things, as well as a greater appreciation for Brent and my family. I think our family and marriage has grown stronger because we appreciate each other more."

They've also received support from family and friends.

"There are a lot of people that care ? who offer to help us," Shirley Martin says.

Both sets of Annie and Jessica's grandparents have helped with yard work, and a friend who attends their church recently repaired their oven.

Another option is available. The National Guard's Family Assistance Center in Yakima offers assistance to any family member of a deployed soldier. About 350 families are currently being served. Most of them have a family member in the National Guard.

It's hard for the thousands of families whose loved ones are overseas, especially with the holidays, says Jacqueline Harcrow, a coordinator at the Family Assistance Center. But the center is available as a "resource and referral," offering different types of help within the community.

In the Martin family's scrapbook, there are still many blank pages to fill with photographs of the life that Brent Martin has missed for the past 10 months. And his wife and girls at home in Selah can't wait to show it to him.

"He's on the other side of the world, but he's still my dad," Annie says. When he's home, "we're going to talk a lot and just get caught up."



SARA MARQUIS/Eisenhower High School
Annie says she misses her father who has been in Iraq for over 10 months. "It completely puts things in perspective when he's gone."

[darrels joy]

SARA MARQUIS/ Eisenhower High School
Selah High School student Annie Martin, 15, looks over a scrapbook she made for her father, who is currently serving in Iraq.