DELAWARE VOLUNTEERS VISIT WALTER REED

DELAWARE VOLUNTEERS VISIT WALTER REED

In order to relate the story of the Marines Helping Marines cookout on August 22, 2013 I have to travel back in time a couple of years.  I also need to emphasize how the internet has impacted the last ten years of my life.  How the Lord connects people and circumstances is something that never ceases to amaze me.  This story starts with a friend of mine  in Michigan who maintains a large internet network of people supporting our troops.   One very special person on her email list is a man in Delaware who himself has an extensive email distribution list sharing prayer requests and news about our troops.  That man, Dan Dobson, is a Vietnam Air Force veteran and a compassionate patriot who loves his country and our wounded warriors.

A few months ago I received a request from Marines Helping Marines seeking sponsors for our monthly cookouts at Walter Reed which I in turn forwarded to my email list.   One of the recipients of that request was Dan, with Trinity Logistics in Seaford, Delaware.   Dan presented the request to the employees of Trinity and their response was overwhelmingly positive.   He informed me that each employee pays into a fund that is designated for supporting a worthy cause.   You have no idea how blessed I felt when he contacted me that the vote was unanimous....they wanted to sponsor our cookout for August and not only that, they wanted participate by driving down to Maryland to meet and serve our wounded warriors and their families.

Thirteen of them were able to make the trip......employees and a few family members.  Trinity is a very family oriented company which employs multiple generations of families.   They arose early to leave Delaware at 7am and arrived safely at Walter Reed around 9am.   I had time to explain the buffet set up procedure while we awaited the arrival of the MHM Veterans who were bringing the equipment and the food.  This was a first for the team from Trinity......spending time with severely wounded Soldiers and Marines, and they were looking forward to taking part in serving our guests, who number around one hundred and fifty.

For the first time this season the veterans with the supplies were running late!   There is quite a lot of organization and labor involved in the preparation........ setting up tables,  arranging the order of the many courses,  cutting dozens of trays of fresh fruits and veggies, grilling  the  steaks, chicken, kababs, burgers and hotdogs .....six long tables arranged with a wide variety of side dishes including desserts, cookies and brownies baked by our volunteers.     What was most impressive was that with all those helping hands we were set up in record time.....less than forty-five minutes.  Normally it takes well over an hour but we were ready with time to spare!    That's how determined and enthusiastic our volunteers were!!!

11:30am.   Time for our guests to arrive.....a nonstop procession of warriors with wheelchairs, crutches, Segways and gurneys accompanied by their families with children and strollers.  They filled their plates and sat to relax and enjoy a real barbecue, a welcome change from their daily hospital fare.   It was extremely hot that day.....over ninety in the shade.....but the heat did not dampen spirits in the least.   Each of the volunteers from Trinity was grateful to have been in the presence of such true American heroes.  As Dan so aptly wrote when he returned home,  "Team Trinity was honored to host a lavish barbeque for our Wounded Warriors and their families at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center Building 62. If the cowardly enemy who have maimed these troops think they have broken their spirit, that delusion joins the many that cloud their perverted minds. We were humbled by these men and women who represent the finest we have to offer. They have set the gold standard for perseverance in the face of what many would see as insurmountable odds. God has blessed them as they have given so much for so many of us. It was inspiring to meet them and serve them."

Volunteering is a beautiful opportunity to serve God...... there is no greater sense of reward than serving others.   Whether it is wounded warriors or a special need in one's community, the mission is to provide for their needs.  This is just one of many stories of  groups or individuals who have stepped up to the plate when they saw a chance to give back to our wounded service men and women.   Trinity Logistics was instrumental in lifting the spirits of those who attended the cookout that day.   They shared with me that this event was an experience they would never forget and they look forward  to returning  next summer.  

AN INJURED MARINE'S FAMILY AND THEIR DOGS

AN INJURED MARINE'S FAMILY AND THEIR DOGS

It all started back in March 2012 when Major Eric Burkett was severely injured while piloting his Osprey Tiltrotor helicopter that crashed during a training mission in Morocco.    (You may recall a previous column I wrote last November entitled "Kilts and Bagpipes"... about Major Burkett and the MCFD Pipes and Drums).   This journey began when he was flown to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center - Bethesda.   His family, living in Jacksonville, NC immediately came to the hospital to be at his side.   His family consists of his wife and four adorable children.  Left behind were their two dogs Honor and Izzie, English setters that are inseparable.

This is the story of Honor and Izzie, two English Setters,  and how their lives were altered since Eric was injured.   It was necessary to place them in a kennel in NC indefinitely with the future completely uncertain.   That was sixteen months ago and the family is  still living here as Eric prepares for another surgery this week which will require remaining here for another ten to twelve months.

Eric's wife Melissa has returned to NC many times since he was admitted to the hospital to check on the dogs and to retrieve items needed for the lengthy stay here in Maryland.   A few of those trips allowed her and the kids and sometimes Eric, to stay for a few days....an opportunity to bring Honor and Izzie home from the kennel.   However, for almost the entire time they have been here the dogs have been there in the kennel.  Thankfully that kennel was a loving one where they could remain together with spacious quarters and plenty of room to exercise.   Nevertheless, they were far away from the family who loved them and the separation was difficult for everyone including the dogs.

Fast forward to July 2013.   Realizing that the family would not be moving back to NC for quite some time they decided to find a kennel in Maryland which would allow them to visit Honor and Izzie regularly.   Some very close friends, the Mallarys, who live in Maryland, had a kennel on the property adjacent to theirs.   How perfect!!!   Next door to friends whose home they already visited frequently.     The dogs were moved up here in June  hoping this would be the best possible solution for everyone.   You can imagine how hard it was for their children to be separated from their 'best friends' for so long.

Sadly, this solution was not the final one.  The kennel was less than satisfactory.  Too small, lack of space, and not enough attention.  It was painful for the family to see their dogs in such a setting and something needed to change.   Researching other arrangements Melissa found and related to me the existence of organizations that match foster homes with military pets, a service I had no idea existed, but a service that is surely a blessing to those military families that often cannot take their pets with them for a year or more when they transfer locations.    Foster families will take the pets on a extended temporary basis so the pets do not have to be given away permanently.   What a beautiful concept!!!    This is where this story really gets interesting..........

August 1, 2013.   First thing in the morning I checked my Facebook page, and there was a message from Rick Blandford, manager of the Pipe and Drum band which read,   "This is the longest I've been without a dog in my life.  Next week I will be looking for a 'loner dog' to take to the river....must be a large dog that loves water.  I will return him clean and tired".   That post sparked an idea in my mind.....perhaps Rick and his wife Bonnie would consider being foster parents for the Burkett's two dogs!!!   Keep in mind Eric and Rick had met at the first cookout last year so they were not strangers.     I sent a message to Rick inquiring if they would consider taking the Burkett's two dogs for as long as needed.   Rick said he would check with Bonnie.   My heart was so excited at the possibility!!!   Rick wrote back asking about the dogs and whether they are used to being around cats since Bonnie has two cats.     I got the necessary information from Melissa and forwarded it to Rick.    My anticipation was growing by the minute!   Then, on Sunday, the 4th, Rick came to visit the Burketts at the barracks where they live to discuss the details.

Later that evening when I met with Eric and Melissa and asked how things were looking, I got the awesome news......this Thursday, August 8th, the day before Eric's surgery, Rick and Bonnie will be picking up Honor and Izzie at the kennel to bring them to their home.....a real home with a real family and a large fenced in yard.....praise be to God!!!  Only He could choreograph all of this...........from one kennel to another to a message on Facebook that would bring all if this together.   Days later and I am still in complete awe of how the Lord can do absolutely anything!!  

There is one little detail I saved for last.  When Eric and Rick first met,  Eric had inquired about learning to play the bagpipes.   Due to  their busy schedules, a year has passed with no opportunity for that to happen.   With the dogs at Rick's home, there will be many visits and many hours to learn to play the bagpipes!!!!   So things really did come together in many many ways.  As Rick so beautifully posted on Facebook on Sunday evening...."A few days ago I was looking for a loaner dog, today I meet with a USMC Major who will be at Walter Reed for ten more months while he gets a new leg.  Bonnie Blandford, Erik Blandford and I just got the honor to be foster parents for his two dogs......how cool."   Did I shed a few tears?  You bet I did!!!

To be honest, the true benefit of having the Burketts here for so long is that I have been blessed with their friendship, getting to really know their kids and love them more than  I can express.   They are a big part of my life and I am so thankful for our friendship.   Above all, I thank God for guiding all of our lives and bringing us together.   He is so wise!!!