A NIGHT TO REMEMBER
Radio promotion for this particular show started four months ago
and I hoped to obtain tickets for our combat injured warriors and their
families by contacting radio station ShineFM in Baltimore. Three weeks
prior to the show at the 1st Marina Arena I got the call that the
tickets were available and went into action putting it all together.
The logistics of coordinating people and transportation to and from
such an event is always a challenge that I enjoy tackling. I want to
share with you what transpired last evening while it is fresh in my
mind. It was very evident throughout the day and evening that God was
walking with us.
The event was a Chris Tomlin concert and for those of you who are not
familiar with him, he is one of the most popular recording artists in
the genre of contemporary Christian worship music. The concert was
taking place in Baltimore, about 45 minutes from Walter Reed on a good
day with good weather. (You may have heard on the national news that
the MD/DC/VA area has been selected as having the worst traffic in the
entire country). The weather forecast was for snow and freezing rain
but we started praying for good driving conditions as soon as the
tickets were ours.
First came the phone calls to invite those who were interested in
attending the concert. With thirty seats to fill, I reached out to lots
of wounded warriors and their families. The problem is that often
schedules change at the last minute due to hospital appointments and
procedures so some who want to come find out last minute that they
cannot attend while others wait until the last minute to say yes for the
same reasons. Once there was a head count the transportation was
organized. Thanks be to God, my beautiful friends the Mallarys run a
non-profit 'Truckin4Troops' that specialize in transporting our wounded
warriors with vehicles that are adapted for wheelchairs. (They have
several vehicles for transportation but one in particular that they
planned to use for this evening). God was truly working in this
situation because the vehicle scheduled to be used died in their
driveway.....when those problems might have occurred at the end of the
evening in a distant garage! Two other vehicles replaced that one and
they arrived at their destination without further issues !!!! During
the afternoon we had icy rain and flurries but the Lord heard our
prayers and there was only rain to and from the arena.
The 1st Mariner Arena needed a head and wheelchair count in order for us
to be seated together and to accommodate the wheelchairs. Meanwhile,
the headcount kept changing. Even as late as the afternoon of the show
the head count changed. Truckin4Troops is over an hour away from
Walter Reed and needed to be at the hospital early to arrive in
Baltimore by 7pm, showtime!!! Some guests were driving separately.
I needed to be in the foyer of the arena early to distribute the
tickets. With guests arriving from various locations in bumper to
bumper traffic it would have been a miracle for everyone to reach there
on time.......but they did and the show started just as we were seated.
We are all Chris Tomlin fans so we were looking forward to a spectacular
evening and that is exactly what we were treated to. There were over
9000 children of God in that arena swaying to the music, lifting their
arms reaching up to the Lord.......all of us feeling the Holy Spirit
deep in our hearts and souls as we sang along with Chris, listened to
the words and let the inspiration flow over us. Have you ever been in
a place where there are 9000 lovers of Jesus Christ all singing and
shouting to the Lord and praising God? I can tell you there is no other
experience like it...... tears flow and hearts soar........two solid
hours of praising the Lord and singing as one. I am always moved
through song in church on Sunday mornings with 150 in our sanctuary, so
a crowd of this size makes an impact and we know the Lord is smiling
down on us!!! It was glorious, truly glorious.
One of our guests Tweeted Chris Tomlin and asked if he would acknowledge
our wounded warriors by name and before the show was over he did just
that and thanked them for their service. The applause was
deafening........and tearful. I felt such pride for them and their
families as the applause went on and on. Sadly it was time for this
worship filled evening to come to an end but the audience was not ready
to go home. A standing ovation that lasted minutes brought Chris back
on stage for another three songs and the audience roared with delight.
Truckin4Troops carried their precious cargo back to Walter Reed and
the rest of us went home.........with our hearts filled and our spirits
high and fresh memories that are etched in our minds forever.
Sunday, February 24, 2013
Friday, February 22, 2013
AUTO DECALS
AUTO DECALS
If you saw my Honda on the road you would notice it for sure although it is the very same model and color that thousands of others drive, my 2005 charcoal grey Civic is very distinctive. It might be mistaken for a car belonging to a US Marine or perhaps a recruiter. Actually the recruiter's cars are tame in comparison.
My Honda has window decals on both sides and multiple ones on the rear window. It also has a license plate frame that says "United States Marines". There are the circular emblems on the side windows and bumper stickers on the rear windows with the words "Semper Fi" or "Marines" in standard red and yellow. There are others from Marine Corps organizations that I support such as the Semper Fi Fund. There is one very small decal that only someone who has served in a particular unit would recognize. It is a sniper platoon
decal that was designed by the unit that created it. It was a gift to me several yeas ago from one of their Marines, a good friend who used to serve with my nephew when they were in 3rd Bn/6th Marines and who is still active duty though has had many other specialties and duty stations since his days as a sniper with 3/6 back in '06.
As you know, I live not far from Walter Reed. There are many wounded warriors who are living in the area, off base, but close enough to get to the hospital for rehabilitation and medical appointments.
This story took place over a year ago. I was on my way to work and waiting at a red light when a big Dodge truck pulled up in the lane next to mine on my right. I glanced at them and somehow sensed that those were Marines in that truck but I couldn't tell you why....there were no decals, nothing to give me that impression. There was the driver and a couple in the back seat but I could not see any of them clearly. In my peripheral vision I saw their rear window roll down so I lowered mine on the passenger side. The young man in the back yelled and asked if I was a sniper! I was completely surprised as I yelled back that he was the first person to ever identify that decal and he shouted to me that he and the driver of that truck were both snipers!!! I replied that it was given to me by a friend in appreciation for the care packages I had sent when he was deployed. I thanked him for his service as the light changed and off we went figuring I would never see them again. We both headed in the same direction but I turned into the mall to go to work and they did not.
An hour or so later three people walked into my store. A single man with a slightly younger couple and again I sensed they were Marines but also had a hunch they might be the same ones that had spoken to on the way to work. Knowing how the Lord is constantly connecting people in my life by aligning their paths with mine, of course they were the same three I had met at the light. I now had the honor of conversing with two wounded warriors/snipers face to face who were in the later stages of recovery at Walter Reed. They just happened to be with my nephew's old battalion, 3/6, but several years later! So, what are the odds of making new friends simply by displaying a tiny decal on my car window? Only God can answer that question!
We stayed in touch, they visited the store now and then, but have now moved out of the area and on with their lives as civilians.
Just another little incident that brings the Marine Corps and my life together in a special way that I will always remember. I am sorry to say that I have lost touch with both of them and I pray that their lives are on track, their recoveries are going smoothly and they are achieving the goals they set for themselves now that they are medically discharged. I pray that for all of our wounded warriors and their transitions from inpatient to outpatient. I also pray that we will meet again.
If you saw my Honda on the road you would notice it for sure although it is the very same model and color that thousands of others drive, my 2005 charcoal grey Civic is very distinctive. It might be mistaken for a car belonging to a US Marine or perhaps a recruiter. Actually the recruiter's cars are tame in comparison.
My Honda has window decals on both sides and multiple ones on the rear window. It also has a license plate frame that says "United States Marines". There are the circular emblems on the side windows and bumper stickers on the rear windows with the words "Semper Fi" or "Marines" in standard red and yellow. There are others from Marine Corps organizations that I support such as the Semper Fi Fund. There is one very small decal that only someone who has served in a particular unit would recognize. It is a sniper platoon
decal that was designed by the unit that created it. It was a gift to me several yeas ago from one of their Marines, a good friend who used to serve with my nephew when they were in 3rd Bn/6th Marines and who is still active duty though has had many other specialties and duty stations since his days as a sniper with 3/6 back in '06.
As you know, I live not far from Walter Reed. There are many wounded warriors who are living in the area, off base, but close enough to get to the hospital for rehabilitation and medical appointments.
This story took place over a year ago. I was on my way to work and waiting at a red light when a big Dodge truck pulled up in the lane next to mine on my right. I glanced at them and somehow sensed that those were Marines in that truck but I couldn't tell you why....there were no decals, nothing to give me that impression. There was the driver and a couple in the back seat but I could not see any of them clearly. In my peripheral vision I saw their rear window roll down so I lowered mine on the passenger side. The young man in the back yelled and asked if I was a sniper! I was completely surprised as I yelled back that he was the first person to ever identify that decal and he shouted to me that he and the driver of that truck were both snipers!!! I replied that it was given to me by a friend in appreciation for the care packages I had sent when he was deployed. I thanked him for his service as the light changed and off we went figuring I would never see them again. We both headed in the same direction but I turned into the mall to go to work and they did not.
An hour or so later three people walked into my store. A single man with a slightly younger couple and again I sensed they were Marines but also had a hunch they might be the same ones that had spoken to on the way to work. Knowing how the Lord is constantly connecting people in my life by aligning their paths with mine, of course they were the same three I had met at the light. I now had the honor of conversing with two wounded warriors/snipers face to face who were in the later stages of recovery at Walter Reed. They just happened to be with my nephew's old battalion, 3/6, but several years later! So, what are the odds of making new friends simply by displaying a tiny decal on my car window? Only God can answer that question!
We stayed in touch, they visited the store now and then, but have now moved out of the area and on with their lives as civilians.
Just another little incident that brings the Marine Corps and my life together in a special way that I will always remember. I am sorry to say that I have lost touch with both of them and I pray that their lives are on track, their recoveries are going smoothly and they are achieving the goals they set for themselves now that they are medically discharged. I pray that for all of our wounded warriors and their transitions from inpatient to outpatient. I also pray that we will meet again.
Thursday, February 14, 2013
CROSSING PATHS
CROSSING PATHS
A few years ago my pastor announced that a member of our congregation would be delivering the Sunday message while he was out of town. He introduced Lee Becknell, a former Navy chaplain who had deployed with the US Marine Corps. As you know by now, that was all I needed to hear to tweak my interest!!!!
Wanting to learn more I introduced myself to Lee after the service and asked what unit he served with. He had been chaplain with 2nd LAR (2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance). I asked if he knew their chaplain to whom I was currently shipping care packages, Ray Rivers. He told me the two of them were together in Afghanistan for a few weeks as Lee was transitioning to come home and Ray was transitioning in for his tour. The situation was extremely dangerous at that time. Combat was at it's peak and their service as chaplains was demanding, draining and emotional. Lee and I spoke briefly about his tour and his years as chaplain with the MC and remarked what a small world the Marine Corps is after all !!
When I arrived home from church that Sunday I did what I typically do. I fixed a little lunch and settled down with the Sunday Washington Post. As I flipped through the paper I came across a full page article with photographs of a chaplain serving with his Marines in combat. The interview just happened to feature Ray Rivers and the 2nd LAR! It was an in-depth story of the life of a chaplain in a combat atmosphere. Keeping the faith in dire and heart breaking situations, dealing with the needs of his troops, their families, financial, religious and many other matters. The high intensity of their surroundings and the depth of these interactions can remain with them long after they return home, if not forever. I did send Ray and his wife copies of the paper so they could share them with friends and family.
It never ceases to amaze me how I seem to be connected to so many people whose paths have crossed before they crossed mine! About the same time there was another chaplain I became friends with through the care packages, Terry Roberts, who served with 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment. A funny thing happened when Terry deployed. I tried to call him the day he was leaving but he had left his cell phone with his mom in Ohio and it was she who answered the phone. We struck up a conversation that led to the most wonderful friendship via telephone throughout his deployment and beyond. With so many friends in North Carolina I often thought I should spend a week down there and try to meet up with so many of the people I knew via emails and phones.
My nephew the Marine had settled in NC after getting out of the MC and lived not that far from his parents. He was getting married and the wedding was to be on a Saturday with the next day being Mother's Day. What a perfect time to invite the chaplains and other MC friends out to my sister's home for a little gathering. As I look back it seems hard to believe that was nearly three years ago. Ray and Terry were both able to come. Ray brought his wife and five wonderful children and Terry brought his parents who happened to be in town for a short time. One of my first contacts for care packages back in 2004, SgtMaj Courtney Curtis was able to make it as well. Courtney had been to Maryland a couple of times previously so we already knew each other and he and his wife had invited me to dinner a year or two earlier while we were there for one of my nephew's homecomings. What a gathering it was for some of us to meet for the first time and for my family to meet some of my 'military' family. It was a Mother's Day none of us would forget the day after a wedding we would never forget!!! We learned so much about one another and we were so grateful to be together........to give thanks to God for what we have....each other and the blessing of fellowship. To this day I remain in contact with these three wonderful friends and their families. Again I am aware of how God is working in our lives by bringing us together.
Thursday, February 7, 2013
NEW YEARS EVE PHONE CALL
NEW YEARS EVE PHONE CALL
It was New Years Eve 2007, soon to be 2008 in just a couple of hours. I had my work cut out for me. A fire in my apartment building a few weeks before and all my belongings had gone to the dry cleaner that specialized in removing smoke from everything. I was concentrating on separating everything for each closet, a long and tedious job I dreaded but it seemed the perfect time to get it done.
Suddenly the phone rang and I couldn't find the phone......it was buried under a heap of clothes. When I finally found it and answered with the usual 'Hello?" I heard an unfamiliar voice say "Hello?" and it seemed neither of us heard a familiar voice. I repeated my "Hello" and then he did the same. Finally I asked what number the caller was dialing and he repeated my phone number! I explained that he had the correct number which I have had for over thirty years, so I asked who he was trying to reach and he told me he was calling to wish his wife a Happy New Year. I asked from where he was calling and he said Iraq! Well, naturally I was taken aback and felt terrible for him that he could not reach his wife to offer his wishes for the holiday.
However, hearing where he was calling from I had other questions I wanted to ask. What branch of the military, what state was he stationed out of, how long was he in Iraq and were there a significant number of troops at his location. I explained that the reason I was asking all these questions was because I support our deployed troops with care packages. We introduced ourselves and his name was David Young. He was an electronics specialist with the Army and stationed out of Wash. DC with a Reserve Unit out of the DC Armory. And here I was in Maryland, we were practically neighbors! He told me there were several units at his location and I offered to take care of those soldiers with care packages if there was a need for them. He said they were receiving very little mail and no packages at all. Of course I was sitting there with a mile wide smile on my face, knowing that this call was not a coincidence at all........that only God could have arranged this 'wrong/right' phone number.
Those soldiers had another six months in Iraq and I was blessed to be able to bring much joy to them for the remainder of their deployment. David was kind enough to take each box and deliver it to a different unit, and there were ten boxes that he shared with his brothers and sisters in arms. We stayed in touch via the internet and with each care package I got a wonderful email telling me how thankful they were to be the recipients of boxes filled with non-perishable food, toiletries, socks and magazines from someone who did not know them at all.
As for reaching his wife that New Years Eve, I had suggested perhaps a different area code which he tried and actually did reach her that night as intended! We corresponded for several months after he returned home but then he moved out of the area and we lost touch. I hope he and his family are well and healthy and happy where ever they are. I do know that is one New Years Eve I will never forget. Usually I have to reach out to obtain the contacts for the packages I ship. This time the contact came to me.....via a phone call from Iraq! Thank you Lord, once again, for connecting the dots, for connecting David to me!
It was New Years Eve 2007, soon to be 2008 in just a couple of hours. I had my work cut out for me. A fire in my apartment building a few weeks before and all my belongings had gone to the dry cleaner that specialized in removing smoke from everything. I was concentrating on separating everything for each closet, a long and tedious job I dreaded but it seemed the perfect time to get it done.
Suddenly the phone rang and I couldn't find the phone......it was buried under a heap of clothes. When I finally found it and answered with the usual 'Hello?" I heard an unfamiliar voice say "Hello?" and it seemed neither of us heard a familiar voice. I repeated my "Hello" and then he did the same. Finally I asked what number the caller was dialing and he repeated my phone number! I explained that he had the correct number which I have had for over thirty years, so I asked who he was trying to reach and he told me he was calling to wish his wife a Happy New Year. I asked from where he was calling and he said Iraq! Well, naturally I was taken aback and felt terrible for him that he could not reach his wife to offer his wishes for the holiday.
However, hearing where he was calling from I had other questions I wanted to ask. What branch of the military, what state was he stationed out of, how long was he in Iraq and were there a significant number of troops at his location. I explained that the reason I was asking all these questions was because I support our deployed troops with care packages. We introduced ourselves and his name was David Young. He was an electronics specialist with the Army and stationed out of Wash. DC with a Reserve Unit out of the DC Armory. And here I was in Maryland, we were practically neighbors! He told me there were several units at his location and I offered to take care of those soldiers with care packages if there was a need for them. He said they were receiving very little mail and no packages at all. Of course I was sitting there with a mile wide smile on my face, knowing that this call was not a coincidence at all........that only God could have arranged this 'wrong/right' phone number.
Those soldiers had another six months in Iraq and I was blessed to be able to bring much joy to them for the remainder of their deployment. David was kind enough to take each box and deliver it to a different unit, and there were ten boxes that he shared with his brothers and sisters in arms. We stayed in touch via the internet and with each care package I got a wonderful email telling me how thankful they were to be the recipients of boxes filled with non-perishable food, toiletries, socks and magazines from someone who did not know them at all.
As for reaching his wife that New Years Eve, I had suggested perhaps a different area code which he tried and actually did reach her that night as intended! We corresponded for several months after he returned home but then he moved out of the area and we lost touch. I hope he and his family are well and healthy and happy where ever they are. I do know that is one New Years Eve I will never forget. Usually I have to reach out to obtain the contacts for the packages I ship. This time the contact came to me.....via a phone call from Iraq! Thank you Lord, once again, for connecting the dots, for connecting David to me!
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