Sad.

That's the only word to describe this.

AP: Life-sized likenesses of Guard members ease separation pains

Lt. Col. Randall Holbrook travels just about everywhere with his wife Mary and their two sons, Justin, 14, and Logan, 5...

Randall has little to say because he’s a ‘‘Flat Daddy,’’ a two-dimensional foam board likeness from the waist up of the Maine Army National Guard officer from Hermon who was sent to Afghanistan in January with the 240th Engineer Group of Augusta.

The Guard has provided more than 100 of the cutouts to families of deployed service members as a way to ease the pain of separation...

...The Holbrooks’ Flat Daddy has been to birthday parties, ballgames, school, the hairdresser, the babysitter’s with Logan, and to the funeral of Mary Holbrook’s mother...

...‘‘One night, I finally asked him, ’Who are you talking to?’ And he said, ’I’m talking to Daddy,’’ Fish said. ‘‘I just about broke down crying.’’...

I suppose the sentiment is right, but it's still very sad. 'Flat Daddy'. Wow.



American life in the Bush generation... one big Onion article.