HOW IT ALL BEGAN
Grass Roots Troop Support......the title I gave my care package ministry
ten years ago. Not too many folks were sending care packages to the
service men and women at the outset of the war in Iraq. It all started
with a letter my sister received from Parris Island prior to my nephew
Alex McBride's graduation ceremony from boot camp. That letter told
her there were many Marines who would have no family members attending
the ceremony culminating the completion of their life altering training.
The Marine Corps was requesting those families attending the weekend
to 'adopt' one of the Marines and show them the admiration and
appreciation due any recruit who had gone through boot camp and made it
to graduation as one of "the few and the proud". That letter was
etched in my heart........I could not fathom any young man or woman
achieving the ultimate goal of the Eagle, Globe and Anchor and all it
entailed without their family there.
Weeks later when Alex first deployed to Afghanistan the reality of those
Marines with no family support spoke to my heart. I asked Alex if he
would be my middle man, my distributor, of care packages if I mailed one
or two. Naturally he was pleased to help. That was intended to be a
package every few weeks but he Lord had other intentions for the future
of this endeavor. I also realized I might consider asking friends for
donations. One friend suggested a local paper write an article about
what I was doing to bring awareness to the community so that perhaps
others would be inspired to follow this path. That small article and
my willingness to ask just about anyone for donations turned my little
project into something much larger.
Before I knew it, the funds were rolling in and I was shipping fifteen
boxes out each week to different units out of Camp Lejeune and Cherry
Point, NC. destined for Iraq, Djibouti and Kuwait. Later, as each
unit prepared to return to the states, I requested the names and
addresses of their replacements. This project just kept expanding!
Unfortunately, due to the economy, I now send fewer boxes each week.
I received letters of thanks...far too many to count. Each letter
lifted my heart and soul and made me more determined to keep this effort
going. Commandants, Regiments, Battalions, Companies, Squads and
individuals expressed their gratitude by sending me American flags flown
in my honor with accompanying certificates (some on very special dates
such as 9/11, July 4th or Memorial Day) and challenge coins. Many, in
their letters, shared a little about themselves and their families back
home. I'm so thankful the Lord put in on my heart to serve our troops
....He certainly knew more about me than I did when He opened that
door!!! What means most to me is knowing the happiness that comes to
those who open the boxes to find all sorts of snacks, socks, toiletries
and magazines that I know troops appreciate. I recall one letter
where a 1stSgt who received a box wrote that it was the "Motherload" of
all care packages!! That definitely put a huge smile on my face. Most
importantly those who are serving far from home are assured that we
'have their backs'. Their morale and their well being are lifted up in
knowing that we at home have not forgotten them and we are always here
for them.
I am humbled and honored to know that after all these years our warriors
are still moved by the boxes I pack and ship. I started out shipping to
NCO's of each unit and then I switched to the chaplains because they
travel all over the (AO) Area of Operation which would reach more troops
in the most remote FOBs. (Forward Operating Bases). The chaplains
continue to be a huge blessing to the distribution process. So many
people are factors in making this ministry a success. I give thanks
every day for the cooperation of the Family Readiness Officers (liaisons
between active duty troops and their families) of each unit and their
willingness to work with me.
Over the years my life has been fulfilled by meaningful friendships with
those in the military and their families. I cannot imagine what my
life would have been like the last ten years had I not been involved
with supporting our deployed troops and the gratification I received by
serving others. As the war winds down and our troops return home next
year, I look forward to whatever doors the Lord will open for me.
I will always continue to pray for their safety and give thanks for
their voluntary service to our great country.
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Monday, November 26, 2012
Friday, November 23, 2012
CARE PACKAGE HEARTACHE
11/28/12
As you know from previous articles one of my passions for the last ten years has been sending care packages to our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. I started back in 2003 when my nephew Alex first deployed to Afghanistan. In a future article I want to tell you how that all came about, but not today.
One of the units I was shipping to was 3rd battalion, 8th Marines out of Camp Lejeune. I used to ship to each of the five companies of a combat battalion and wrote asking the Marine in charge of each company to whom I might address those packages and which Marines might not be receiving mail. I was given the names of several Marines in each of the five companies. It is the end of 2008, the holiday season. I packed each box with loving care as if I knew the recipient, filled with non-perishable food, toiletries and magazines that I know the guys prefer to read. I pictured in my mind the joy their faces would express when the boxes were opened. 25lbs of goodies. There were five going out that week. One was addressed to LCpl Alberto Francesconi. I got them ready a few days early so they were stacked and ready for me to take them to the post office.
Each morning I receive email announcements from the DoD. (Department of Defense), war related news and casualty reports. I see a name that seems so familiar to me but I cannot place it.....for an hour I puzzled over that name......until it registered...I went through the stacked boxes and there was the box addressed to LCpl Alberto Francesconi, 21 years old, killed in combat January 1, 2009, the first casualty of the new year. I was stunned........I felt as if I had my heart was torn out. In all the years I had shipped to our Marines I never anticipated this happening. Of course all of us at home realize the dangers of war but I never expected it to touch me so personally. After the shock passed I wept for the loss of this young man and his family. How difficult it was for me to remove that label from that box and readdress it to another Marine in his company. I felt that loss as if he were my by brother or my son, and yet I did not know him.
A few days later I located an article on the internet that appeared in the local paper where Alberto lived. He was from the Bronx, New York. I contacted the author of that article and told her my story. She was stunned as well, and wrote a follow up article about my heart breaking experience. She shared my story with his family and made it possible for me to send them a letter of condolence. They contacted me months later to thank me for the card and package I had prepared for Alberto.
Many years late his sister contacted me on Facebook to thank me again for caring enough to pack a box for her brother and for reaching out to her family.
Fast forward to August 2011. I received an email from a journalism student at Columbia Journalism School. Each student in his class had an assignment to "write a memorial of a fallen soldier for the 10th anniversary of 9/11"
and his fallen soldier was Alberto. He was unable to locate any members of the family and by searching the internet found previous articles about Alberto where my name was mentioned. I told him I doubted my luck would be any better than his, but I would see what I could do. Back to Facebook I found the old messages from his sister and I wrote her explaining the situation regarding a student who would like to interview the family members for this very special project. Time was of the essence.....it was nearly Veteran's Day by now...as this had all taken many weeks to coordinate.
Finally I heard from his sister and the family was willing to speak to the student! Well, I have to thank the Lord for making this all work out......never in a million years would I have imagined this meeting would take place. Not only was the family willing to share Alberto's life, but it seems the family had a memorial celebration every year, as it was Alberto's birthday as well. A large family cookout with some of his old Marine buddies who drove up to New York. The family invited the student to join them to eat, chat and get all the material he needed for his project. They also invited me to come up to NY to share the laughter and the tears but because of my work I was unable to attend although I was incredibly grateful that this gathering would take place.
Again the Lord was in control.... connecting me with people who have had such an impact in my life....each one is a special gift and will always hold a special place in my heart.
As you know from previous articles one of my passions for the last ten years has been sending care packages to our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. I started back in 2003 when my nephew Alex first deployed to Afghanistan. In a future article I want to tell you how that all came about, but not today.
One of the units I was shipping to was 3rd battalion, 8th Marines out of Camp Lejeune. I used to ship to each of the five companies of a combat battalion and wrote asking the Marine in charge of each company to whom I might address those packages and which Marines might not be receiving mail. I was given the names of several Marines in each of the five companies. It is the end of 2008, the holiday season. I packed each box with loving care as if I knew the recipient, filled with non-perishable food, toiletries and magazines that I know the guys prefer to read. I pictured in my mind the joy their faces would express when the boxes were opened. 25lbs of goodies. There were five going out that week. One was addressed to LCpl Alberto Francesconi. I got them ready a few days early so they were stacked and ready for me to take them to the post office.
Each morning I receive email announcements from the DoD. (Department of Defense), war related news and casualty reports. I see a name that seems so familiar to me but I cannot place it.....for an hour I puzzled over that name......until it registered...I went through the stacked boxes and there was the box addressed to LCpl Alberto Francesconi, 21 years old, killed in combat January 1, 2009, the first casualty of the new year. I was stunned........I felt as if I had my heart was torn out. In all the years I had shipped to our Marines I never anticipated this happening. Of course all of us at home realize the dangers of war but I never expected it to touch me so personally. After the shock passed I wept for the loss of this young man and his family. How difficult it was for me to remove that label from that box and readdress it to another Marine in his company. I felt that loss as if he were my by brother or my son, and yet I did not know him.
A few days later I located an article on the internet that appeared in the local paper where Alberto lived. He was from the Bronx, New York. I contacted the author of that article and told her my story. She was stunned as well, and wrote a follow up article about my heart breaking experience. She shared my story with his family and made it possible for me to send them a letter of condolence. They contacted me months later to thank me for the card and package I had prepared for Alberto.
Many years late his sister contacted me on Facebook to thank me again for caring enough to pack a box for her brother and for reaching out to her family.
Fast forward to August 2011. I received an email from a journalism student at Columbia Journalism School. Each student in his class had an assignment to "write a memorial of a fallen soldier for the 10th anniversary of 9/11"
and his fallen soldier was Alberto. He was unable to locate any members of the family and by searching the internet found previous articles about Alberto where my name was mentioned. I told him I doubted my luck would be any better than his, but I would see what I could do. Back to Facebook I found the old messages from his sister and I wrote her explaining the situation regarding a student who would like to interview the family members for this very special project. Time was of the essence.....it was nearly Veteran's Day by now...as this had all taken many weeks to coordinate.
Finally I heard from his sister and the family was willing to speak to the student! Well, I have to thank the Lord for making this all work out......never in a million years would I have imagined this meeting would take place. Not only was the family willing to share Alberto's life, but it seems the family had a memorial celebration every year, as it was Alberto's birthday as well. A large family cookout with some of his old Marine buddies who drove up to New York. The family invited the student to join them to eat, chat and get all the material he needed for his project. They also invited me to come up to NY to share the laughter and the tears but because of my work I was unable to attend although I was incredibly grateful that this gathering would take place.
Again the Lord was in control.... connecting me with people who have had such an impact in my life....each one is a special gift and will always hold a special place in my heart.
GOD AND FRIENDSHIP
11/21/12
There are no coincidences when it comes to people crossing our paths!!
In the words of C.S. Lewis on friendship:
“In friendship…we think we have chosen our peers. In reality a few years’ difference in the dates of our births, a few more miles between certain houses, the choice of one university instead of another…the accident of a topic being raised or not raised at a first meeting–any of these chances might have kept us apart. But, for a Christian, there are, strictly speaking no chances. A secret master of
There are no coincidences when it comes to people crossing our paths!!
In the words of C.S. Lewis on friendship:
“In friendship…we think we have chosen our peers. In reality a few years’ difference in the dates of our births, a few more miles between certain houses, the choice of one university instead of another…the accident of a topic being raised or not raised at a first meeting–any of these chances might have kept us apart. But, for a Christian, there are, strictly speaking no chances. A secret master of
ceremonies has been at work.
Christ, who said to the disciples, “Ye have not chosen me, but I
have chosen you,” can truly say to every group of Christian
friends, “Ye have not chosen one another but I have chosen you
for one another.” The friendship is not a reward for our
discriminating and good taste in finding one another out. It is
the instrument by which God reveals to each of us the beauties
of others."
A chance meeting at an airport back in 2005 brought a very special family into my life through incredible circumstances. A wounded Marine being transported from Germany to Bethesda Naval Hospital (now Walter Reed) via Andrews AF Base with his parents, a brother arriving at Dulles Airport from Atlanta to meet them at the hospital, my mother, sister and I arriving at Dulles from a cruise. These are the people God has aligned to cross paths in this story. The likelihood of what transpired at that point is nothing short of a miracle.
In that short time we were at the airport an announcement was made "will the Marine Corps liaison please come to the travel desk." By now you know that due to my nephew Alex's being a US Marine, my awareness of all things Marine related is heightened to where an announcement such as that compelled me to investigate. I found a young man at the travel desk and I inquired if there was something I might do to assist. This is when I met Dani Pereira from Atlanta who had been waiting hours for his contact to get him to the Naval hospital. My family had a shuttle bus arriving any minute and we live a mile from the hospital. I offered Dani a ride and he accepted.
Sitting in the rear of the van I learned Dani's story. His brother John had been partially run over by a seven-ton truck in the heat of battle in Iraq. Incredibly his screams were heard over the cacophony of war machinery and artillery!!!! After several days in Germany he was stabilized to return to the states. I learned that John was with 3rd Bn/8th Mar, India Company, a unit I was shipping care packages to. His 1stSgt was my contact. The chance that John was one of the recipients of the contents of my care packages was pretty likely!!! Once again I realize the Marine Corps community can be so small. I learned of the brotherly love of Dani and John, John being his baby brother.
By the time we arrived at Bethesda, we had established a closeness that often tragedy brings. We exchanged phone numbers and I asked Dani to let me know of John's progress.
Two days later I got the call. Dani's parents wanted me to come visit the ICU. The moment his mother Fatima and I met, it was as if we had been sisters all our lives. Being from Brazil with a heavy Portuguese accent, she felt inadequate in her language skills and felt more comfortable with me there, so I wanted to be there every day that I could. The blessing of my retail schedule allowed for alternating mornings and evenings off. Either way, I was with Fatima almost daily for the months John was here. I became part of the family. I convinced them to take time away from his bedside while I stayed with John. In a coma a patient hears and feels and is aware of what is taking place around him. We talked, sang, massaged, mopped his brow.....and when he finally came awake he remembered our attentions. (My first article for the paper was about Steven Diaz, who was in the next room and through my visits to the Pereiras I met Steven).
Several months went by and John's recovery was slow.....there were complications....he was known as the 'Miracle Marine'. Since then and up to the present you can imagine how many 'miracle patients' they have had. John was finally discharged to return home to rehabilitate. He did so well that he deployed again later that year back to Iraq but not as an 0311 Infrantry Rifleman...he was in Admin. Not too happy about that but he was well enough to fulfill his obligation to the Corps and complete his contract.
While home and before deploying he met a young lady he planned to marry when he returned. The following New Years I was invited to their wedding in Atlanta. The spoken language was Portuguese, but the universal language of love was all we needed to feel the love and glory to God that this ceremony brought out in all who attended, including some of his Marine brothers from Camp Lejeune. Once again I find it hard to express what I feel in my heart for John and his family. We have stayed in touch and to this day Fatima and I are like sisters though there are miles between us. John came to visit this summer when he and his Marine brothers met at Arlington National Cemetery to pay their respects to their fallen brothers, of whom there were many....too many. That visit to see me was a blessing and gave me the opportunity to see how wonderful John looks and catch up on family news.
Forever I give thanks to God for aligning our paths that day at Dulles Airport. That we were all there at the same time and were connected by that chance announcement, (again in the words of C.S.Lewis....
"the accident of a topic being raised or not raised at a first meeting)" is a miracle, wouldn't you say?
A chance meeting at an airport back in 2005 brought a very special family into my life through incredible circumstances. A wounded Marine being transported from Germany to Bethesda Naval Hospital (now Walter Reed) via Andrews AF Base with his parents, a brother arriving at Dulles Airport from Atlanta to meet them at the hospital, my mother, sister and I arriving at Dulles from a cruise. These are the people God has aligned to cross paths in this story. The likelihood of what transpired at that point is nothing short of a miracle.
In that short time we were at the airport an announcement was made "will the Marine Corps liaison please come to the travel desk." By now you know that due to my nephew Alex's being a US Marine, my awareness of all things Marine related is heightened to where an announcement such as that compelled me to investigate. I found a young man at the travel desk and I inquired if there was something I might do to assist. This is when I met Dani Pereira from Atlanta who had been waiting hours for his contact to get him to the Naval hospital. My family had a shuttle bus arriving any minute and we live a mile from the hospital. I offered Dani a ride and he accepted.
Sitting in the rear of the van I learned Dani's story. His brother John had been partially run over by a seven-ton truck in the heat of battle in Iraq. Incredibly his screams were heard over the cacophony of war machinery and artillery!!!! After several days in Germany he was stabilized to return to the states. I learned that John was with 3rd Bn/8th Mar, India Company, a unit I was shipping care packages to. His 1stSgt was my contact. The chance that John was one of the recipients of the contents of my care packages was pretty likely!!! Once again I realize the Marine Corps community can be so small. I learned of the brotherly love of Dani and John, John being his baby brother.
By the time we arrived at Bethesda, we had established a closeness that often tragedy brings. We exchanged phone numbers and I asked Dani to let me know of John's progress.
Two days later I got the call. Dani's parents wanted me to come visit the ICU. The moment his mother Fatima and I met, it was as if we had been sisters all our lives. Being from Brazil with a heavy Portuguese accent, she felt inadequate in her language skills and felt more comfortable with me there, so I wanted to be there every day that I could. The blessing of my retail schedule allowed for alternating mornings and evenings off. Either way, I was with Fatima almost daily for the months John was here. I became part of the family. I convinced them to take time away from his bedside while I stayed with John. In a coma a patient hears and feels and is aware of what is taking place around him. We talked, sang, massaged, mopped his brow.....and when he finally came awake he remembered our attentions. (My first article for the paper was about Steven Diaz, who was in the next room and through my visits to the Pereiras I met Steven).
Several months went by and John's recovery was slow.....there were complications....he was known as the 'Miracle Marine'. Since then and up to the present you can imagine how many 'miracle patients' they have had. John was finally discharged to return home to rehabilitate. He did so well that he deployed again later that year back to Iraq but not as an 0311 Infrantry Rifleman...he was in Admin. Not too happy about that but he was well enough to fulfill his obligation to the Corps and complete his contract.
While home and before deploying he met a young lady he planned to marry when he returned. The following New Years I was invited to their wedding in Atlanta. The spoken language was Portuguese, but the universal language of love was all we needed to feel the love and glory to God that this ceremony brought out in all who attended, including some of his Marine brothers from Camp Lejeune. Once again I find it hard to express what I feel in my heart for John and his family. We have stayed in touch and to this day Fatima and I are like sisters though there are miles between us. John came to visit this summer when he and his Marine brothers met at Arlington National Cemetery to pay their respects to their fallen brothers, of whom there were many....too many. That visit to see me was a blessing and gave me the opportunity to see how wonderful John looks and catch up on family news.
Forever I give thanks to God for aligning our paths that day at Dulles Airport. That we were all there at the same time and were connected by that chance announcement, (again in the words of C.S.Lewis....
"the accident of a topic being raised or not raised at a first meeting)" is a miracle, wouldn't you say?
KILTS AND BAGPIPES
11/14/12
I'm sure after two articles you all know where my heart lies...... volunteering with a local chapter of Marine Corps League/Marines Helping Marines, which gives me the opportunity to visit our wounded Marines on a weekly basis. The Marine veterans with whom I make those visits fought in WWII, Korea and Vietnam. We meet at the hospital on Wednesday mornings wearing our official MCL attire. For me that is a red polo shirt with the MCL/MHM logo and for the gentlemen their red blazers and caps.
These are visits I truly look forward to although the last few weeks there have been far fewer patients on the floor to visit, which is a good thing!! Not that long ago we would meet and chat with ten or more during our visit but now only one or two, maybe three. Meeting these combat injured Marines is an honor that is hard to put into words. They share their stories of combat and of how they were injured, their love of the Corps and we are so touched to witness the devotion of their families at their bedsides . One thing I hear from nearly every one of them is that they wish they were back with their buddies in combat and would go back in a heartbeat if they were able and some will remain active duty, perhaps deploying again.
I want to tell you about one Marine in particular.... Major Richard Burkett, "Trainwreck" to his close friends and brothers in the Corps.
The first time we met he was surrounded by his wife and family but this is not about the details of his injuries, but something altogether different. We visited Major Burkett every week, and the second or third visit he was finally out of bed, in a wheelchair, and wearing his kilt (displaying his Scottish heritage). You can imagine the reason for the kilt..... being wheelchair bound it made certain functions much easier!! I had to ask if he played bagpipes, since anyone I have ever seen in a kilt did play them. He told me he was planning to teach himself, which is no easy feat!
Let me backtrack for a minute. Our MCL/MHM holds monthly cookouts at Walter Reed for our wounded warriors , their families and their staff from spring to fall. We have a popular barbecue with a large attendance, an event that everyone looks forward to each month, rain or shine. The previous year someone had invited a few members of our local Fire Department Pipe and Drum to play and that gave me an idea! Perhaps this season I could find them and ask them to return for our Major Burkett, as I had a feeling he would absolutely love to have a show just for us!
When I contacted our Fire Department I was overwhelmed when fourteen members of the Pipe and Drum wanted to perform for our wounded warriors....and they did. In full dress regalia, kilts and all the the accessories, they gave an hour of their precious time. They wheeled out Major Burkett, formed a circle around him, and played to him while all of us surrounded that circle. They played many tunes including the Marine Corps Hymn and closed with Amazing Grace. You can imagine...... there was not a dry eye to be found including our Marine in his kilt. What an honor to have these dedicated firefighters take an afternoon to be there for us! Of course we offered them lunch and they were kind enough to show those who were interested how the pipes work, and Major Burkett got a 'hands-on' lesson for which I know he was grateful.
It was a very special cookout for all of those who attended. I find myself with 'sweaty eyeballs' whenever I hear bagpipes. But this was so much more....it was so personal.........and so generous of them to perform. I am blessed to say that Major Burkett and his wife Melissa and I have become friends and I hope and pray that friendship will be for all time. They are a very special family with beautiful children and beautiful Christian beliefs. They are a Godly family and I am a better person for their being in my life.
I'm sure after two articles you all know where my heart lies...... volunteering with a local chapter of Marine Corps League/Marines Helping Marines, which gives me the opportunity to visit our wounded Marines on a weekly basis. The Marine veterans with whom I make those visits fought in WWII, Korea and Vietnam. We meet at the hospital on Wednesday mornings wearing our official MCL attire. For me that is a red polo shirt with the MCL/MHM logo and for the gentlemen their red blazers and caps.
These are visits I truly look forward to although the last few weeks there have been far fewer patients on the floor to visit, which is a good thing!! Not that long ago we would meet and chat with ten or more during our visit but now only one or two, maybe three. Meeting these combat injured Marines is an honor that is hard to put into words. They share their stories of combat and of how they were injured, their love of the Corps and we are so touched to witness the devotion of their families at their bedsides . One thing I hear from nearly every one of them is that they wish they were back with their buddies in combat and would go back in a heartbeat if they were able and some will remain active duty, perhaps deploying again.
I want to tell you about one Marine in particular.... Major Richard Burkett, "Trainwreck" to his close friends and brothers in the Corps.
The first time we met he was surrounded by his wife and family but this is not about the details of his injuries, but something altogether different. We visited Major Burkett every week, and the second or third visit he was finally out of bed, in a wheelchair, and wearing his kilt (displaying his Scottish heritage). You can imagine the reason for the kilt..... being wheelchair bound it made certain functions much easier!! I had to ask if he played bagpipes, since anyone I have ever seen in a kilt did play them. He told me he was planning to teach himself, which is no easy feat!
Let me backtrack for a minute. Our MCL/MHM holds monthly cookouts at Walter Reed for our wounded warriors , their families and their staff from spring to fall. We have a popular barbecue with a large attendance, an event that everyone looks forward to each month, rain or shine. The previous year someone had invited a few members of our local Fire Department Pipe and Drum to play and that gave me an idea! Perhaps this season I could find them and ask them to return for our Major Burkett, as I had a feeling he would absolutely love to have a show just for us!
When I contacted our Fire Department I was overwhelmed when fourteen members of the Pipe and Drum wanted to perform for our wounded warriors....and they did. In full dress regalia, kilts and all the the accessories, they gave an hour of their precious time. They wheeled out Major Burkett, formed a circle around him, and played to him while all of us surrounded that circle. They played many tunes including the Marine Corps Hymn and closed with Amazing Grace. You can imagine...... there was not a dry eye to be found including our Marine in his kilt. What an honor to have these dedicated firefighters take an afternoon to be there for us! Of course we offered them lunch and they were kind enough to show those who were interested how the pipes work, and Major Burkett got a 'hands-on' lesson for which I know he was grateful.
It was a very special cookout for all of those who attended. I find myself with 'sweaty eyeballs' whenever I hear bagpipes. But this was so much more....it was so personal.........and so generous of them to perform. I am blessed to say that Major Burkett and his wife Melissa and I have become friends and I hope and pray that friendship will be for all time. They are a very special family with beautiful children and beautiful Christian beliefs. They are a Godly family and I am a better person for their being in my life.
MY OLD FRIEND
11/7/12
There are advantages to working in a shopping mall. However, that was not evident to me until I had been in retail for nearly twenty-five years. Let me backtrack a moment.....The fact that my nephew had enlisted in the Marine Corps back in '02 was the beginning of a completely different mindset for me.....and influenced my interactions with veterans young and old. Though my father served in WWII in the Army, he never spoke of his time in the Philippines. Having a nephew in combat gave me a deeper appreciation for those who serve.
Many veterans wear a baseball-style cap, a 'cover' identifying the branch of military in which they served and where they served. One day an elderly gentleman entered the store where I worked. His 'cover' said WWII Iwo Jima Survivor. Without hesitating I approached him, held out my hand which he graciously shook, and I thanked him for his service. I asked if he would consider sharing his war stories with me and that was the beginning of a very special heartwarming friendship. That man was Sgt Gordon F. Ward. He often came to the mall on errands and we would always meet and I would sit entranced as he shared his wartime experiences, stories that took my breath away. More than one Corpsman died saving his life. (His story can be found in a biography written by his daughter Ana "Uncommon Survivor: From Sand to Bronze". ) How I cherished those visits.
Gordon spent weekends for many years in Arlington VA at the Iwo Jima Memorial sharing those stories with anyone who would listen.... and believe me, they did. Tourists from near and far, civilian and military, were thrilled to meet him and listen to his fascinating and frightening combat experiences. He was there nearly every weekend until his health would no longer allow. Then he and his wife sold their home and moved to an assisted living facility. I continued to visit Gordon, for our visits truly warmed my heart He used to joke with me that were he not married to Carmen he would marry me! His daughter Ana and I always laughed at his harmless flirtations....but he always had a twinkle is his beautiful bright blue eyes....
Gordon's health was failing. In his mid eighties he was becoming frail....but I also knew that the Marines take care of their own, do not let their brothers down and are there for them for as long as they are living. Then as God would have it, a message I sent to the local Marine Corps League brought it all together. Not one or two, but more than ten Marines offered to come visit for a surprise birthday celebration. It is hard to put into words the emotions that were palpable in that room.....a gathering of many residents, some veterans themselves. There were plenty of tears and memories shared. That was June 2010. Two more times the veteran Marines rallied to Gordon's side. Each of those three visits literally gave Gordon a new lease on life. That was the evidence that their 'brotherhood' was real. Gordon passed in June, 2011. Four days later my father passed. I missed Gordon's church memorial service as I was making plans for my father's funeral. I did have the honor of attending Gordon's burial service at Arlington National Cemetery. It was a heartbreaking time for me losing two very unique and special people in my life.
Nevertheless, I have my beloved memories of our hours sitting and talking, my asking question after question. Gordon's recollection of his time at war was flawless, his childhood and his years after serving our country as well. I feel blessed beyond measure that Gordon walked into my store that day and over those few years allowed me to see into his memory one of our most historical Marine Corps battles. He was a proud Marine grunt who lived as a Marine until his final breath.
DESTINY
10/31/12
Memories are often so clear in my mind that they are not memories at all but the present.
Memories are often so clear in my mind that they are not memories at all but the present.
It was 2005. I was
making daily visits to Bethesda Navy Medical Center (now
Walter Reed National Military Medical Center) to a wounded
Marine and his family. That young man is another story for
another time. It was the patient in the next room I am
recalling now. His name was Steven Diaz, also a Marine.
His injuries were severe.....shrapnel from an explosion
leaving him with injuries to his head, left leg, right
foot, the loss of an eye and traumatic brain injury.
Steven was in the hospital for 20 months recovering and
rehabilitating.
While there he was
awarded the Purple Heart by his Commandant, Gen. John
Hagee, which I was honored to attend
along with
Steven's parents. I felt so proud to witness this
demonstration of respect and appreciation for a wounded
Marine.
Having never been in a hospital setting prior to
my visits that spring, it was very unsettling. First,
seeing the patients in such horrific conditions......from
head to toe.....and of course hooked up to all sorts of
monitors. Steven's parents knew no one and I felt blessed
to have been there for them in this frightening time to
help bring calm with all the confusion around them. There
was such fear of the unknown for them....but for some
reason God chose me to be there to help calm the storm. At
that time I was not aware that it was God who had placed
me there......but in hindsight I realized that the many
months I spent with the few families I visited had a
purpose. Each of those families, and there were several,
expressed gratitude that I was there, helping to bring a
small amount of peace and comfort in a strange new world
of the ICU. So many of those wounded were near death. I
will never forget the first moment I stepped into that
ICU. It took my breath away at the urgency all around me.
A day or two and I felt as if I had been there for years.
God gave me the words and the strength to ease the fear in
these families and for that I was thankful.
Steven, after
being discharged from the hospital, went home to South
Carolina. He worked and attended college. But the Lord had
plans for Steven too. In 2010 a young Marine and the
brother of a high school friend, reached out to Steven. He
was suffering with severe Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
(PTSD). Having not served in the military myself and never
been in combat nor seen the horrors of war I cannot begin
to understand the emotions these young men/women are
living with. Mills Bigham committed suicide shortly after
reaching out for help. That was the catalyst that brought
Steven and his high school friend Anna Bigham together to
create a non-profit organization specifically to treat our
warriors with 'hidden wounds'........to address the
enormous need to treat those psychological wounds that are
not evident to those around them. That was 2010. Now
Hidden Wounds has become a driving force in the new realm
of treating our returning warriors and those who have been
home for some time who are suffering from PTSD and TBI.
(Traumatic Brain Injury).
My reason for
writing this story is that it is one from the past
positively influencing the present and the future. I have
met quite a few patients at Walter Reed who have expressed
a deep desire to educate themselves in order to treat
those with 'hidden wounds'. From young lance corporals to
majors in the Marine Corps.....so many want to give back.
As they struggle with their own illnesses they know that
they are the best source of understanding.....someone who
has 'been there and done that'. Time and time again I hear
that those warriors with such heavy burdens want to unload
those burdens but not unless it is with someone who can
relate to their pain. Steven and Hidden Wounds are making
a difference. After all, that is why we are all here. To
make a difference in the lives of our brothers and
sisters.
I thank God daily
for the gift of opportunity He has given me.
Now that I am
retired from work I plan to use that gift in as many ways
as I possibly can. Writing about my friends, acquaintances
and experiences with our outstanding wounded and their
families is one way I can share their stories and my
blessings, the highs and lows, but mostly the highs. I
have met some remarkable patriots over the last few years
at Walter Reed. I hope by sharing this story with you
it is evident how
my life has been impacted by their service and sacrifice.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)