THE WOUNDED WARRIOR MARINE CORPS BALL NOVEMBER 2013

THE WOUNDED WARRIOR MARINE CORPS BALL  NOVEMBER 2013

An invitation to the Wounded Warrior Marine Corps Ball that was held last week had to be one of the highlights of my life!   Having been to the ball two years ago, I knew what to expect.   There is nothing like military tradition, and the Marine Corps does it best.

As you know, my life pretty much revolves around our Marines through care packages and precious time spent with some of our wounded warriors and their families at Walter Reed.   One of those families, the Burketts, you have read about in previous articles.   It was the Burketts who invited me to attend the ball with them this year, Major Burkett, his wife Melissa and their two oldest children Keenan, 10 and Josilyn 7.  

Of course the preparation starts weeks in advance, including shopping for formal attire and hair and nail appointments for the ladies.
Thankfully I did not have to shop for something to wear, as I have an outfit that has served me well over the years and since I rarely have a need for something formal I make do with what I have.  But that is not the case for the ladies of Walter Reed, the wives, mothers and girlfriends.   They do not come to the hospital prepared for such occasions.   The hard work of one woman, Jodi Bouck Warshel made the ball gown selection miraculous by locating sources that were willing to donate magnificent gowns and accessories.... and it was an enormous success.  Dozens of them....brand new with the tags still on them were sent to the hospital for a gown event for any of the women who would need them.....and they came in all sizes and colors......many of the ladies are in varying degrees of pregnancy.    They all found exactly what they needed.   What huge hearts the donors have and one store supplied the majority of the gowns!

I wanted to find a way to contribute something to the ladies for this special evening.   I was blessed to locate two hair salons in our area with hairdressers who were more than willing to donate their time to give our ladies the fancy hairdos required for a Ball.   They outdid themselves.   Thirteen ladies signed up for appointments and I knew only three of them.   However I did get to meet them on our way to the ball, and each of them looked exceptionally beautiful.   The hairdressers who volunteered to style the lady's hair were so thankful to be asked.........so willing to participate in making the night special in any way they could.    We just don't realize how many folks are out there who want to contribute and simply need to be asked!!!

The highlight of the evening was our guest of honor,   Medal of Honor recipient Sgt Dakota Meyer.  I had a brief moment to shake his had and thank him for his outstanding actions in Afghanistan, but of course he had little time to spend with any one person.   I also reunited with an old friend, LtCol Mike Corrado, singer/wongwriter of "Still in the Fight" and we had lots of news to catch up on.  For me, the most moving aspect of the evening was being surrounded by wounded warriors.   A ballroom filled with Marines in their dress uniforms, many in wheelchairs, but all of them sharing a night to remember.  For many it was their first ball and for many it would be their last as they would be discharged before the ball next year.  

The most beautiful tradition is the cutting of the elaborately decorated Marine Corps Birthday cake.   Cutting the cake with a sword,  the first piece is presented to the guest of honor,  the second piece presented to the oldest Marine present and the third to the youngest, signifying the passing on of years of experience from the eldest Marine to the youngest.   Then everyone enjoyed a piece of the birthday cake and the party began....lots of music and dancing.   Nothing can match the sight of Marines in their wheelchairs or with crutches on the dance floor with their ladies.  The determination and sheer will of a Marine will not allow them to sit on the sidelines when there is action on the dance floor.   And let me tell you, they can dance!   Not being much of a dancer myself,  I thoroughly enjoyed taking it all in, and also watching Major Burkett and Melissa dance a few slow numbers.   It truly did my heart good to be in the presence of such great Americans who would never consider missing a Ball due to their injuries.   However, there were many who could not attend because their injuries would not allow them to be with us, but the chaplain remembered them and their fallen brothers  in prayer when the ceremony began.   Of course all good things must come to an end, at by eleven it was time to head back to the hospital with many new memories etched in my heart for a lifetime.

Again, I wonder at the path my life has taken.   Each and every person, event, situation, is all mapped out by God and I am merely following His lead.   Again I look back at the last eleven years of involvement with our Marine Corps and I am in awe of how the Lord has arranged my life and all that it has become.   I am blessed......and so very thankful.   And speaking of thankful, this is the month of thanksgiving.......so I am giving thanks and I would like to wish all of you a blessed and plentiful Thanksgiving.   May God be with you always as He has been with me.