Executive Mansion,Washington, Nov. 21, 1864.
Dear Madam,--
I have been shown in the files of the War Department a statement of the Adjutant General of Massachusetts that you are the mother of five sons who have died gloriously on the field of battle.
I feel how weak and fruitless must be any word of mine which should attempt to beguile you from the grief of a loss so overwhelming. But I cannot refrain from tendering you the consolation that may be found in the thanks of the Republic they died to save.
I pray that our Heavenly Father may assuage the anguish of your bereavement, and leave you only the cherished memory of the loved and lost, and the solemn pride that must be yours to have laid so costly a sacrifice upon the altar of freedom.
Yours, very sincerely and respectfully, A. Lincoln
Who can forget the letter Mrs. Bixby received that was read in the movie "Saving Private Ryan " about the loss of her sons. Or the depiction in " We were all Soldiers" when the Army used taxi cabs to deliver the news about a Soldiers death to the wife waiting at home. Both of these movies had a significant impact on my life and the desire and need I had to make sure I could help the families that are affected by the military.
This week I had the honor to attend a casualty notification and casualty assistance class for the Army. While I can not make do either of these two processes , I am working to form a family care team and grief counseling for the National Guard and it was imperative that I understand the process. I can say unequivocally this was the most difficult class I have ever attended. I actually had to have a couple down days after just to let everything sink in. This year the National Guard has had more deaths In Alaska then ever before and several suicides. It seemed like for a while every time I would walk in to see the Chaplin he would know before I ever spoke there was another death. The hard part for me is how do you not feel the pain through the families? My personality is to walk in and take the pain away. I am a fixer. I want everyone happy. For years that has been what I do. That all came to a screeching halt this year when not only did a Soldiers husband die, but he was also a Soldier. When I got to the house after the Chaplin and notification team had left, thankfully the assistance Soldier was there but he was just as scared as I was. Through the upcoming weeks and months, I learned some things I can not fix. That's a giant lesson for me. Some things the only thing I can do is be there. Whether that means 1 in the afternoon or 1 in the morning, if she needed me I was there. I didn't have any great words of wisdom to share. I couldn't tell her why her husband was dead. I couldn't say I promise it will all be ok. But I could cook for her, be there to listen to her. i could cry with her. I could play with her son. I could be a huge resource for her . Her assistance Officer and I had a great relationship that worked well , so we got her family here for the funeral. We stayed with her for everything. Every time she held my hand I could feel her cry even though if I looked over there were no tears coming from her face. I saw her be so strong for their young son. He would place his tiny hands on either side of her face and ask her why she was crying and she would just inhale and tell him everything was ok and that she loved him. I am in such awe of the strength this incredible woman had. Her ability to be everything her child needed during such a difficult time made me all the more convinced we needed to do more to help our Families for their mental well being. I couldn't fix it but I could help her . Its amazing the things you need to do after such a traumatic event. I guess for me this blog is one a way to let go of the week. But also to say while the military like every other large business is not perfect. I am so proud at how far they have come from the letters, the notification from the cabs . And I am so proud of the resources we have made and continue to make to help the families of our Troops. God Bless our Troops and their Families!!
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Military and the impact on communities
Military and families impact Alaskan economy<http://www.ktva.com/ci_12579750> By Corey Allen-Young, CBS 11 News ReporterKTVA With close to a billion dollars of revenue pouring into the state eachyear, the importance of our military to the economy is big. But with recentdeployments to Iraq and Afghanistan sending the majority of our troops awaythat could mean less money for Alaskan businesses. 10,000 men and women inAlaska's armed forces are overseas. 10,000 people whose dollars aren't beingspent here right now. You would be hard pressed to find a business that doesn't depend on themilitary's money in some shape or form. "Between contracts and employmenthere, the military is the largest employer in the state, and what that givesback to Anchorage is absolutely huge," said Sami Glascott, the president ofthe Anchorage Chamber of Commerce. When you add up the total amount it equalswell over one billion dollars a year across the state. Dollars that with ourmen and women deployed are clearly missed. "Right now we are an army at war,the operations that we do have overseas does cause a lot of our soldiers tobe gone for extended periods of time," said Col. Steve Apland, the army'sdeputy chief of staff for Alaska. Officials say with the constant movement and growth of Alaska's operations,the worries over dollars spent here minimum. "A lot of people says it hurts,but either way people are spending money," said Spec. Mitchell Spurlock, whois stationed at Fort Richardson. "I think they worry for a brief time periodbut then again once one company deploys, one unit deploys, there is anotherone on its way back, there usually just a little gap in between," said Pvt.Timothy Moon, who is stationed at Fort Richardson. Officials tout thatstimulus money will also make an impact on our state's economy as projectsfor infrastructure and repair on base will have dollars flowing. But even with troops coming back from overseas deployment about 80 percent ofAlaska's service men and women remain deployed right now. A figure that couldimpact our economy if the military families left behind also exit our state.Being a part of a military family can be difficult, especially when yourhusband, wife, dad, or mom has to be deployed for a long period of time. Atime that could push you to want to leave Alaska altogether. But in effortsto keep that from happening both city and military officials are teaming upto help. With close to 10,000 of Alaska's military personnel currently inIraq and Afghanistan their families remain here as part of the Anchoragecommunity. "They have jobs out in the community, the spouses, their childrenare in the schools, they live in houses in Anchorage, they have become partof the community," said Apland. But with deployments averaging well over a year's time, that's time thatfamilies may decide to go somewhere else. "If they are not a part of theAnchorage community then they won't stay and if they won't stay here, likelytheir husband or wife who is serving in uniform probably won't stay in thearmy very long," said Apland. City and military officials are workingtogether to make things comfortable here for military families. Somethingthat is being appreciated. "There is a lot places off post that give militarydiscounts which really do help us out a lot," said Moon. "I go downtownmultiple times, people stop shake your hands and say thank you for all youdo," said Spurlock. "Alaska supports the military so well and you don'talways get that at a lot of places," said Laura Atkins, whose husband is Lt.General Dana Atkins is in charge of the Alaskan command. "We recognize herein Anchorage that we have about 28,000 military and their families here inanchorage and that is a huge economy for us," said Glascott. A billion dollar economy that both the military and Anchorage's businessesdon't want to lose. "That's a cost to any community, the important thing isthat those families that feel a part of the community they'll stay hereduring that time, they won't go to the lower 48," said Apland. With supportsystems like spouse and family programs offered on both bases and militarydiscounts available across the city there are many options out there. Buteven military officials say the Anchorage community making the families feelwanted here is the main reason they stay.
Sunday, June 14, 2009
$5000.00 Donation from Best Buy!!!!
Today, Best Buy had their grand opening on the East side of town. The people were lined
all around the outside of the building waiting to get in.
As we listened to the Store Manager Asher explain everytime they open a new store they give $10,000 to non profits in town that stay local.
This opening they chose two non profits, Friends of the Guard and Reserve , which is an amazing group specifically designed to give grants to Families of the Guard and Resrve in times of need. Most recently we had a full time Guard member whose home had burned down while he was at work and his wife was away on a trip.
The second group was Kids Kitchen, which is an equally wonderful group that feeds children who otherwise would not get a meal at home.
We are so blessed and thankful to have Best Buy supporting our local community. P.S Asher said anything we ever needed, they know they have to do just more for our families then just this check. We think it was wonderful but we will absolutly look forward to working with them on future endevours!
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Happy Birthday to the Army!!!
Alaska Soldiers celebrated the Army's 234th birthday instyle June 5, while recognizing its past and present noncommissionedofficers, who are considered to be the backbone of the nation's largest andoldest force.Nearly 350 people attended the 2009 Army Birthday All-Ranks Ball at theSheraton Anchorage Hotel in Anchorage. The ball, co-hosted by U.S. ArmyAlaska and the Association of the United States Army Last Frontier Chapter,put the spotlight firmly on the Army's Year of the Noncommissioned Officerand the young leader representing the command at the U.S. Army, PacificNoncommissioned Officer of the Year competition.AUSA Last Frontier Chapter president Rundy Galles said this is the chapter'sfirst ball to celebrate the Army's founding. Being that it coincides with theYear of the NCO, it was fitting to have a primary role for USARAK's NCO ofthe Year."In the end, being selected as the USARAK NCO of the Year has been thebiggest achievement yet in my Army career," said Staff Sgt. Neftali Bonilla,who was the event's main speaker. "I have gained the knowledge and hardenedmy skills that will help me overcome any obstacles that may lie ahead."Bonilla, of C Company, 123rd Aviation Intermediate Maintenance, earned thetitle of USARAK NCO of the Year in a multi-event contest May 3 through May 7at Fort Richardson. He left for Hawaii following the ball to compete in theUSARPAC Warrior Challenge '09 Competition, which started June 8 and ends June14.Reminders of the impacts of NCOs were presented throughout the event, toinclude mentions of outstanding leadership on the battlefield and a SergeantAudie Murphy Club presentation of "I am The Sergeant," which extolled theirvital role and responsibilities throughout history.The ball is one of the capstone Year of the NCO events being offered inUSARAK and across the Army
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