Heroes.

Former Marine Oliver North defined the word “HERO”:

“Heroes are people who overcome evil by doing good at great personal risk. Through self-sacrifice, fortitude and action — whether they succeed or fail — heroes provide a moral and ethical framework — and inspiration — for the rest of us.”

Wives, mothers, fathers, sisters, cousins.
Just a few of the family members we met today on 5 East.
Some had been there 5 weeks; some arrived just two days ago.
Some travel back and forth from their home state to the hospital, as they can.
Others have stayed so long that their sons are telling them, “It’s okay to go home now, Mom. I’ll be fine.” Continue reading September 13, 2009 – 5th Floor: In the company of Heroes →

Gate Roster: Gladys, Bob, Janelle, and Jane

Arrived at Gladys’ around 2 PM Saturday.  Went over shopping list, supplies list, and to-do list with Gladys and Bob.

Left Gladys’ at 2:30 to shop. Went to Sam’s, Wal-Mart, and Dollar Store.

Left Bob in charge of chicken baking in the oven and the job of putting together the encouragement note packets which included emailed notes, handwritten notes, an MM-B comb, and a special “Star”.. (Thank you Chris, Florida G.S Troop 681, Linda and Larry, Jan, Maria, Gramma Pam, Marcia, Teresa and Family, Miller Family, Nathan and George the Kitten, Shawn and Family, and someone who didn’t sign their name.)

Arrived back from shopping at 5:00 PM, had dinner, relaxed a little bit, Gladys got busy; Jane and Bob relaxed a little more then joined her; finished up, relaxed some more and at midnight, turned the crockpots on and went to bed. Continue reading July 12, 2009 – 5th Floor: What’s better than watermelon on a hot summer day? →

The Unspoken Bond

The April luncheon rolled around and for the first time ever I was unable to attend. I had promised a Biker I know – okay, my husband – way back in January that I would do the Spring Poker Run with him. The date that worked out the best for the hospital and the rest of the Crew just happened to be on that same day…

That’s okay, though. I met the Scroll Man. Continue reading April 5, 2009 – 5th Floor →

Dear Warrior…

Before a luncheon, I send out an encouragement/support note request to the groups I am on, and I also include the request in the MarineMoms-Bethesda newsletter. Then a day or two before the luncheon, I format them into a word document and print them out.

They are placed in a white 13×9 envelope and hand-delivered by us to the families or patients at the luncheons.

I print out a few more than I think I will need just in case, and the leftovers are given to the Marine Liaison’s office for guys we may have missed, like if they were out on a day pass, or for incoming patients who may arrive in between luncheons.

The notes are for all branches of the military.

Here are a few that were received for this luncheon: Continue reading February 15, 2009 – 5th Floor →

Winter & a Mercy Hall Luncheon

The day before a luncheon I head over to the Western Shore to food shop and get ready for the luncheon with the rest of the crew and we knock it all out with enough time to sit back and enjoy catching up with each other.

I’m always leery about planning a luncheon from January through March though, because of flu season and the weather.  In fact, a few weeks before this luncheon we had a “what if” discussion.
And then it happened…

The Day Before–

1000: “Jane, it’s pretty treacherous here. My road is a sheet of ice.

“It’s not looking too good here either, Robin.”

“You might want to call for a Bridge report.”

“Good idea.”

===

1130: “Jane, how’s the roads over there? You don’t like driving in this stuff, do you?”

“Noooooo, not a bit. Deb, BWI’s reporting freezing fog. I don’t think I’m going to make it over there today. Man I hate to cancel…”

===

The guys at Mercy Hall went out, did their job, and traveled on roads in HMVVs not knowing if they were going to make it back to camp without hitting an IED or being shot by a sniper. Continue reading January 29, 2009 ~ Mercy Hall →

“I could smell it out in the hallway!”

“Real food!”

“Fill your plate – there’s plenty! Sandwiches there, chili over there, drinks behind you.”

“Brownies!”

“NO calories in the brownies!”

“Was your son wounded or are you here for something else?”

“My son was wounded – suicide bomber.”

“It’s my husband – IED.”

“Where was he?” Continue reading November 2008 – 5th Floor: Conversations… →

It seems like it wasn’t that long ago that Brenda picked daffodils for the table decorations and now here we have pumpkins, gourds and wheat.

Where did the summer go?

Robin suggested doing a potato bar with all the toppings for this month’s luncheon. Deb’s Chili, sour cream, chives, bacon bits, jalapeno slices, butter, cheese sauce and broccoli made for a meal in itself. Continue reading October 12, 2008 – 5th Floor: Fall is in the air →