#1 Fan-A Wish Granted

Little boys are notorious for giving their mothers all sorts of grief, and then, when they grow up, it seems as though many of them have a special place in their heart and life for their mothers. One Army Specialist was that boy.   

Growing up with his mom as his #1 fan at all football games and events, nothing changed when he pursued his dream of a career in the Army. Through deployments and training, his mother was there for it all—even when that meant giving up everything to help him through his rehabilitation after sustaining injuries from an IED in 2005. 

Immediate Needs: Support During Difficult Times

In February, in a blog posting about our Immediate Needs Program, I wrote:  "...it is difficult to capture this program in a picture.  How do you show a caregiver getting help at bedside, the lights being kept on, a family staying in their home, or food on the table?"
We have completed the first quarter of 2012 and the the dollars spent within this program have been tallied.  The chart above is exactly the picture that some of us need to understand the work that is involved.

In the first three months, Hope For The Warriors® provided more than $112,000 in assistance to wounded service members, their families, and families of the fallen.  The reasons vary--whether to support a combat wounded service member at bedside or along the road to recovery, our families are making sacrifices to support their wounded service member.  The challenges continue as service members retire and transition to the civilian community and learn to navigate new services and employment.

Nothing on this chart is frivolous.  Each of the segments represent a basic need that was met for our military family during a difficult period in their life.  A roof over their heads, the lights left on or food on the table.  (The miscellaneous category includes moving expenses for three separate families.)

When a family is assisted through Immediate Needs, we recognize that the support given is a quick fix. From here, our goal is to help the family find more permanent solutions.  This could be through one of our other programs or by referring that family to other available services. 

Our Immediate Needs Program often supports our military families during their most difficult moments.  Thank you to all that support Hope For The Warriors® and allow us to provide support during those times.

The Lucky One: Movie Premiere

The latest movie based on a bestselling novel from Nicholas Sparks will premiere Friday, April 20.  The movie, The Lucky One, stars Zac Efron, Taylor Schilling and Blythe Danner.

A Marine Corps Sergeant, played by Efron, returns from his third Iraq deployment.  He believes that he is alive due to a photograph of a woman that he has never met.  Determined to meet his "lucky charm," he learns her name and where she lives and shows up at her door.  By taking a job working for her family's business, he is able to spend more time with her.  Through their time together, a romance begins.  Sparks is a master storyteller and will no doubt require movie-goers to bring their tissues. (Past movies include A Walk to Remember, The Notebook, The Last Song and Dear John.)

This beautiful story takes place in North Carolina, home to Nicholas Sparks and to Hope For The Warriors®.  For this movie, the Nicholas Sparks Foundation is hosting a Celebrity Family Weekend.  The weekend includes a Family Fun Night on Friday, including the movie's premiere in New Bern.  Saturday will be a golf tournament and Sunday will begin with a 5K race.  If you live in the area, please come out for one or more events.  (Event Website.)

Authors often create stories that swirl around love and war.  Perhaps it is the appeal of a man in uniform, the inevitable heartbreak of war or something less complicated.  Afterall, it is easy to acknowledge that war will pull at couples today--and often pull them apart, even if just temporarily.  Our military is filled with stories that are romantic, exhilarating, joyous, surprising, agonizing and yes, tragic. 

Several wounded service members and military families are invited guests to the movie premiere and will also attend the golf tournament and 5K race.  Their stories might not be made into a movie, but they are just as inspiring.  These families have served together, sacrificed together and in spite of their challenges, they have stayed together. 

Hope For The Warriors® is excited to be a beneficiary of the Nicholas Sparks Foundation along with two other worthy nonprofits.  We thank the foundation for recognizing the challenges and the needs of our military families both in North Carolina and throughout the country.

See you at the movies!

Turkeys can be Love Birds Too

Today I share a love story.  It is unlike any love story that you have read in a book or seen on film.  It is better.  It includes devotion, a promise and sacrifice.  It is both happy and sad.

Samantha met Mark when she was still in high school while working part time at her local Dairy Queen.  They immediately began dating and five years later, on April 16, 2009, the couple married.

Being young, the couple did not have a lot of money.  And since Mark was a Marine, they did not have a lot of time either.  So they agreed that they would save for the perfect Honeymoon—a guided hunting trip.

Although Samantha and Mark did not grow up hunting, they both enjoyed the sport. For the young couple, it was the perfect way to relax together and enjoy nature. They loved being surrounded by the woods, taking in fresh air, the company of only each other.  They also enjoyed a fun competition. Hunting was their favorite activity.

On June 16, 2011, Mark died from injuries that he sustained 13 days prior from an IED in Afghanistan.  It was his fifth overseas deployment.

Samantha made a promise.  She would still go on that trip to honor Mark.  She would hunt in his memory.  She was determined to go on that Honeymoon.

Last week, just a few days before her third Wedding Anniversary, Samantha joined other military spouses and Hope For The Warriors® for a turkey hunting trip in Florida.  Although we have hosted countless service members on hunting trips through our outdoor adventures program, this was the first trip that focused on our spouses.  All of the women loved it.

The time hunting is only one part of the trip.  Each woman on the trip was the spouse of a fallen or wounded service member.  Each have served this country through multiple moves and multiple deployments. They continue to serve by caring for their wounded hero, enduring the emotional ups and downs that come with any medical recovery.  This trip was one way that Hope For The Warriors® nurtures our caregivers.

For Samantha, the trip helped her fulfill her promise. 

“I promised myself that no matter how long it took, I would go on my Honeymoon.  I am so thankful to Hope For The Warriors® for making this amazing trip possible.  It has given me a sense of accomplishment and a sense of closure.”

It is important to share one last detail.  Each woman on the trip was successful and brought home a turkey.  Samantha did better.

“I am the only one that got two turkeys—one for me and one for Mark.”

Happy Anniversary Samantha.  Mark would have been so proud.

Military Children: Run and Volunteer

Running in a 5K, attending an annual Dolphin Dip, riding a motorcycle...it might seem like all fun and games, but when your Mom works for a nonprofit and your Dad is a Marine, they are a lot of work too.

Our President, Robin Kelleher, has two young kids that have grown up surrounded by the Marine Corps and Hope For The Warriors®.  They have attended races and events to raise funds and awareness for our military families. They have volunteered at events--helping their Mom and our staff with whatever jobs they can do. 



Even if their destination is fun, not all of the work surrounding the event is fun.  They have sat on the sidelines, watching their Mom interact with military families, trying to wait patiently.  They understand first hand the price of service and sacrifice.  They have witnessed the impact on the families their Mom works with, they have heard the conversations at the dinner table.  They will grow up with a very healthy respect for our men and women in uniform, like most military children.

If you have a great military child that has supported Hope For The Warriors®, please let us know!  Send photos and information to Anne Woods.

Friday's Photo

A picture is worth a thousand words.

Daddy comes home!

Month of the Military Child

"Where are you from?"

It is a common question we ask new acquiantences and one that typically is easy to answer.  But sometimes, the answer is not so easy. 

"Everywhere and nowhere."

And when you hear that answer, the usual response is:

"Oh, was your Dad in the military?"

Yes, the military child lives an interesting life.  They have interesting stories to share, a long list of schools and states they have lived in--and sometimes different countries too. 

Military kids learn how to make friends quickly.  They know the meaning of the term "hit the ground running."  Move to a new base, make friends, find your activities and sports.  There is no time to waste.

Military kids quickly stand at attention during the Pledge of Allegiance, the Star-Spangled Banner and more.  They understand the importance of respect to the flag, to military members and to our leaders.

Military kids know how to say good-bye.  They know that their Dad or Mom might not be there for every single game or performance. Some moments will be missed. Military kids know how to carry forward.

Military kids learn at an early age the meaning of service and sacrifice. They are serving.

Help Us Celebrate the Month

Hope For The Warriors® depends on volunteers to ensure the success of our events and our organization.  Many of those volunteers are also the son or daughter of a member of our military.  If your military child has volunteered with our organization, taken part in a fundraiser, been a member of Team Hope For The Warriors® or has participated in multiple events such as Run For The Warriors®, we would like to hear from you.  E-mail Anne Woods with photos and share with us what your military child has done for our wounded heroes.  We will honor your child on this blog!







It's Time to Fight for Them--What Do You See?

I love this new flyer.  I love the photo and the powerful headline.  I love the red strip that immediately captures the eye.  I LOVE the little girl, clinging to this man.

Yesterday, we posted this flyer on our Facebook page and asked that people repost.  It was amazing to track. 

From the moment I gazed at this photo, a story immediately unfolded in my mind, evoking an emotional response.  However, it occurred to me that each of our stories are unique.  We each make assumptions of who the man and little girl are, their relationship, where they are, where they've been and why this little girl is hugging him so tightly. 

The first story that came to my mind is that this father has returned from a combat deployment and his little girl is hugging him so tightly--making up for the year he was not home. 

But really, this could be the moment the two are saying good bye, before the deployment.  Or it could be Memorial Day or Veterans Day or some other occassion that this little girl is holding a flag, honoring our military.

I made the assumption that this man is her Father, but he could easily be her Uncle or an older brother.  The hardest story for me to grasp--he could also be the best friend of her Father--a man who did not return home. 

Regardless of who they are, the headline fits.  It is time to fight for our military families, to support their needs and to restore their lives.  Restore the family unit, their goals, their dreams and their hopes.

I invite each of you to share this flyer.  You may share it electronically or print it off and post where you work, go to school, church or other places.  Invite people to support our military families and Hope For The Warriors®.