Tag Archives: Military Families

November 9, 2014 – 4th Floor: Marines, Veterans, and Thanksgiving

Julie & LCpl. Smitty
Happy Birthday, Marines!

Today’s Luncheon was a celebration of the USMC’s 239th Birthday and Veterans Day, serving a Thanksgiving Day meal!

 

The Sponsors:

Carey & Chris

Joanna & Joel

Mary T.

WA State Operation Thank You

Thank you!

Room Before
The room when we arrived, the “stuff” we brought (first trip up), and almost ready to serve.

the food
The buffet, missing are the mashed potatoes and stuffing.

The Menu:

Turkey & Ham

Gravy, Stuffing

Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans

Potato Soup & Fresh Fruit Salad

Stuffed Celery, Cranberry Sauce

Cheese & Pepperoni Tray

Pickles & Olives

Asst. Rolls

Assorted Drinks & water

Fresh Smoothies

Chocolate Chip Cookies, Pumpkin Pie & Cake

The Niftie Gifties:

pantry bags, quilts and pillowcases

Quilts from Olde Kent Quilters

Patriotic Pillowcases from Bayside Quilters of the Eastern Shore

Marine & Army Lap Quilts from Jean in Ohio

Scarves from Eleanore in New Jersey

Snack Bags

Thank You!

The Day:

We send out the call for sign-ups to our luncheon volunteers and they help when they can. Some months we have two or three, this month we had seven. Even though we staggered the arrival times, I thought we’d be knocking elbows with everyone in the room, and we were – until the line began to form. Continue reading November 9, 2014 – 4th Floor: Marines, Veterans, and Thanksgiving

May 22, 2011 – 5 East: Armed Forces Weekend

Armed Forces DayTo Our Marines,

Soldiers,

Sailors,

Airmen,

and

Coast Guardsmen

Thank You for Your Service!

Centerpiece and other stuff

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

snack bags and encouragement notesWashington State Operation Thank You asked us to look for Josh so we did, and we found him and his Dad.  We had a packet of notes for Josh along with the pantry bag of snacks and a beautiful quilt made by Bayside Quilters for him to give to his wife.

Janet and Lew coordinated the luncheon.  Menu was lasagna, a pasta dish with tomato and sausage, Diane’s delicious potato soup, deviled eggs (they were being taste-tested by a mom before they had barely been set down on the luncheon table), cheese platter, salad, chips and dip and fresh fruit.

lasagna
Lasagna

Lasagna

 

 

 

The BEST Potato Soup ever!
The BEST Potato Soup ever!

 

 

 

dessertsThe desserts were, as always, luscious.
Thank you, Becky, Colleen, Diane, Mary Jane, and the cookie bakers for your contributions!

This was Sarah’s first visit with us so I grabbed her for a quick walk around the ward during a slow spell.

 

doorSigns and artwork on a door to a Corporal’s room.

 

 

 

 

 

massagesI showed her where the massage therapists do the seated massages.
Jaime and Kelly had a little respite from doing their seated massages so Kelly worked on Jaime a little bit to get the kinks out.

They were working in one waiting rooms.

 

games in the waiting roombooks and magazines in the waiting roomThe waiting rooms have bookcases filled with games and books.

 

 

 

waiting room

And comfortable chairs facing a big screen TV, with computer and internet access.

 

 

 

two Marine momsWe couldn’t pass by the opportunity to take a picture of the Marine flag!  A General and a Sergeant Major were there visiting their Marines and took a picture of two of our volunteers.  Thank you!

 

snack bags and notesWe ended up back at the doorway to the luncheon room where the cart with the notes, quilts, and pantry bags are placed.  They are handed out as the patient or family member leave the luncheon room.

Julie shopped for and packed the bags. Janet formatted the emailed notes into a word document, printed them out and packaged them up.  Thank you, Ladies!

packing upNot a whole lot of food leftover to label and stash in the pantry.

 

 

 

fresh veggiesFresh vegetables are always welcome.
They don’t last long after we leave!

 

 

We loaded up and I had to bug out early, leaving the crew recapping the events of the day.  Our volunteers came from within a two hour radius of Bethesda and it is always a pleasure spending a few minutes after a luncheon catching up and chatting together.

Luncheon crew May 22_2011

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our MM-B volunteers are great.  They all share in the work load, each one taking on tasks that make the luncheons so special, picking up where others run into glitches when needed.

It is heartwarming to see their care and concern for the patients and families, and each volunteer goes the extra mile to ensure their needs are met while we are there; whether it’s making sure they know where the pantry is or helping them carry things back to their rooms or just lending an ear to listen. . .

Today’s luncheon crew:
Janet, Lew, Katie, Stephanie, Elizabeth, Mary, and Sarah
With Jaime and Kelly from “Touch of Relief”
Thank you! Job WELL done!

**********

Each one of us brings something away from our time spent at the hospital, and we each have our own reasons for wishing to serve our HEROES by volunteering with the luncheons.

When someone says to me,

“I don’t know how you can continue to go month after month and see what you see,”

I think to myself,

“How can I not?  If those of us who can – don’t – then who will?”

Whether it is volunteering at a military or VA hospital, planning special events for homecomings or to recognize Veterans from past wars, writing letters and sending care packages, making neck coolers to send to “over there” as the temps rise above 100 degrees, or organizing a support group for families, or sending food back to the base with your son as he heads back after a weekend home, or standing in a flag line at a funeral, posting a message on a legacy page for a Fallen Hero, or inviting 12 Marines to your home and enlisting the whole town to provide the support to give them the best weekend they’ve had in a long time, or supporting those who do any of these things – all is needed and all is appreciated more than most of us will ever know – unless we ourselves have been there/done that…

To see the patience of a father as he helps his son into a wheelchair to go to physical therapy – the time it takes, the effort it takes… neither one complaining…

To listen to a girlfriend express her feelings about the war and her boyfriend losing both of his legs…

To see a mom again – for the sixth luncheon…

To watch our volunteers come together and pull off yet another fabulous meal to honor service members and their families who have sacrificed so much…

After leaving Bethesda, I stopped by a friend’s house.  Gladys and Bob were hosting a BBQ for their Marine Corps League Detachment and had invited me to stop by on the way home.  The Detachment was honoring one of their members who was headed “over there” very soon…

This war on terror is going on ten years now… and actually before then, but many of us just didn’t realize it and some still don’t.
Every service member serving right now volunteered to do so.

I am grateful for the opportunity to show support to the Marines, Soldiers, and Sailors we meet at the hospital.

Today’s luncheon was a very powerful one to me.

**********

6/8/2011 – I received an update from Josh’s Aunt the other day that included a video made by a friend of their family.
After following his recovery since the end of April, watching this video was very special!  I just wanted to stand up and cheer for Josh!!!

(Per Marine Moms Rules: Fair warning – allergy alert.)

The Road to Recovery for Sgt. Josh Elliot

All the Best to you, Josh!!!

Until next time, continued prayers for our military and their families…

Love and Hugs,

Jane