Morrisville hotel thanks couple for service at war, at home

Christopher, a specialist in the Army, is on his third deployment in four years. He believes in the work he is doing in Afghanistan. 

"What you see on TV is not really all that goes on," he said. "We are there to do a job. We do our job, but at the same time we get along well. We work together."

Back at home, Shontae manages the household and cares for their daughter, taking care of things her husband would do if he were home. 

Each worries about the other. "Sometimes, you know, he doesn't feel like we over here know all that's going on and appreciate all that they are doing and the sacrifices they are making," Shonae Hogan said. 

Christopher recognizes the toll his absence takes on his wife. So he wrote a letter to the Cambria Suites at RDU, asking about a weekend getaway. The hotel not only offered them a free night's stay, employees hosted a reception in their honor.

"It really let me know that people actually do care about what we are doing over there," he said. "It's overwhelming, but Im trying to soak it all in."

The Hogans are savoring their time together before he must return to a war zone.

"We don't even worry about it because I know that god has a bigger plan for him and he's coming right back home," Shontae Hogan said.