SNOQUALMIE VALLEY – It may be hard to tell the immediate effects of the war in Iraq on the Snoqualmie Valley.

There maybe more American flags in people’s yards and more “No Iraq War” stickers on bumpers, but life has continued to move along without a grinding halt to day-to-day life.

That is unless you are a military mother, according to Claudia Joines.

Joines, who has two sons, Lance Cpl. Jim Joines, a Marine stationed at Camp Pendleton, Calif., and an Army reservist, Pfc. Greg Joines, who is currently going to school at Northwest College, said she is about as on-edge and wired as one can get. Even though they have not been shipped out yet, they are both eager to go and Joines can’t help but be proud of them and worry at the same time.

“It’s hard to explain the pride you feel to someone who doesn’t know what it is like,” she said. “It’s also hard to explain the fear.”

She said the most disheartening moments are when she hears and sees anti-war protesters. But for the most part, that has been countered by the support she gets when people notice she is wearing a “Marine Mothers” shirt. A trip to Bellevue last week had Joines stopped several time by people wanting to encourage her and what her children are doing.

“People don’t know how good it is for a parent to hear support,” Joines said.

For the complete story, pick up a copy of this week’s Valley Record