Ltc. Meredith Domingue welcomed home after deployment overseas

Ltc. Meredith Domingue (in olive green, center) is welcomed home by neighbors and friends.

Lieutenant Colonel Meredith Domingue returned to Lake Highlands Wednesday after a nine-month deployment in Baghdad. Excited neighbors and friends lined her leafy lane wearing red, white and blue and waving American flags to demonstrate their appreciation. Children shook handmade posters to welcome “Miss Meredith” back home.

The celebration mirrored a larger sendoff in January, when Domingue departed for Iraq. On that day, fellow members of the Northlake Elementary PTA, Lake Highlands Junior Women’s League, St. James Episcopal Church and other neighborhood groups showed up in force.

Wife to Garrett and mom to three young boys, Domingue worked hard to stay connected to family and friends during her service overseas. Today’s high-tech tools make communication back home at all hours an easier task.

“It’s kind of a tough balance, because sometimes you feel like you’re missing out. You want to keep track of all the things,” she told me. “I’m in the LH Mamas Facebook group and LHJWL, so that helps, plus I’m involved with all the school stuff. But, honestly, while you’re there, you stay busy. You have to focus on what you’re doing and not get distracted by what’s going on at home.”

While Domingue was gone, friends helped with carpool and included Garrett and the boys in Friday night dinners and other neighborhood social events as usual. Jeff and Maureen Radighieri spoke to their three kids about Miss Meredith — and her service — often.

“Meredith and I actually met through the Nextdoor app eight years ago while looking for a nanny share,” Maureen said. “We got together with our babies at White Rock Coffee and the nanny share didn’t work out, but we ended up doing this motherhood thing together.”

The Radighieris explained to their children that Miss Meredith was sacrificing her own safety and comfort in her work overseas to help keep America and the world free. They shared that her job is strenuous and difficult, and it is worthy of appreciation. Their twin girls, though, can’t agree about some aspects of the job.

“Jumping out of planes sounds scary,” declared one. “Jumping out of planes sounds cool,” insisted the other.

Mary Elizabeth Miller said Domingue is unique in having so many positive aspects to her personality.

“Meredith is one of the most well-rounded people I know. She’s active in everything in the community, she went to West Point and is a bad ass soldier and she’s also a great mom and a great friend. It’s so great to have her back in Lake Highlands. We’re all just so happy. We’ve been counting down the days.”