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.
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