LIVING HISTORY
Have you ever read an article somewhere that was so unusual that it
stuck in the back of your mind and keeps coming to the surface every now
and then? That is what I want to share with you today. There was a
story of a young boy who asked his grandfather to come to his elementary
class and tell his schoolmates about his service in the Army. All I
could think about was how mesmerized those students must have been
hearing those stories firsthand instead of from a history book. How
exciting and how real....bringing history to life!!!!! That article
remained buried in my memory for a few years before it popped up again
in 2009.
You know by now that I have a great love and appreciation for our
veterans of all generations. I love to share with my readers how their
lives have impacted mine or how their service has changed their own
lives. It occurred to me that perhaps the local high schools might
benefit from hearing those stories firsthand just as the class of that
little boy many years ago. It was time to do some research.
I sat down and made a list of all the local high schools.....then called
each school's resource department inquiring as to whether they would be
interested in veterans coming to speak to their history classes. I
learned that the speakers would need to coincide with the curriculum as
it progressed through the school year and that would be in the spring,
closer to Easter and not too far from the end of the school year. Of
course any speakers would be from WWII or later. Several schools were
very enthusiastic about my idea so I started reaching out to veterans.
Thank goodness for the internet and the many Marine Corps and military
forums that I frequent. Working in retail in a mall also allowed me to
meet veterans too. I put ads in a couple of magazines and posted my
request in as many places as possible. Within a couple of weeks I had
a terrific list of several veterans, from WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Desert
Storm and Iraq. I have to say I was pretty excited that this was
working out!!! The one drawback for me was that I could not be in
class for most of the visits because I was working.
However, there were two Vietnam veteran speakers whose classes I was
able to attend and I was, without a doubt, as mesmerized as the high
school kids. One very special speaker happened to be a friend as well,
Everett Alvarez, longest held POW in Vietnam, eight and one half years.
His story was spellbinding to say the least. You could have heard a
pin drop and there were four classes gathered together in the cafeteria
to hear him speak. The details of his incarceration in the Hanoi
Hilton was breathtaking. I was so incredibly grateful that Everett
took time from his busy schedule to speak to the students.
Another speaker of that era spoke of the history of Vietnam before,
during and after the war. It was a history lesson that was far more
interesting in person than from a textbook. Even the teacher was
completely absorbed by his delivery. The other classes at other
schools I was not able to hear, but the teachers contacted me and
thanked me for bringing the living history to their classrooms. They
sent thank you notes to the speakers and hoped to repeat the experiences
in the future.
Sadly the next year the weather reeked havoc on the curriculum....too
many snow days so there was no time for extra curricular special
lessons. It turned out to be a one semester endeavor and then I was so
involved with the care packages that I let it go. I do believe I need
to attempt to repeat the project.
Perhaps there are some of you reading this article who might consider
volunteering to speak at the schools of your children or grandchildren.
I know it would be a wonderful experience for everyone involved. So
many veterans have such meaningful stories to tell......some have never
been told before and some have been repeated many times........but to
the ears of the children....all ages........those stories may be what
triggers a deeper interest in our country's history!!! Think about it!!!
Friday, June 7, 2013
Monday, May 20, 2013
MEMORIAL DAY.....WHAT IS WAS AND WHAT IT SHOULD BE
MEMORIAL DAY.....WHAT IT WAS AND WHAT IT SHOULD BE
In the 1860's a day of remembrance was declared, Decoration Day, to honor those who have died in our nation's service during the Civil War. Memorial Day was officially proclaimed in May 1868 and after WWI the holiday was changed from honoring the Civil War dead to honoring Americans who died fighting in any war.
Sadly the majority of Americans look forward to Memorial Weekend as the beginning of their summer holiday, three months of sun, fun, cookouts, sales in the stores and partying. School is out and all things serious are put aside until the fall when school resumes. Even our administration in Washington, our nation's leaders, rush out of town for the summer. They head for their home states for three months, appearing in the media for 'photo ops' in parades on holidays like Memorial Day, Independence Day, Veteran's Day. I do believe that there are a handful of them who honestly revere these holidays and know in their hearts the true meaning of those holidays and I thank them for being an example to the population at large.
For those families who have lost a father, brother, uncle, mother, sister, cousin.......their memorial candle shines brightly in their darkness. Their sadness and loss is real and they are offended by the lack of patriotism and honor that should be accorded to their lost loved ones on this special holiday........and they live it every day of their lives.
In December 2000 a resolution was passed which asks Americans "to voluntarily and informally observe in their own way a Moment of Remembrance and respect, pausing from whatever they are doing, for a moment of silence or listening to 'Taps' at 3pm on Memorial Day. It is a step in the right direction to bring awareness to the purpose of this holiday.
When Congress made the day into a three day weekend in 1971 it made it easy for people to be distracted from the true meaning of Memorial Day. If it were officially observed on it's original May 30 every year, perhaps Americans would treat the day as the solemn, even sacred day that it deserves.
We, as Americans, owe everything to our fallen, no matter the war or the generation. My involvement with our wounded warriors and their families, hearing their stories and seeing the pain for their lost brothers, keeps that reverence alive in me every day. All Americans, whether personally connected to the military or not, should never forget those who have laid down their lives for the freedoms that we enjoy every day.
I have always felt that the greeting "Happy Memorial Day" was completely inappropriate. I prefer to remind people to remember the reason for their long holiday weekend. I pray that the citizens of this great country will take a few moments to let their minds wander back over the decades of many wars and the many thousands who gave their lives for America. It is the very least we can do. I pray that at 3pm on May 30 America will remember and say a little prayer of gratitude. I wish you a blessed and meaningful Memorial Day.
In the 1860's a day of remembrance was declared, Decoration Day, to honor those who have died in our nation's service during the Civil War. Memorial Day was officially proclaimed in May 1868 and after WWI the holiday was changed from honoring the Civil War dead to honoring Americans who died fighting in any war.
Sadly the majority of Americans look forward to Memorial Weekend as the beginning of their summer holiday, three months of sun, fun, cookouts, sales in the stores and partying. School is out and all things serious are put aside until the fall when school resumes. Even our administration in Washington, our nation's leaders, rush out of town for the summer. They head for their home states for three months, appearing in the media for 'photo ops' in parades on holidays like Memorial Day, Independence Day, Veteran's Day. I do believe that there are a handful of them who honestly revere these holidays and know in their hearts the true meaning of those holidays and I thank them for being an example to the population at large.
For those families who have lost a father, brother, uncle, mother, sister, cousin.......their memorial candle shines brightly in their darkness. Their sadness and loss is real and they are offended by the lack of patriotism and honor that should be accorded to their lost loved ones on this special holiday........and they live it every day of their lives.
In December 2000 a resolution was passed which asks Americans "to voluntarily and informally observe in their own way a Moment of Remembrance and respect, pausing from whatever they are doing, for a moment of silence or listening to 'Taps' at 3pm on Memorial Day. It is a step in the right direction to bring awareness to the purpose of this holiday.
When Congress made the day into a three day weekend in 1971 it made it easy for people to be distracted from the true meaning of Memorial Day. If it were officially observed on it's original May 30 every year, perhaps Americans would treat the day as the solemn, even sacred day that it deserves.
We, as Americans, owe everything to our fallen, no matter the war or the generation. My involvement with our wounded warriors and their families, hearing their stories and seeing the pain for their lost brothers, keeps that reverence alive in me every day. All Americans, whether personally connected to the military or not, should never forget those who have laid down their lives for the freedoms that we enjoy every day.
I have always felt that the greeting "Happy Memorial Day" was completely inappropriate. I prefer to remind people to remember the reason for their long holiday weekend. I pray that the citizens of this great country will take a few moments to let their minds wander back over the decades of many wars and the many thousands who gave their lives for America. It is the very least we can do. I pray that at 3pm on May 30 America will remember and say a little prayer of gratitude. I wish you a blessed and meaningful Memorial Day.
Monday, May 13, 2013
A LIFE SAVING PRAYER CHAIN
A LIFE SAVING PRAYER CHAIN
There are times when watching the national news triggers memories and bring a personal event back to the forefront of my mind. This is one of those stories......about organ donations and how crucial they are.
Back in March 2010 my mother received a call from a neighbor Betty, whom she knew as an acquaintance but not really a close friend. Betty had been on kidney dialysis for a long time. She was in need of a kidney desperately or she would not live. It was that simple. A kidney or she would die. She knew from my mother that I was actively involved in prayer at my church and via the internet and asked her to ask me if I might reach out through my church and through emails searching for a kidney donor. I felt blessed to be given the opportunity to do this, and one of the people in my prayer chain has a prayer chain of his own that reaches all over the country.....it is nation wide and goes out each morning five days a week and in emergencies on weekends. This was the start of a chain of events that glorifies our awesome God!! Once again He was going to connect those who needed to be connected.
Just days after his prayer request went out a young lady in Delaware responded. Everything was to take place at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore and Beth drove down there several times. The matching process began...multitudes of tests that normally take months or close to a year to complete. This young woman was a missionary and had plans to return to the mission field in Africa at the end of the year, therefore they needed to speed up the process once the initial tests proved to be a match. It is very rare that someone outside the family will be a match!
The hospital also wanted her to have twelve weeks of recovery time after the surgery. The surgery was scheduled for late September. A week or two before the surgery she went hiking and was bitten by a tick. They then had to postpone the surgery while they ran more blood tests to make sure there were no unexpected complications from the tick bite. Once they determined that they were cleared to proceed the surgery was rescheduled for October. With that delay of the surgery there was a critical and very small window of time for the procedure to take place while allowing for the recovery time afterward.
Here is an interesting twist to this story..........when kidney transplant surgeries are planned, the hospital often arranges for pairs of donors and recipients to be prepped for surgery at the same time, a kidney chain, so to speak. In this case there were two pairs ready and waiting...two donors and two recipients. This young missionary's kidney did not go to Betty, but to the other recipient who was in need. In Beth's words, "Just another cool aspect to the story; while I was in the hospital recovering, there was a guy there named Sean who was also somehow part of our kidney chain. Since I wasn't a match for Betty, we did a paired donor exchange. So I think Betty actually got his kidney, and mine went to the person he was donating on behalf of."
Beth was able to recover in time for her mission trip and so ended the series of events that started with an email prayer request.....or so I thought. Last Friday I woke up with the decision to write about this chain of events but knew there were some important details I was not able to recall. I had not heard from Beth in many months as she did send a periodic update from the mission field. To my surprise, I got an email from her that very same morning!!!! Beth was able to pull together the details of the entire process from start to finish with approximate dates which is how I able to quote the information that she supplied. God does work in mysterious ways and He always provides what we need......and so often His timing benefits our timing! How awesome to know I have such a God I can always count on.....from the smallest of details in my life to the enormous moving of mountains......
There are times when watching the national news triggers memories and bring a personal event back to the forefront of my mind. This is one of those stories......about organ donations and how crucial they are.
Back in March 2010 my mother received a call from a neighbor Betty, whom she knew as an acquaintance but not really a close friend. Betty had been on kidney dialysis for a long time. She was in need of a kidney desperately or she would not live. It was that simple. A kidney or she would die. She knew from my mother that I was actively involved in prayer at my church and via the internet and asked her to ask me if I might reach out through my church and through emails searching for a kidney donor. I felt blessed to be given the opportunity to do this, and one of the people in my prayer chain has a prayer chain of his own that reaches all over the country.....it is nation wide and goes out each morning five days a week and in emergencies on weekends. This was the start of a chain of events that glorifies our awesome God!! Once again He was going to connect those who needed to be connected.
Just days after his prayer request went out a young lady in Delaware responded. Everything was to take place at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore and Beth drove down there several times. The matching process began...multitudes of tests that normally take months or close to a year to complete. This young woman was a missionary and had plans to return to the mission field in Africa at the end of the year, therefore they needed to speed up the process once the initial tests proved to be a match. It is very rare that someone outside the family will be a match!
The hospital also wanted her to have twelve weeks of recovery time after the surgery. The surgery was scheduled for late September. A week or two before the surgery she went hiking and was bitten by a tick. They then had to postpone the surgery while they ran more blood tests to make sure there were no unexpected complications from the tick bite. Once they determined that they were cleared to proceed the surgery was rescheduled for October. With that delay of the surgery there was a critical and very small window of time for the procedure to take place while allowing for the recovery time afterward.
Here is an interesting twist to this story..........when kidney transplant surgeries are planned, the hospital often arranges for pairs of donors and recipients to be prepped for surgery at the same time, a kidney chain, so to speak. In this case there were two pairs ready and waiting...two donors and two recipients. This young missionary's kidney did not go to Betty, but to the other recipient who was in need. In Beth's words, "Just another cool aspect to the story; while I was in the hospital recovering, there was a guy there named Sean who was also somehow part of our kidney chain. Since I wasn't a match for Betty, we did a paired donor exchange. So I think Betty actually got his kidney, and mine went to the person he was donating on behalf of."
Beth was able to recover in time for her mission trip and so ended the series of events that started with an email prayer request.....or so I thought. Last Friday I woke up with the decision to write about this chain of events but knew there were some important details I was not able to recall. I had not heard from Beth in many months as she did send a periodic update from the mission field. To my surprise, I got an email from her that very same morning!!!! Beth was able to pull together the details of the entire process from start to finish with approximate dates which is how I able to quote the information that she supplied. God does work in mysterious ways and He always provides what we need......and so often His timing benefits our timing! How awesome to know I have such a God I can always count on.....from the smallest of details in my life to the enormous moving of mountains......
Monday, April 29, 2013
THE SONG THAT CAUGHT MY HEART
THE SONG THAT CAUGHT MY HEART
The last eight years visiting Walter Reed National Military Medical Center - Bethesda allowed me to experience so many friendships at so many levels. From patients to their families and staff. As I have written in previous columns, I consider each of these relationships a blessing in every way. Naturally I feel acutely aware of the issues that affect our wounded warriors......their challenges and their goals.
In the summer of 2011 a friend posted a video on the internet that captured my ears and my heart. That video was "Still in The Fight" produced by Bill Brown, and featuring three wounded warriors......Kyle Carpenter, Spanky Gibson and Aaron Mankin. The singer/songwriter is Mike Corrado, LtCol of Marines at the Wounded Warrior Regiment. It is a tremendous video that draws attention to the struggles and the courage of our war wounded warriors.
One of those warriors, Kyle Carpenter, I had the honor of meeting shortly after he was admitted to the hospital in November 2010. Of course he would not remember that visit, as he was not in very good shape at the time due to his serious injuries. But I can tell you meeting him had quite an impact on me. He was a fighter.........it was evident from the start. His family was there surrounding his bedside that Christmas. Today Kyle has become an inspirational example of overcoming those injuries...far surpassing even what the doctors believed possible!!!
Back to the video............when I first watched it I was so impressed that I watched it numerous times and then knew I had to contact the producer and tell him what an incredible film he had created! At the time there was a fund drive taking place to raise money to make the video into a feature film. I found a link that provided the name of Bill Brown's company and when I got the phone number I called Bill directly. It was a call that was meant to be. We spoke for nearly an hour, but if you know Bill, that is easy to do! He is such a personable guy and we had so many facets of the military, the wounded and such that we could relate to. Most important was that I wanted him to know that I was truly impressed by the video and the song. That was the beginning of a special friendship.
As time passed and it became 2012 the video gave birth to the documentary of the same name, 'Still in the Fight.' Bill made several visits to Walter Reed for filming and that gave us the opportunity to meet over lunch with his partner Billy Lewis. What a pleasure it was to spend a little quality time together and speak of the film and it's future.
The rest of the story is history......later that year, October to be exact, Bill asked me if I would consider writing some of the experiences I had relayed to him over the phone. He believed that the wondrous ways God has been working in my life would make good reading....stories that others would appreciate. At first I hesitated, having not written seriously except business letters when needed
or when requesting donations for the care packages I ship that you have read about. After a few minutes I realized he was right.......that the stories that were floating around in my head might be worth putting down on paper. Thus the beginning of my new career as a columnist! I am indebted to Bill for opening that door for me....a door that God knew would open one day.....and last October was the time. I have to say that I feel incredibly blessed by the responses I have received when friends and strangers read about the events that have taken place in my life. I regret not keeping a journal all those years, as friends suggested I do......so I have to wait now for something to trigger the memories and then I am able to share them with you, the readers. Thank you all for your positive reinforcement and comments. Perhaps if Bill would allow, I would love to hear from some of you who are not in my familiar circle of friends. Hopefully I can continue to count on my memory to bring these ever so special recollections to you on a regular basis!
The last eight years visiting Walter Reed National Military Medical Center - Bethesda allowed me to experience so many friendships at so many levels. From patients to their families and staff. As I have written in previous columns, I consider each of these relationships a blessing in every way. Naturally I feel acutely aware of the issues that affect our wounded warriors......their challenges and their goals.
In the summer of 2011 a friend posted a video on the internet that captured my ears and my heart. That video was "Still in The Fight" produced by Bill Brown, and featuring three wounded warriors......Kyle Carpenter, Spanky Gibson and Aaron Mankin. The singer/songwriter is Mike Corrado, LtCol of Marines at the Wounded Warrior Regiment. It is a tremendous video that draws attention to the struggles and the courage of our war wounded warriors.
One of those warriors, Kyle Carpenter, I had the honor of meeting shortly after he was admitted to the hospital in November 2010. Of course he would not remember that visit, as he was not in very good shape at the time due to his serious injuries. But I can tell you meeting him had quite an impact on me. He was a fighter.........it was evident from the start. His family was there surrounding his bedside that Christmas. Today Kyle has become an inspirational example of overcoming those injuries...far surpassing even what the doctors believed possible!!!
Back to the video............when I first watched it I was so impressed that I watched it numerous times and then knew I had to contact the producer and tell him what an incredible film he had created! At the time there was a fund drive taking place to raise money to make the video into a feature film. I found a link that provided the name of Bill Brown's company and when I got the phone number I called Bill directly. It was a call that was meant to be. We spoke for nearly an hour, but if you know Bill, that is easy to do! He is such a personable guy and we had so many facets of the military, the wounded and such that we could relate to. Most important was that I wanted him to know that I was truly impressed by the video and the song. That was the beginning of a special friendship.
As time passed and it became 2012 the video gave birth to the documentary of the same name, 'Still in the Fight.' Bill made several visits to Walter Reed for filming and that gave us the opportunity to meet over lunch with his partner Billy Lewis. What a pleasure it was to spend a little quality time together and speak of the film and it's future.
The rest of the story is history......later that year, October to be exact, Bill asked me if I would consider writing some of the experiences I had relayed to him over the phone. He believed that the wondrous ways God has been working in my life would make good reading....stories that others would appreciate. At first I hesitated, having not written seriously except business letters when needed
or when requesting donations for the care packages I ship that you have read about. After a few minutes I realized he was right.......that the stories that were floating around in my head might be worth putting down on paper. Thus the beginning of my new career as a columnist! I am indebted to Bill for opening that door for me....a door that God knew would open one day.....and last October was the time. I have to say that I feel incredibly blessed by the responses I have received when friends and strangers read about the events that have taken place in my life. I regret not keeping a journal all those years, as friends suggested I do......so I have to wait now for something to trigger the memories and then I am able to share them with you, the readers. Thank you all for your positive reinforcement and comments. Perhaps if Bill would allow, I would love to hear from some of you who are not in my familiar circle of friends. Hopefully I can continue to count on my memory to bring these ever so special recollections to you on a regular basis!
Saturday, April 13, 2013
A FAMILIAR NAME
A FAMILIAR NAME
Eleven years ago when I embarked on this journey to support our troops in the Middle East with care packages I decided I should print many of the emails that pertained to the packages. Not just 'thank you' emails, but newsletters from the various units I shipped to, news articles from all media sources, and more. I had no idea what I would do with them, but I printed them and saved them. Files for particular individual recipients, specific units and each of their deployments, etc, many of whom I have written about in the articles you have read. The funny thing is, from the beginning, dozens of people suggested I keep a journal of all the amazing things that have transpired over those eleven years. I am not the sort of person who journals every day. Of course now I regret not doing so, as I have to rely on my memory for the multitude of notable experiences that have had such an impact in my life. Too late now.....and I have been through all the files, mountains of them. There are still a few good stories to relate in those files, and today I am sharing one that really is amazing!
As I have written in the past my nephew Alex McBride was with 3rd Battalion, 6th Marines and was deployed to Iraq 2005-2006 for his last deployment based out of Al Qaim. There were several significant missions during that deployment, one being Operation Steel Curtain, and it was a difficult tour filled with too many casualties. Multiple missions, one after the other, nearly constant combat and constant danger. The chaplains deployed with their Marines and Sailors had their work cut out for them. Offering advice of all sorts, along with sharing God's word and comfort in times of fear. As many of you know from being in combat, often one feels closer to God in times of terror and the unknown. I can only speak from the stories that have been related to me by those who have lived with that fear and from the chaplains themselves.
As I was reading through a folder last week for Alex's last deployment, I came across the name of the chaplain who was serving with 3/6 at the time. His name was LT Bryan Crittendon. Not exactly a common name, and surely there could not be more than one Navy Chaplain with the same name. The reason it caught my eye was because I am shipping packages now to a chaplain....LCDR Bryan Crittendon.
Immediately I wrote an email to the current Chaplain Crittendon, inquiring whether he was in Iraq with 3/6 back in '05-'06 and whether the name Alex McBride sounded familiar. He replied almost immediately that the name rang a bell, but he could not place the face that went with the name. I responded with a short description.....Alex was 5'4", had been with India Company and had sent me a photo of him being baptized. Alex had written that although it would have been meaningful to be baptized in the Euphrates River it was dangerous and very dirty. Well, guess what? Chaplain Crittendon remembered distinctly building a baptistery outside their little chapel and baptizing Alex!!! That was seven years and many deployments ago, but he remembered vividly that day near the Euphrates where Alex was baptized and could now put a face to the name. We were both stunned at the connection after all these years!
Chaplain Crittendon is still serving with the Marines and Sailors of Camp Lejeune but with a different unit. Once again I have the honor of supporting him and the men with whom he is serving, imparting his wisdom, advice and comfort. Once again life comes full circle.......connecting each of us in a very special way that only God could orchestrate.
Eleven years ago when I embarked on this journey to support our troops in the Middle East with care packages I decided I should print many of the emails that pertained to the packages. Not just 'thank you' emails, but newsletters from the various units I shipped to, news articles from all media sources, and more. I had no idea what I would do with them, but I printed them and saved them. Files for particular individual recipients, specific units and each of their deployments, etc, many of whom I have written about in the articles you have read. The funny thing is, from the beginning, dozens of people suggested I keep a journal of all the amazing things that have transpired over those eleven years. I am not the sort of person who journals every day. Of course now I regret not doing so, as I have to rely on my memory for the multitude of notable experiences that have had such an impact in my life. Too late now.....and I have been through all the files, mountains of them. There are still a few good stories to relate in those files, and today I am sharing one that really is amazing!
As I have written in the past my nephew Alex McBride was with 3rd Battalion, 6th Marines and was deployed to Iraq 2005-2006 for his last deployment based out of Al Qaim. There were several significant missions during that deployment, one being Operation Steel Curtain, and it was a difficult tour filled with too many casualties. Multiple missions, one after the other, nearly constant combat and constant danger. The chaplains deployed with their Marines and Sailors had their work cut out for them. Offering advice of all sorts, along with sharing God's word and comfort in times of fear. As many of you know from being in combat, often one feels closer to God in times of terror and the unknown. I can only speak from the stories that have been related to me by those who have lived with that fear and from the chaplains themselves.
As I was reading through a folder last week for Alex's last deployment, I came across the name of the chaplain who was serving with 3/6 at the time. His name was LT Bryan Crittendon. Not exactly a common name, and surely there could not be more than one Navy Chaplain with the same name. The reason it caught my eye was because I am shipping packages now to a chaplain....LCDR Bryan Crittendon.
Immediately I wrote an email to the current Chaplain Crittendon, inquiring whether he was in Iraq with 3/6 back in '05-'06 and whether the name Alex McBride sounded familiar. He replied almost immediately that the name rang a bell, but he could not place the face that went with the name. I responded with a short description.....Alex was 5'4", had been with India Company and had sent me a photo of him being baptized. Alex had written that although it would have been meaningful to be baptized in the Euphrates River it was dangerous and very dirty. Well, guess what? Chaplain Crittendon remembered distinctly building a baptistery outside their little chapel and baptizing Alex!!! That was seven years and many deployments ago, but he remembered vividly that day near the Euphrates where Alex was baptized and could now put a face to the name. We were both stunned at the connection after all these years!
Chaplain Crittendon is still serving with the Marines and Sailors of Camp Lejeune but with a different unit. Once again I have the honor of supporting him and the men with whom he is serving, imparting his wisdom, advice and comfort. Once again life comes full circle.......connecting each of us in a very special way that only God could orchestrate.
Friday, April 5, 2013
EASTER IN AFGHANISTAN
EASTER IN AFGHANISTAN
My care packages are fairly similar in content and do not change throughout the year. The boxes contain lots of non-perishable food, some toiletries, socks and lots of reading material. The Marines like to read magazines such as Guns and Ammo, American Rifleman, Car and Driver, Sports Illustrated, Bowhunter, Motorcycles, Rolling Stone, Men's Journal, and a daily devotional "Our Daily Bread" for those who seek spiritual enrichment every morning. Each year a local Girl Scout troop reaches out to their friends and families to purchase cookies for my care packages and I am astonished when multiple cases are delivered to my home. Those cookies are always cherished by the recipients and a tasty reminder of home.
This past January started with a new challenge...a special request from one of my contacts, a first sergeant with 8th Communications Battalion. We had been in contact since they arrived in Afghanistan. She wrote that she had 130 troops at her location and wondered if it would be possible to supply items she had included on her Easter wish list. The list included Easter baskets, grass for the baskets, plastic Easter eggs, chocolate Easter candy and stuffed animals.
I felt in my heart that when I sent out the email request to friends who have supported the care packages over the years their enthusiasm to participate would be contagious, and it was. One of those friends shared my email with some of her friends and then things really began to take off!!! Nevertheless I was truly stunned at the responses I received from friends and strangers alike. One sewing club offered to hand-make 130 burlap Easter baskets with hand braided handles (burlap would fold up and be much easier to pack and ship than straw baskets)......but can you imagine hand sewing 130 of them, and then adding braided handles? One couple offered to supply the stuffed animals. Another donor offered to supply the plastic eggs, and another the grass. Lastly a club I belong to offered to supply the chocolates.... foil covered eggs, individual chocolate crosses and chocolate bunnies, as well as 130 signed Easter cards, hand delivered to me. Thank goodness we started in January!!!!
Each of the donors shipped their contributions directly to the Marines because the donors were scattered all over the US. The candy and cards I shipped because they were local. Arrival date in Afghanistan was of great concern. Since this project started in January we assumed we had plenty of time. However, that is not always the case when you are counting on the mail system. Items arrived over a span of several weeks starting in February with the grass arriving the day after Easter. The 1stSgt managed to put everything together in such a way that each recipient received a basket with each of the items. They were also treated to a cookout in celebration of the Easter holiday.
The pleasure derived from giving is as great, if not greater, than receiving. Each of us who contributed was anxious to see photos of our troops enjoying their Easter gifts. To know that from so many distant places this project came together almost flawlessly was truly uplifting. It is a wonderful feeling to know that there are Americans out there who want to show their support, to let our troops overseas know that they are loved, appreciated and not forgotten, on holidays and every day.
My care packages are fairly similar in content and do not change throughout the year. The boxes contain lots of non-perishable food, some toiletries, socks and lots of reading material. The Marines like to read magazines such as Guns and Ammo, American Rifleman, Car and Driver, Sports Illustrated, Bowhunter, Motorcycles, Rolling Stone, Men's Journal, and a daily devotional "Our Daily Bread" for those who seek spiritual enrichment every morning. Each year a local Girl Scout troop reaches out to their friends and families to purchase cookies for my care packages and I am astonished when multiple cases are delivered to my home. Those cookies are always cherished by the recipients and a tasty reminder of home.
This past January started with a new challenge...a special request from one of my contacts, a first sergeant with 8th Communications Battalion. We had been in contact since they arrived in Afghanistan. She wrote that she had 130 troops at her location and wondered if it would be possible to supply items she had included on her Easter wish list. The list included Easter baskets, grass for the baskets, plastic Easter eggs, chocolate Easter candy and stuffed animals.
I felt in my heart that when I sent out the email request to friends who have supported the care packages over the years their enthusiasm to participate would be contagious, and it was. One of those friends shared my email with some of her friends and then things really began to take off!!! Nevertheless I was truly stunned at the responses I received from friends and strangers alike. One sewing club offered to hand-make 130 burlap Easter baskets with hand braided handles (burlap would fold up and be much easier to pack and ship than straw baskets)......but can you imagine hand sewing 130 of them, and then adding braided handles? One couple offered to supply the stuffed animals. Another donor offered to supply the plastic eggs, and another the grass. Lastly a club I belong to offered to supply the chocolates.... foil covered eggs, individual chocolate crosses and chocolate bunnies, as well as 130 signed Easter cards, hand delivered to me. Thank goodness we started in January!!!!
Each of the donors shipped their contributions directly to the Marines because the donors were scattered all over the US. The candy and cards I shipped because they were local. Arrival date in Afghanistan was of great concern. Since this project started in January we assumed we had plenty of time. However, that is not always the case when you are counting on the mail system. Items arrived over a span of several weeks starting in February with the grass arriving the day after Easter. The 1stSgt managed to put everything together in such a way that each recipient received a basket with each of the items. They were also treated to a cookout in celebration of the Easter holiday.
The pleasure derived from giving is as great, if not greater, than receiving. Each of us who contributed was anxious to see photos of our troops enjoying their Easter gifts. To know that from so many distant places this project came together almost flawlessly was truly uplifting. It is a wonderful feeling to know that there are Americans out there who want to show their support, to let our troops overseas know that they are loved, appreciated and not forgotten, on holidays and every day.
Friday, March 29, 2013
GOD SPOKE
GOD SPOKE
There are five tall high rise condominiums and several garden apartments that make up the complex where I live. There is also a security staff that rides in little golf carts around the property twenty-four hours a day. Back in 2005 my Mom was chatting with one of the security guards, a charming Pakistani gentleman whose son just happened to be deployed to Iraq with the Marine Corps!!! Naturally my Mom wanted us to connect so that I might support his son with care packages, which you know is one of the passions of my life. I got his son's address and commenced shipping immediately. His son Ali was with 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines, out of California. That was the beginning of a most unusual journey for both of us.
Ali was stationed in Ramadi, Iraq during that deployment and as you may recall 2005 was an intense time of combat in many areas of the country. Ali and I corresponded as he received and shared the care packages. All was going smoothly until late one night I received a phone call from his Dad. He was informed that Ali had been shot in the head, but no further information was available. His Dad called me hoping I might know someone who could give him more details. I spent hours calling everyone I knew in the Marine Corps, and no one was home. Then I remembered I could reach the liaison office at Bethesda Naval Hospital (now Walter Reed). I gave the liaison his Dad's phone number and what little information I had. Not until early the next morning did his Dad call to let me know he had just heard from Ali and that his injuries was not as severe as previously reported. Shrapnel wounds to his head, eye, upper body, and one eardrum.... he had stepped on an IED and thanks be to God he was still alive!!!! Ali spent a short time mending physically and then returned to the fight to complete his deployment, but not without a deep fear that had not existed prior to his injuries.
When Ali returned home to Maryland for his two- week leave he invited me to dinner so that we could meet. It was an evening I will always remember. A tall handsome young man with a warm and caring demeanor, he brought me an enormous Patriotic basket arrangement with huge stuffed Patriotic bears and wood Americana carvings. I was so touched by such a perfect but unnecessary gift!! With his permission I donated the stuffed animals to the local Fisher House at Bethesda Naval Hospital and the carvings still adorn my wall. Ali and I formed a unique friendship because I was the one civilian with whom he could discuss his military life and share his stories that others would not understand.
Ali deployed again in September of 2006. He was at sea on a MEU (Marine Expeditionary Unit) returning to the Middle East. About that same time I had been introduced via emails to a Marine Veteran who was serving in Iraq, Johnny Russo, and in his emails he quoted Scripture. He quoted Psalms 91 and 121 which related to warriors and God's protection. That was my introduction to Scripture and it was so beautiful that it moved me to purchase my first Bible and read the Word of God regularly.
Mid-November I got a call late one night from Ali who was back in Kuwait mobilizing to return to Iraq within hours. This time he spoke of his dread and feared he would not return alive from this tour. I tried to calm him and tell him that he would be safe but I felt his fear in my heart. He had to hang up quickly but said he would try to call one more time before heading into the unknown. I got down on my knees and I cried and prayed and cried and prayed until I crawled into bed and cried myself to sleep. In the black of night and in a sound sleep I was awakened by the brightest white flash of light and I awoke trembling. I knew that God had spoken to me. White light is a sign of peace and hope. I was wide awake and I knew that Ali and his Marines would all survive this deployment. Again my phone rang. The timing was God's........I was able to impart God's message to Ali....I told him what had just happened.........how God woke me up with the message that he would not be hurt. He could return to combat knowing he was covered with the Lord's hedge of protection. We were both so relieved and he said he was so thankful that he had called because he was at peace now and would not be afraid. Needless to say, Ali and his brothers returned home safely. No one was hurt. Praise God for His power and love!!!!
Throughout Ali's deployment he wrote several times to tell me that he truly felt the presence of God protecting him and that his fellow Marines also thanked me for sharing God's message with him which he had relayed to them. Ali completed his enlistment obligation in July of 2007. We remained close friends and my Mom and I attended his wedding a couple of years later. Now he is happily married but does not stay in touch. I understand how that works....as many of my contacts stay close in trying times but when they settle into their new civilian lives they separate their new lives from the old.
How blessed I am to have experienced such an event as God speaking to me. I realize that this gift from God is a rare gift, and one that had a profound impact not only on my life but the lives of others. A turning point, you might say, that brought peace to a terrifying moment. My prayer is that my God will open up many more opportunities to serve him and share just how powerful He is.
There are five tall high rise condominiums and several garden apartments that make up the complex where I live. There is also a security staff that rides in little golf carts around the property twenty-four hours a day. Back in 2005 my Mom was chatting with one of the security guards, a charming Pakistani gentleman whose son just happened to be deployed to Iraq with the Marine Corps!!! Naturally my Mom wanted us to connect so that I might support his son with care packages, which you know is one of the passions of my life. I got his son's address and commenced shipping immediately. His son Ali was with 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines, out of California. That was the beginning of a most unusual journey for both of us.
Ali was stationed in Ramadi, Iraq during that deployment and as you may recall 2005 was an intense time of combat in many areas of the country. Ali and I corresponded as he received and shared the care packages. All was going smoothly until late one night I received a phone call from his Dad. He was informed that Ali had been shot in the head, but no further information was available. His Dad called me hoping I might know someone who could give him more details. I spent hours calling everyone I knew in the Marine Corps, and no one was home. Then I remembered I could reach the liaison office at Bethesda Naval Hospital (now Walter Reed). I gave the liaison his Dad's phone number and what little information I had. Not until early the next morning did his Dad call to let me know he had just heard from Ali and that his injuries was not as severe as previously reported. Shrapnel wounds to his head, eye, upper body, and one eardrum.... he had stepped on an IED and thanks be to God he was still alive!!!! Ali spent a short time mending physically and then returned to the fight to complete his deployment, but not without a deep fear that had not existed prior to his injuries.
When Ali returned home to Maryland for his two- week leave he invited me to dinner so that we could meet. It was an evening I will always remember. A tall handsome young man with a warm and caring demeanor, he brought me an enormous Patriotic basket arrangement with huge stuffed Patriotic bears and wood Americana carvings. I was so touched by such a perfect but unnecessary gift!! With his permission I donated the stuffed animals to the local Fisher House at Bethesda Naval Hospital and the carvings still adorn my wall. Ali and I formed a unique friendship because I was the one civilian with whom he could discuss his military life and share his stories that others would not understand.
Ali deployed again in September of 2006. He was at sea on a MEU (Marine Expeditionary Unit) returning to the Middle East. About that same time I had been introduced via emails to a Marine Veteran who was serving in Iraq, Johnny Russo, and in his emails he quoted Scripture. He quoted Psalms 91 and 121 which related to warriors and God's protection. That was my introduction to Scripture and it was so beautiful that it moved me to purchase my first Bible and read the Word of God regularly.
Mid-November I got a call late one night from Ali who was back in Kuwait mobilizing to return to Iraq within hours. This time he spoke of his dread and feared he would not return alive from this tour. I tried to calm him and tell him that he would be safe but I felt his fear in my heart. He had to hang up quickly but said he would try to call one more time before heading into the unknown. I got down on my knees and I cried and prayed and cried and prayed until I crawled into bed and cried myself to sleep. In the black of night and in a sound sleep I was awakened by the brightest white flash of light and I awoke trembling. I knew that God had spoken to me. White light is a sign of peace and hope. I was wide awake and I knew that Ali and his Marines would all survive this deployment. Again my phone rang. The timing was God's........I was able to impart God's message to Ali....I told him what had just happened.........how God woke me up with the message that he would not be hurt. He could return to combat knowing he was covered with the Lord's hedge of protection. We were both so relieved and he said he was so thankful that he had called because he was at peace now and would not be afraid. Needless to say, Ali and his brothers returned home safely. No one was hurt. Praise God for His power and love!!!!
Throughout Ali's deployment he wrote several times to tell me that he truly felt the presence of God protecting him and that his fellow Marines also thanked me for sharing God's message with him which he had relayed to them. Ali completed his enlistment obligation in July of 2007. We remained close friends and my Mom and I attended his wedding a couple of years later. Now he is happily married but does not stay in touch. I understand how that works....as many of my contacts stay close in trying times but when they settle into their new civilian lives they separate their new lives from the old.
How blessed I am to have experienced such an event as God speaking to me. I realize that this gift from God is a rare gift, and one that had a profound impact not only on my life but the lives of others. A turning point, you might say, that brought peace to a terrifying moment. My prayer is that my God will open up many more opportunities to serve him and share just how powerful He is.
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