THE BACKBONE OF OUR COMBAT WOUNDED WARRIORS
It starts with a phone call from a hospital far away.......usually
from Germany. The phone call that causes your world to change
forever in a moment. The only upside to this story is that it is
not the dreaded visit to your home by three men in uniform to inform
you of the death of your loved one. This is about the difficult
journey of the caregivers, whose service man or woman has been
injured in combat. They are parents, spouses, and siblings.
The injuries their loved ones have sustained while doing what they
are trained to do, in Iraq or Afghanistan. Over the last nine
years my visits to Bethesda Naval Hospital, now Walter Reed, have
given me a personal view of the sacrifices made, not only the
wounded, but their families. You've heard about it, you've read
about it, you've seen it on the news. Their world comes crashing
down while they hold the phone to their ear. Words cannot fully
describe the emotions that are played out in those minutes on the
phone.
Often the families must quickly arrange to fly to Germany to be at
their bedside while they pray their husband or son can be stabilized
for the flight to a hospital back home, usually Walter Reed or
Brooke Army Medical Center in Texas. Often that flight to Germany
is the very last time they see their loved one alive because their
injuries are so horrific that they die before they can be
transferred home. I cannot begin to imagine the pain and grief
these families go through during this time.
Caregivers arrive here either from Germany or from their home towns
with very little time to plan anything. Hasty airline tickets and
living quarters arrangements are made. In a matter of hours a
normal day at home becomes a living nightmare of confusion and
unknowns. No time to think about what to pack.......just throw a
suitcase together and off they go. They often arrive here in winter
with no proper clothes, and certainly no clue how long they will be
here. Jobs are left indefinitely, siblings left with relatives,
life is altered with many questions and no answers. Incomes are
lost and often jobs are lost due to the length of time required to
be here.
Suddenly they are thrust into a life in a hospital room. Some more
critical than others. Some revolve around an ICU unit for days or
weeks. Most are not as critical, so their inpatient hospital room
becomes the new home for everyone. This is where it is so crucial
that family are there at the bedside all day and into the night. To
be the eyes and ears for the patient.......to watch, listen and
advocate for their loved one who is often in an induced coma. Now
the caregiver becomes the lifeline between the medical staff and the
wounded. Caregivers have literally saved lives by their presence
and that is a fact. Keeping track of medications, tests, and
appointments. This is the 'new normal' life of a caregiver. At
the end of each day they return to their 'hotel room' which is the
Navy Lodge on base or one of five Fisher Houses, built on military
hospital bases for this reason...to house the families while they
are here to assist in the recovery of their wounded warriors. That
hospital room could be home for days, weeks or months until the
wounded are transferred to another hospital closer to home or
transferred to the outpatient barracks on base. Some of these
families are literally parents and their other children...entire
families uprooted and now living in this small apartment.
All the while the caregivers are managing the care of their loved
ones and then helping them set up their new apartment in the
barracks. At Walter Reed it is building 62, Tranquility Hall.
Each apartment is a small two bedroom, two bath apartment with a
tiny living room and kitchen. One room for the injured and one for
the caregiver. These apartments come with the bare minimum. Four
sets of dishes and cutlery and very few appliances. No toaster, no
blender, no vacuum cleaner. When you take into consideration this
apartment will be 'home' for many months or even years, it is
impossible for anyone not in this situation to fathom how they
manage. But they do......because they are military families and
they are adept at improvising, adapting and overcoming. They get
their children enrolled in local schools or in daycare.
Once they have set up residence in their new apartment, now their
lives turn to assisting the injured who are more often than not in
wheelchairs to and from their appointments. I neglected to mention
that this new barracks is up a steep hill from the hospital where
the rehabilitation area is and all the doctors are. Frequently the
weather makes it very inconvenient.........ice and snow, driving
rain, freezing wind....and it is the caregiver who is there to make
the short trips possible.....often multiple times in one day.
Caregivers do the cooking, the laundry, the shopping (last year a
new exchange was built on base to make that task easier). They do
everything including attending the medical appointments. Their
lives revolve around those appointments....daily. Most of them
will need a vehicle as they build a new life in a new town. A car
so they can live some semblance of normalcy by shopping, getting out
to restaurants, movies, whatever.
The one beautiful blessing that I have witnessed through all of this
is the generosity of people who want to help better the lives of the
caregivers. One way or another the word gets out that there is a
need.....that these families who have moved from their hometowns and
their careers to an apartment with little to offer.....that their
lives could be much improved with little things like small
appliances, toys for their kids and such. As I wrote in my last
article at Christmas, there are hundreds of individuals and
nonprofit organizations who step up to the plate to supply their
needs and they do it by pulling out all the stops. Their
generosity knows no bounds. Caregivers are invited to dinners,
ladies spa days, weekends away from the base, all sorts of events to
give them some respite from their daily schedules.
From the moment they arrive here to take charge of the recovery of
their loved ones, they are the lifeline to that recovery. It takes
a strong backbone to be an advocate and a sharp mind, but beneath
all that is a love that is deeper than any well. Often while they
are here their houses back home are being modified to allow for
wheelchair accessibility along with many other alterations.
Together they get through this ordeal and together they will finally
go home, back to where they came from, to begin again.
For me and the myriad of friends who get to know these warriors
and their families we witness the journey from their arrival to
their departure. It is with joy and sadness that we bid them
goodbye. Friendships that have been forged in the most tumultuous
of times.....and memories.....from the days of critical care to the
days of independence for those warriors we have become so close to.
It is hard to say goodbye when the time comes, but our lives have
been forever impacted by these friendships that will last a
lifetime.
Friday, January 31, 2014
Monday, December 30, 2013
AN UNEXPECTED WALTER REED CHRISTMAS
AN UNEXPECTED WALTER REED CHRISTMAS
We all know how hectic and stressful the holiday season is under normal conditions. Imagine getting a phone call that your husband has been injured in Afghanistan! Imagine knowing he will be operated on in Germany and then transported to Walter Reed while you and your two children are in California and need to come to Maryland quickly!!! Then imagine all this just days before Christmas!!
Two weeks ago on December 15th I got a message from a friend Diana Mankin, a Marine mom herself, who posts on a military forum where she learned of this wounded Marine, SSgt Jarrod Wayman and that he and his family would all be arriving here at Walter Reed the next day, Monday the 16th. She asked if I could reach out to them when they arrived, to let them know that there is someone here who would personally be there for them any way possible. So......what takes place over the next few days is nothing short of many God moments where He opens one door after another.
My contact would be the injured Marines's sister in law, Lindsey who lives in Texas with her husband and three children. As soon as we established contact I asked for the names of Jarrod's wife and children. Hillary is his wife and they have two small children, 3 year old Bailey and her 6 year old brother Gavin. They would be needing to celebrate Christmas far from home so I asked Lindsey for a list of the presents the kids hoped Santa would bring. Considering there was precious little time, I reached out to a special friend, Jodi Warshall, who is an angel here on planet earth and who can move mountains at a moments notice. She posted a list of those presents on a forum, a registry of sorts, where others who support our military families can select items, purchase them and ship them to Jodi.
I had the opportunity to visit Jarrod, Hillary and the kids for a short time before Jarrod was scheduled for another surgery. Jodi gave me decorations for a tree that was supplied and was adorning their room at the lodge where they are staying on base. It was truly an honor to meet all of them. We had a short visit and I now had faces to go along with the names.
Knowing that Jodi had that project under control, I got back to Lindsey to tell her about Luke's Wings, the organization I have mentioned in previous articles that unites families and friends of wounded warriors. They provides airfare at no charge to and from military hospitals all year, but the holiday time is where they really shine....with their slogan "No Soldier Spends the Holiday Alone". I made sure Lindsey and her family, as well as her other sister's family knew they could rely on Luke's Wings to get them here to visit during the holidays. That meant my good friend Jennifer Magerer with Luke's Wings would be arranging their flights.
With that under control, it was time to get back to the Christmas presents which were purchased by some incredibly generous Americans all over the country.....and let me tell you that is an understatement. The gifts ranged from $20-$60 and every single item on a list of 20 items was purchased. By now it is the day before Christmas and all is well. The morning of the 24th Jodie arrived at my home where we spent a couple of hours wrapping all the gifts for Bailey and Gavin. We had everything spread out all over the floor and had a ball. Filled with the Christmas spirit we finished and loaded up her car (which was already overflowing with gifts for other families) and off she went to deliver them to the many families at Walter Reed.
Christmas morning Jodi and I were anxious to hear how the kids liked their presents while we awaited photos to appear on Facebook of them opening their gifts. Well, as mom Hillary posted, with each new gift they shouted "This is the BEST Christmas EVER!!" You can bet that made our day!!! Mission accomplished!!!! You would almost forget that they were not at home in California because their Christmas was about as normal as it could be, all things considered.
The Christmas holiday closed with our annual Marine Corps League Christmas dinner for the inpatients and their families. It is a catered dinner but I invited friends to volunteer to share our time with those who could not leave the hospital for the holiday. The Waymans came to enjoy the festivities and Santa was there too. A few more presents from Santa and then Christmas was over for another year.
When I look back at what appeared to be almost insurmountable tasks to complete in ten days I reflect once again on the fact that when God is on control we should never doubt. Everything fell in to place exactly as it should, and the smiles and the laughter of the children were the proof. To all who are reading this article, I wish you a year filled with blessings, kindness, generosity and peace and love for one another.
We all know how hectic and stressful the holiday season is under normal conditions. Imagine getting a phone call that your husband has been injured in Afghanistan! Imagine knowing he will be operated on in Germany and then transported to Walter Reed while you and your two children are in California and need to come to Maryland quickly!!! Then imagine all this just days before Christmas!!
Two weeks ago on December 15th I got a message from a friend Diana Mankin, a Marine mom herself, who posts on a military forum where she learned of this wounded Marine, SSgt Jarrod Wayman and that he and his family would all be arriving here at Walter Reed the next day, Monday the 16th. She asked if I could reach out to them when they arrived, to let them know that there is someone here who would personally be there for them any way possible. So......what takes place over the next few days is nothing short of many God moments where He opens one door after another.
My contact would be the injured Marines's sister in law, Lindsey who lives in Texas with her husband and three children. As soon as we established contact I asked for the names of Jarrod's wife and children. Hillary is his wife and they have two small children, 3 year old Bailey and her 6 year old brother Gavin. They would be needing to celebrate Christmas far from home so I asked Lindsey for a list of the presents the kids hoped Santa would bring. Considering there was precious little time, I reached out to a special friend, Jodi Warshall, who is an angel here on planet earth and who can move mountains at a moments notice. She posted a list of those presents on a forum, a registry of sorts, where others who support our military families can select items, purchase them and ship them to Jodi.
I had the opportunity to visit Jarrod, Hillary and the kids for a short time before Jarrod was scheduled for another surgery. Jodi gave me decorations for a tree that was supplied and was adorning their room at the lodge where they are staying on base. It was truly an honor to meet all of them. We had a short visit and I now had faces to go along with the names.
Knowing that Jodi had that project under control, I got back to Lindsey to tell her about Luke's Wings, the organization I have mentioned in previous articles that unites families and friends of wounded warriors. They provides airfare at no charge to and from military hospitals all year, but the holiday time is where they really shine....with their slogan "No Soldier Spends the Holiday Alone". I made sure Lindsey and her family, as well as her other sister's family knew they could rely on Luke's Wings to get them here to visit during the holidays. That meant my good friend Jennifer Magerer with Luke's Wings would be arranging their flights.
With that under control, it was time to get back to the Christmas presents which were purchased by some incredibly generous Americans all over the country.....and let me tell you that is an understatement. The gifts ranged from $20-$60 and every single item on a list of 20 items was purchased. By now it is the day before Christmas and all is well. The morning of the 24th Jodie arrived at my home where we spent a couple of hours wrapping all the gifts for Bailey and Gavin. We had everything spread out all over the floor and had a ball. Filled with the Christmas spirit we finished and loaded up her car (which was already overflowing with gifts for other families) and off she went to deliver them to the many families at Walter Reed.
Christmas morning Jodi and I were anxious to hear how the kids liked their presents while we awaited photos to appear on Facebook of them opening their gifts. Well, as mom Hillary posted, with each new gift they shouted "This is the BEST Christmas EVER!!" You can bet that made our day!!! Mission accomplished!!!! You would almost forget that they were not at home in California because their Christmas was about as normal as it could be, all things considered.
The Christmas holiday closed with our annual Marine Corps League Christmas dinner for the inpatients and their families. It is a catered dinner but I invited friends to volunteer to share our time with those who could not leave the hospital for the holiday. The Waymans came to enjoy the festivities and Santa was there too. A few more presents from Santa and then Christmas was over for another year.
When I look back at what appeared to be almost insurmountable tasks to complete in ten days I reflect once again on the fact that when God is on control we should never doubt. Everything fell in to place exactly as it should, and the smiles and the laughter of the children were the proof. To all who are reading this article, I wish you a year filled with blessings, kindness, generosity and peace and love for one another.
Monday, December 9, 2013
MY NEW NEIGHBORS
MY NEW NEIGHBORS
If you have ever lived in an apartment building or multi-family dwelling you will appreciate what I am going to share with you. I live in a 17-story condominium where many owners sublet their apartments. I have lived here since 1980 as a renter until I purchased my unit in 2000. Living here so long you can imagine I have had a variety of neighbors on all four sides, as well as across the hall. I don't know how other buildings are constructed but this building was built in the mid 60's and sound carries easily through walls, floors and hallways.
Several weeks ago the couple who was renting the apartment across the hall moved out. They told me the owners, a young couple from Bulgaria, wanted to rent it to a friend who just returned from their homeland and was in dire need of a place to live. Nothing unusual there!!! The following weekend all hell broke loose. The sounds of young children screaming, yelling, arguing and running all over the apartment was impossible to ignore. It was so loud that it sounded as if they were living in my apartment!! What to do? I tried to ignore it for three days until I called the front desk to report the disturbance. It was so unsettling that I could not think, eat, watch television or read, and more importantly I could not read Scripture. Finally I called the resident manager in tears explaining that she needed to understand and to hear what I was hearing. From my front door I held up the phone for a couple of minutes and she listened....and her response was just what I expected. She was aghast at the decibel of the noise and promised to speak to the new resident. She did but with little change in the intensity of the noise.
After a week I was so distraught I decided I would speak to my neighbors myself. I knocked on their door and a nanny answered...with two adorable little boys behind her. They were five and seven years old. Only the seven year old spoke English. We introduced ourselves.....He is Alex, his little brother Jordan.......I asked him if they knew how to speak quietly and keep their voices down, as their loudness was not good for my health, explaining that I was getting headaches from their constant noise. They were so apologetic and so cute.....and as we were talking their Mom came down the hall, arriving home from work. I explained to her what the problem was and that I truly hoped we could find a way to live compatibly. She admitted that with two little boys it was not easy to calm them down but she would do her best, though it might take time. We hugged, kissed and shook hands...little Alex extending his hand for me to shake. I could feel the Lord working in this situation and felt that there would be an improvement, if not right away, in the near future.
The next day I was at the store and decided to buy some little toys for the boys. Their apartment was so quiet for two days I thought they were out of town. Finally hearing their Mom come home one night I knocked and offered the toys. She invited me in
and we sat and shared a glass of wine while the boys dressed up in their Halloween costumes to show them off. We had a lovely hour long visit and I learned much about her circumstances. She is a single Mom with two boys and needed a nanny so that she could work all day, and that she had registered the boys in school so they would not be home during the day. When I heard her story and how she was struggling it truly touched my heart. Did I tell you how cute the children are? They are really the most adorable and well mannered boys......just rambunctious.
The following week I came home from church where we hold a fellowship supper and bible study. Normally I never take home any leftovers but this particular night there was a ton of chicken left so I piled a plate to eat the next day. As I was walking down my hallway the Lord told me to knock on their door and offer the chicken. She invited me in, ecstatic that they would now have chicken for dinner with their potatoes!!!!! Now I really understood their struggle! Her circumstances are so difficult that she had to let the nanny go and bring her mother from Bulgaria to live with them. Four people in a one bedroom apartment. My heart is seriously moved by their situation. Today I dropped off a basket of fruit I was given at Walter Reed last night at a Christmas party. You would think I gave them a ten course meal! The grandmother insisted on giving me candy in return for the fruit.
This entire chain of events has opened my eyes to how the Lord wants us to reach out to those less fortunate and to be kind to our neighbors. I have been blessed with new friends and two little boys who have helped me to become more patient. As a family they have made great strides in adapting to their new lifestyle. I am so thankful that I heard the Lord speaking to me. So often I pray and ask Him to use me for His glory....and I wonder how many opportunities I have missed. In this season of giving and sharing this is a reminder to all of us that even small gestures might be appreciated in a way we may never truly realize and that it might be as close as our neighbors right next door.
If you have ever lived in an apartment building or multi-family dwelling you will appreciate what I am going to share with you. I live in a 17-story condominium where many owners sublet their apartments. I have lived here since 1980 as a renter until I purchased my unit in 2000. Living here so long you can imagine I have had a variety of neighbors on all four sides, as well as across the hall. I don't know how other buildings are constructed but this building was built in the mid 60's and sound carries easily through walls, floors and hallways.
Several weeks ago the couple who was renting the apartment across the hall moved out. They told me the owners, a young couple from Bulgaria, wanted to rent it to a friend who just returned from their homeland and was in dire need of a place to live. Nothing unusual there!!! The following weekend all hell broke loose. The sounds of young children screaming, yelling, arguing and running all over the apartment was impossible to ignore. It was so loud that it sounded as if they were living in my apartment!! What to do? I tried to ignore it for three days until I called the front desk to report the disturbance. It was so unsettling that I could not think, eat, watch television or read, and more importantly I could not read Scripture. Finally I called the resident manager in tears explaining that she needed to understand and to hear what I was hearing. From my front door I held up the phone for a couple of minutes and she listened....and her response was just what I expected. She was aghast at the decibel of the noise and promised to speak to the new resident. She did but with little change in the intensity of the noise.
After a week I was so distraught I decided I would speak to my neighbors myself. I knocked on their door and a nanny answered...with two adorable little boys behind her. They were five and seven years old. Only the seven year old spoke English. We introduced ourselves.....He is Alex, his little brother Jordan.......I asked him if they knew how to speak quietly and keep their voices down, as their loudness was not good for my health, explaining that I was getting headaches from their constant noise. They were so apologetic and so cute.....and as we were talking their Mom came down the hall, arriving home from work. I explained to her what the problem was and that I truly hoped we could find a way to live compatibly. She admitted that with two little boys it was not easy to calm them down but she would do her best, though it might take time. We hugged, kissed and shook hands...little Alex extending his hand for me to shake. I could feel the Lord working in this situation and felt that there would be an improvement, if not right away, in the near future.
The next day I was at the store and decided to buy some little toys for the boys. Their apartment was so quiet for two days I thought they were out of town. Finally hearing their Mom come home one night I knocked and offered the toys. She invited me in
and we sat and shared a glass of wine while the boys dressed up in their Halloween costumes to show them off. We had a lovely hour long visit and I learned much about her circumstances. She is a single Mom with two boys and needed a nanny so that she could work all day, and that she had registered the boys in school so they would not be home during the day. When I heard her story and how she was struggling it truly touched my heart. Did I tell you how cute the children are? They are really the most adorable and well mannered boys......just rambunctious.
The following week I came home from church where we hold a fellowship supper and bible study. Normally I never take home any leftovers but this particular night there was a ton of chicken left so I piled a plate to eat the next day. As I was walking down my hallway the Lord told me to knock on their door and offer the chicken. She invited me in, ecstatic that they would now have chicken for dinner with their potatoes!!!!! Now I really understood their struggle! Her circumstances are so difficult that she had to let the nanny go and bring her mother from Bulgaria to live with them. Four people in a one bedroom apartment. My heart is seriously moved by their situation. Today I dropped off a basket of fruit I was given at Walter Reed last night at a Christmas party. You would think I gave them a ten course meal! The grandmother insisted on giving me candy in return for the fruit.
This entire chain of events has opened my eyes to how the Lord wants us to reach out to those less fortunate and to be kind to our neighbors. I have been blessed with new friends and two little boys who have helped me to become more patient. As a family they have made great strides in adapting to their new lifestyle. I am so thankful that I heard the Lord speaking to me. So often I pray and ask Him to use me for His glory....and I wonder how many opportunities I have missed. In this season of giving and sharing this is a reminder to all of us that even small gestures might be appreciated in a way we may never truly realize and that it might be as close as our neighbors right next door.
Tuesday, November 19, 2013
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.
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.
Sunday, November 3, 2013
THE WORLD WAR II MEMORIAL AND HONOR FLIGHTS
THE WORLD WAR II MEMORIAL AND HONOR FLIGHTS
My friends Lyn Braedon-Reed and Jennifer Magerer and I decided that the
best way to spend the day was to head downtown to the WWII Memorial, the
weekend after the government shutdown. Watching Veterans break through
barricades after flying long distances to visit their memorial this was
a beautiful sight, to see them move freely around the magnificent
monument built to honor them and their fallen brothers. We came
knowing that there would be three Honor Flights visiting and we wanted
to be a part of that experience.
In case you are not familiar with Honor Flights they are a nonprofit
that funds flights to bring our veterans to Wash DC from all over the
country, while they are still able to travel. This requires volunteers
to care for the veterans who need constant care, knowing that this may
be the last journey of their lives. Many of the volunteers are from our
area and sign up to assist the veterans through their visit, on and off
the planes and the buses. The emotions that this and other War
memorials evoke is difficult to put into words but each is hallowed
ground to be sure. Our elder veterans walked or were pushed in
wheelchairs.....and you could see they truly felt the spirit of the
monument that payed homage to their service and sacrifice. There was
no way to be there and not feel the sense of love and appreciation in
the air from the many thankful Americans who greeted these visitors with
enormous rounds of applause and cheers while waving American flags.
The patriotism was palpable.....the air was filled with honor and
respect for those who fought for the freedoms we hold dear today.
Before we headed downtown I was reminded to bring with me the oval black
on white stickers that say "I Served WWII" or "I Served KOREA" and what
a blessing that reminder proved to be. It was a rather frantic
afternoon with a very threatening sky and chilly winds. No
matter.....the weather would not deter anyone. Three flights arrived
in buses and as the veterans disembarked we welcomed them with open arms
and stickers. The three of us, along with Jennifer's friend Brandi,
approached each of the veterans shaking hands, sharing hugs and
conversation while I handed them the appropriate sticker(s). Some had
served in both wars, some even three, including Vietnam...... I had
those stickers as well. Many humbly asked if they could have more than
one because they had served in more than one war. Oh my gosh!!
They were so incredibly thankful for the stickers, cherishing them as if
they were extremely valuable. So often it is the simple little things
that hold so much meaning.
By now you know me......I am all about Patriotism and not good at
holding back tears when it comes to those who have served our country,
past or present. I cannot sing the Star Spangled Banner without tears
flowing. This was by far one of the most exceptional events I can
remember. On Veterans Day, Monday November 11, there are Honor Flights
coming in. What better day to be there to greet them once again with
our hugs and stickers and flags. We will repeat this experience as
often as our schedules allow. There are never enough ways to honor our
war veterans......especially the 'greatest generation.' This is the
least we can do and I can't wait to be there again and again.
Monday, October 14, 2013
HONORING OUR VETERANS
HONORING OUR VETERANS
It all started months ago when the founder of Quilts of Honor, Gail Belmont, Army veteran herself, told me about an upcoming quilt exhibition that was to take place at the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Virginia. It was to be held October 4-6 with a quilt presentation planned for 2pm on that Saturday. Then the federal government shutdown and the Museum was closed to the public. A museum that really lent itself to the display of quilts draped from walls and railings. There were multitudes of quilts, all hand made and created by quilters from all over the country that were packed and transported to the Museum. The quilters spent months, years creating military themed quilts which are their specialty for this exhibition.
The quilters traveled here from states east and west with plans to visit all the military memorials in Washington DC as part of their week in the area. As you know, along with the museum all the open air memorials were also closed. It was obvious throughout their visit here, God was at work opening doors for every door that closed. A new venue was found for the exhibition and presentation.....Mt. Vernon, home of George Washington, welcomed Quilts of Honor and did a splendid job displaying their quilts, although fewer than originally planned for the larger museum. They opened a portion of their gift shop and offered their small auditorium. But before I tell you about my visit that Saturday to see the quilts I want to share the other miracles that took place for the quilters.
A trip to the WWII Memorial that was closed to the public, but barricades were opened and they were free to visit and also meet many Veterans who were there with an Honor Flight. The Vietnam Wall, also closed, was a very special visit. The name of the brother of one of the quilters is on the wall, and they were determined to lay a wreath and also lay quilts in front of the wall for magnificent photos.
I was in the best of company with two good friends who are moms of combat wounded warriors at Walter Reed. We were blessed to attend the events on Saturday, not realizing just how emotional the afternoon would become. The quilts were the most beautiful we had ever seen. QOH does not sell them...they make them strictly to present to combat veterans of all generations. Each quilt was more beautiful than the next, some more intricate, all patriotic.....eagles, flags, stars and stripes. After closely examining the handiwork of the quilters, we took our seats in the auditorium for the presentation. Gail and her volunteers had previously met many combat veterans while visiting the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and invited them to Mt Vernon, not divulging the real reason for their invitation which was to present them with quilts and also gift them with passes to visit the Museum.
The ceremony started with members of our National Honor Guard, four (over 6ft tall) handsome Color Guard marching to the stage. No matter where or when I see our flag and sing our national anthem, I get teary. It never fails...the tears run. One of the members of QOH, Marsha Borelli Silva is a singer and songwriter who performed two songs she composed, "Freedom is Not Free" and "America" and then the tears really started flowing. I am extremely patriotic and get very emotional when it comes to honoring our country. Then the presentation began. The name of each veteran was called and a member of QOH presented a quilt that was related to his or her branch of the military. Each presentation brought a round of applause from an approving auditorium. In closing the Color Guard marched out, and then returned unofficially and they were given quilts as well. More tears. Finally, an announcement that at 3:30 there would be an unplanned presentation to some WWII veterans. Well, there was no way I was going to leave and miss that ceremony!!!!!
These WWII Navy Veterans, here with an Honor Flight, all sailed together on the USS Indiana. As I sat there watching each of these precious elderly gentlemen I could picture my Dad and was overcome with sadness, missing him after losing him two years ago. These patriots had no idea why they were invited to the museum and were totally taken aback when their names were called and each was presented with a beautiful quilt. Some could barely stand on their own, some had family with them, some were so touched that they cried. What an incredible honor it was to be there to witness this display of appreciation for our older Veterans. I will never forget that afternoon.
Before all the volunteers left our area to return home to their respective states, Gail,who is an accomplished bugler and has played at many funerals and military functions, played taps at the graveside of George Washington. What a beautiful final gesture for them before they departed, and what an honor it was for us to be there to share the love and gratitude America feels for it's Veterans.
It all started months ago when the founder of Quilts of Honor, Gail Belmont, Army veteran herself, told me about an upcoming quilt exhibition that was to take place at the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Virginia. It was to be held October 4-6 with a quilt presentation planned for 2pm on that Saturday. Then the federal government shutdown and the Museum was closed to the public. A museum that really lent itself to the display of quilts draped from walls and railings. There were multitudes of quilts, all hand made and created by quilters from all over the country that were packed and transported to the Museum. The quilters spent months, years creating military themed quilts which are their specialty for this exhibition.
The quilters traveled here from states east and west with plans to visit all the military memorials in Washington DC as part of their week in the area. As you know, along with the museum all the open air memorials were also closed. It was obvious throughout their visit here, God was at work opening doors for every door that closed. A new venue was found for the exhibition and presentation.....Mt. Vernon, home of George Washington, welcomed Quilts of Honor and did a splendid job displaying their quilts, although fewer than originally planned for the larger museum. They opened a portion of their gift shop and offered their small auditorium. But before I tell you about my visit that Saturday to see the quilts I want to share the other miracles that took place for the quilters.
A trip to the WWII Memorial that was closed to the public, but barricades were opened and they were free to visit and also meet many Veterans who were there with an Honor Flight. The Vietnam Wall, also closed, was a very special visit. The name of the brother of one of the quilters is on the wall, and they were determined to lay a wreath and also lay quilts in front of the wall for magnificent photos.
I was in the best of company with two good friends who are moms of combat wounded warriors at Walter Reed. We were blessed to attend the events on Saturday, not realizing just how emotional the afternoon would become. The quilts were the most beautiful we had ever seen. QOH does not sell them...they make them strictly to present to combat veterans of all generations. Each quilt was more beautiful than the next, some more intricate, all patriotic.....eagles, flags, stars and stripes. After closely examining the handiwork of the quilters, we took our seats in the auditorium for the presentation. Gail and her volunteers had previously met many combat veterans while visiting the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and invited them to Mt Vernon, not divulging the real reason for their invitation which was to present them with quilts and also gift them with passes to visit the Museum.
The ceremony started with members of our National Honor Guard, four (over 6ft tall) handsome Color Guard marching to the stage. No matter where or when I see our flag and sing our national anthem, I get teary. It never fails...the tears run. One of the members of QOH, Marsha Borelli Silva is a singer and songwriter who performed two songs she composed, "Freedom is Not Free" and "America" and then the tears really started flowing. I am extremely patriotic and get very emotional when it comes to honoring our country. Then the presentation began. The name of each veteran was called and a member of QOH presented a quilt that was related to his or her branch of the military. Each presentation brought a round of applause from an approving auditorium. In closing the Color Guard marched out, and then returned unofficially and they were given quilts as well. More tears. Finally, an announcement that at 3:30 there would be an unplanned presentation to some WWII veterans. Well, there was no way I was going to leave and miss that ceremony!!!!!
These WWII Navy Veterans, here with an Honor Flight, all sailed together on the USS Indiana. As I sat there watching each of these precious elderly gentlemen I could picture my Dad and was overcome with sadness, missing him after losing him two years ago. These patriots had no idea why they were invited to the museum and were totally taken aback when their names were called and each was presented with a beautiful quilt. Some could barely stand on their own, some had family with them, some were so touched that they cried. What an incredible honor it was to be there to witness this display of appreciation for our older Veterans. I will never forget that afternoon.
Before all the volunteers left our area to return home to their respective states, Gail,who is an accomplished bugler and has played at many funerals and military functions, played taps at the graveside of George Washington. What a beautiful final gesture for them before they departed, and what an honor it was for us to be there to share the love and gratitude America feels for it's Veterans.
Tuesday, September 17, 2013
CARRYING ON TRADITION
CARRYING ON TRADITION
I have to admit that my memory fails to recall far too many details of how I became connected with some of the recipients of my care packages. The internet was, without a doubt, the most significant means of locating troops I would ship to throughout their deployments. I cannot remember how some of those troops found me or how I found them.....possibly through Marine forums, through friends, through previous recipients.......a multitude of possibilities.
Back in 2006 I received an email with the name of a Marine who was looking for support for his unit deployed to Fallujah. They were a reserve infantry unit, 1st Battalion, 25th Marines, Charlie Company, "New England's Own" out of Enfield, CT. The Marine who was the author of that email was 1stSgt Ben Grainger. I immediately replied that I would be honored to support his Marines and Sailors with care packages. That was the beginning of a most unique friendship.
Ben was a prolific writer and every evening before he retired after a long day he would sit at his computer (when the power was working) and send an email out to all the families of his troops calling it "The Daily Life Corner." I say he was unique because daily communication with their families was high priority. He wanted to reassure all of them back home. So, no matter how exhausted he was after all day patrols or missions outside the wire, he would pour himself a strong cup of java and write....always with a sense of humor. Describing daily life in "the Ville", sharing names of Marines not getting mail, tips for men only, tips for women only, marriage tips, always acknowledging and speaking proudly of his Marines...he would write until his eyelids were closing. He should have been a journalist and I told him that many times because he had a gift, bringing alive what he expressed with words. He was able to reassure the families with his humorous descriptions of everything going on around them. He dubbed Fallujah "The Ville" and their building that they secured as their home the "Holiday Inn Express". He loved to write about the unpleasant problem they encountered with rats and other crawling insects and rodents, how the rats chewed through electrical cables and rendered their electronics useless (reason for computer blackouts). He described the rats as "stealthy insurgent rats that took a liking to his favorite snacks I sent him like trail mix and beef jerky" and in detail shared his plans to eliminate them. He referred to his Marines as 'the boys.'
In their building Ben set up a gallery with photos of family and friends, explaining to me that the guys were motivated by the support from home and seeing their photos was a great comfort. He even had a version of the USO shows.....with photos! He would place a photo of a famous person like Brittney Spears in a frame in the chow hall and tell them she was the server that day. Creative, always thinking of new ways to keep their spirits up. He was there for his boys no matter what the need. They respected and trusted him.
One of Ben's creations caught the attention of their local press back home, the Hartford Courant. They sent a reporter over to Iraq to spend some time with Ben and his Marines. Back home everyone was talking about his nightly reports and his 'new religion', as Ben called it....."Americantology". At night, for an hour on the sandbagged roof of their building they would meet, erect a flag pole from a radio antennae, haul a boom box up there, and play requests from each of the Marines. Their favorites, from patriotic to country to heavy metal.....whatever music made them feel closer to home. Ben would be their chief prophet, preacher and proselytizer of Americantology. I truly felt honored to be included in the 1/25 family.
Ben and I corresponded almost daily and stayed in touch when his unit returned home, but not often. We did communicate a few times a year. I knew that Ben had kids, but back in 2006 they really were just kids but did not recall how old his boys were. Just the other day I got a message from Ben on Facebook. He was inquiring whether I would consider sending care packages to his son, now enlisted in the Army and serving in Afghanistan!!!! Well, you can imagine how excited I was to be able to support the son of a Marine I had shipped to years ago. Carrying on the tradition with the next generation really touched my heart. Today my first box will be shipped to Ben's son, Ben Jr!!!!! When I started writing for the The Glidden Graphic, I knew one day I would share the story of Ben Grainger and now I had a perfect reason to write it....a father and his son serve their country. What a blessing for me to keep the tradition going forward!!!
I have to admit that my memory fails to recall far too many details of how I became connected with some of the recipients of my care packages. The internet was, without a doubt, the most significant means of locating troops I would ship to throughout their deployments. I cannot remember how some of those troops found me or how I found them.....possibly through Marine forums, through friends, through previous recipients.......a multitude of possibilities.
Back in 2006 I received an email with the name of a Marine who was looking for support for his unit deployed to Fallujah. They were a reserve infantry unit, 1st Battalion, 25th Marines, Charlie Company, "New England's Own" out of Enfield, CT. The Marine who was the author of that email was 1stSgt Ben Grainger. I immediately replied that I would be honored to support his Marines and Sailors with care packages. That was the beginning of a most unique friendship.
Ben was a prolific writer and every evening before he retired after a long day he would sit at his computer (when the power was working) and send an email out to all the families of his troops calling it "The Daily Life Corner." I say he was unique because daily communication with their families was high priority. He wanted to reassure all of them back home. So, no matter how exhausted he was after all day patrols or missions outside the wire, he would pour himself a strong cup of java and write....always with a sense of humor. Describing daily life in "the Ville", sharing names of Marines not getting mail, tips for men only, tips for women only, marriage tips, always acknowledging and speaking proudly of his Marines...he would write until his eyelids were closing. He should have been a journalist and I told him that many times because he had a gift, bringing alive what he expressed with words. He was able to reassure the families with his humorous descriptions of everything going on around them. He dubbed Fallujah "The Ville" and their building that they secured as their home the "Holiday Inn Express". He loved to write about the unpleasant problem they encountered with rats and other crawling insects and rodents, how the rats chewed through electrical cables and rendered their electronics useless (reason for computer blackouts). He described the rats as "stealthy insurgent rats that took a liking to his favorite snacks I sent him like trail mix and beef jerky" and in detail shared his plans to eliminate them. He referred to his Marines as 'the boys.'
In their building Ben set up a gallery with photos of family and friends, explaining to me that the guys were motivated by the support from home and seeing their photos was a great comfort. He even had a version of the USO shows.....with photos! He would place a photo of a famous person like Brittney Spears in a frame in the chow hall and tell them she was the server that day. Creative, always thinking of new ways to keep their spirits up. He was there for his boys no matter what the need. They respected and trusted him.
One of Ben's creations caught the attention of their local press back home, the Hartford Courant. They sent a reporter over to Iraq to spend some time with Ben and his Marines. Back home everyone was talking about his nightly reports and his 'new religion', as Ben called it....."Americantology". At night, for an hour on the sandbagged roof of their building they would meet, erect a flag pole from a radio antennae, haul a boom box up there, and play requests from each of the Marines. Their favorites, from patriotic to country to heavy metal.....whatever music made them feel closer to home. Ben would be their chief prophet, preacher and proselytizer of Americantology. I truly felt honored to be included in the 1/25 family.
Ben and I corresponded almost daily and stayed in touch when his unit returned home, but not often. We did communicate a few times a year. I knew that Ben had kids, but back in 2006 they really were just kids but did not recall how old his boys were. Just the other day I got a message from Ben on Facebook. He was inquiring whether I would consider sending care packages to his son, now enlisted in the Army and serving in Afghanistan!!!! Well, you can imagine how excited I was to be able to support the son of a Marine I had shipped to years ago. Carrying on the tradition with the next generation really touched my heart. Today my first box will be shipped to Ben's son, Ben Jr!!!!! When I started writing for the The Glidden Graphic, I knew one day I would share the story of Ben Grainger and now I had a perfect reason to write it....a father and his son serve their country. What a blessing for me to keep the tradition going forward!!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)