~ Friends In All Seasons ~

I am sharing some posts today in honor of,
United States National Day of the Deployed. 
This day is observed annually on October 26th.

Unless you have had your loved one deployed in a war zone
you can only TRY to imagine what the family of the deployed
goes through.  Others who have lived through that, GET WHAT
you are LIVING like no one else will. 
I pray daily for our deployed and daily for those who love them.
My son, Vincent was in the US Air Force from 2002 until
he choose to separate in 2012.  I wrote the following in March of 2004.
At that time, long before Facebook, I belonged to a private military
parent support group.  We NEEDED each other to get through. 

~ Friends In All Seasons ~

I will attempt to understand you,
even when you don't understand you.
I ask the same of you.

When I speak to you and attempt
to console or council you,
You may not like the words I speak,
but I will speak them in friendship,
a friendship that has a foundation
of love and caring.

It's quite easy to be friends on
a sunny bright day, when all is
well and the birds sing us their song.

It's quite another thing to have found
ourselves caught in a flash flood.
I have a tight grip on a tree
branch and our hands are gripped
together holding on, lest we be swept away.

We were placed in each other's life paths
for a reason. We have bonded by the
parallels of our lives.
I am thankful for you.

In all seasons my friend,
May you feel the embrace
of my friendship, and I yours.

Dedicated to
~Gabrielle
3-27-2004 ~~~ Love Deb

 March 24, 2004

Love to you other Military Parents

I am sharing some posts today in honor of,
United States National Day of the Deployed. 
This day is observed annually on October 26th.

Unless you have had your loved one deployed in a war zone
you can only TRY to imagine what the family of the deployed
goes through.  Others who have lived through that, GET WHAT
you are LIVING like no one else will. 
I pray daily for our deployed and daily for those who love them.
My son, Vincent was in the US Air Force from 2002 until
he choose to separate in 2012.  I wrote the following in March of 2003.
At that time, long before Facebook, I belonged to a private military
parent support group.  We NEEDED each other to get through. 

Love to you other Military Parents

Dear Friends,

I laid my head down last night to sleep,
feelings of uncertainty raced through my body.
When sleep did come to me,
I felt like I traveled the world in my dreams.

I was with you, another parent, there were no
words of comfort to offer, so I only sat quietly
with you holding your hand.
Our eyes and hearts spoke to one another.
As I patted your back and bid you farewell
I told you I would see you on the site in the morning.

I found OUR children scattered all over the world.
Their sense of duty and strength would astound you.!!!
They actually FEEL your support, their connections
to your hearts are inseparable.
They send their ~love~ to YOU. !

I woke up this morning and felt tranquility
because of OUR connection to each other.
The anxiety of the times is softened
by knowing we are here for each other's support.

With Love to you !
Debra Estep
March 15, 2003
* ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ * ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ * ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ * ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ * ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ *

My Thoughts of Support to You

I am sharing some posts today in honor of,
United States National Day of the Deployed. 
This day is observed annually on October 26th.

Unless you have had your loved one deployed in a war zone
you can only TRY to imagine what the family of the deployed
goes through.  Others who have lived through that, GET WHAT
you are LIVING like no one else will. 
I pray daily for our deployed and daily for those who love them.

My son, Vincent was in the US Air Force from 2002 until
he choose to separate in 2012.  I wrote the following in October of 2004.
At that time, long before Facebook, I belonged to a private military
parent support group.  We NEEDED each other to get through. 

My Thoughts of Support, To You....

My son proudly serves in the US Air Force.
During his deployment to Iraq ( Nov of 03 until March of 2004)
I never once felt alone.

First off God was at my side holding my hand.
Next came family and friends and my circle enlarged.

Around my circle I envisioned a circle of other military parents,
wives, husbands, children and their family and friends.
All standing shoulder to shoulder, hands clasp to one another.

Around that circle standing shoulder to shoulder I felt the
presence of the people of the United States of America.
That circle was huge. Dotting that circle and standing just
a bit taller than the average person were former military folks,
each proudly wearing the dress uniform of their branch.

Then came another circle and at first I did not fully understand
why they appeared so faint almost transparent.
Until I heard their voices. At times I heard them speak to me
or heard their offered prayers. `Dear God Bless Johnny'.
At times I was allowed a glimpse of what their child saw.
Battles of men all lined up in rows, battles of brother
fighting brother in the back yards of this country.
Troops in fox holes shoulder to shoulder, a harbor on fire
as troops pulled wounded friends to the safety of floating
debris. Soldiers in snow covered mountains, soldiers mucking
through humid rice paddies, soldiers in blazing heat with sand
whipping their bodies…...

The voices I heard were feminine because the love
of a mother for a child transcends time and space.
`We've been where you are now'. `We've waited months
for a single letter home'. `We've cried your same tears'.

It's been nearly 7 months since my son returned. Until now,
I've not really stopped to put these thoughts down on paper.
You need to know that this was a huge part of my strength.
For me these thoughts were empowering, knowing I was not
alone in my fears and concerns. Others were standing with me,
and others had gone before me.

To you who's children have yet to leave…..

Today is the day you can actually LIVE in. Gently call
your thoughts back and remind yourself where they are today.

To you who's children are away, please trust that we
are shoulder to shoulder with you. !!!

I've been online for over 10 years.
I have met people who have forever changed my life. !
#1 being my dear husband Michael.
I have friends I never dreamed I would have. :)

Over these 10 years it's not been easy describing
bonded friendships to folks who are not online.
They just don't GET how powerful
it can be being connected to folks via the written word.

I'm still in touch with one of my very first
online friends, Dave.
He and his wife Patti live in Pennsylvania.
We met each other and our families when we traveled
there in 1999.
There is a reason for my explaining this as an ending.
Dave and I would talk to one another over the net and when
we ended our IM's, we would touch the screen at the
same time, index finger to finger.
It was the closest way to feel connected.
I can't reach out and hug YOU now, but just touch the
screen with your index finger,
right at the end of the line here,
and KNOW that I just touched it with a hug
as I've sent this to YOU. ________
Lovies --
OXOXOX
Deb in Ohio
Proud AF Mom of VinnyOct 3, 2004

Fallen US Military Remembrance

Scattering CJ - The Loss of One Becomes The Journey of Many

The following statement was shared by Hallie Twomey

on April 5, 2019 on her Facebook page

 

"I feel like I should stand on the rooftop and yell, “WE INTERRUPT THIS REGULARLY SCHEDULED PROGRAM FOR AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE.”

Just received the SCATTERING CJ film poster.

I knew it was close to being finished but it still took my breath away.

It’s awesome.

Makes me smile and want to cry.

I love that they used a search engine format for the title.

Without the ability to reach and connect with people online, SCATTERING CJ wouldn’t be what it is today.

Feeling so many feels that it’s hard to stay still.

What a journey this has been. (And continues to be).

Don’t forget to check out the film website and share it far and wide.

Something positive needs to come from this film. Even one less person following in CJ’s footsteps is a victory."

www.scatteringcjthemovie.com

When seemingly happy, travel-infatuated CJ Twomey violently ended his own life at age 20, 

his family was plunged into unrelenting grief and guilt. In a moment of desperate inspiration, 

his mother Hallie put out an open call on Facebook, looking only for a handful of travelers 

who might help fulfill her son's wish to see the world by scattering some of his ashes in 

a place of beauty or special meaning.

Twenty-one thousand strangers liked the Facebook page, and one thousand volunteers 

have since taken CJ to over one hundred countries. While crisscrossing the globe, 

his ashes and his family’s story have given rise to a social media phenomenon — 

a worldwide community — that has congregated in solidarity and empathy in dealing 

with a still heavily stigmatized and misunderstood form of mental illness.

Aggregating hundreds of clips chronicling personal ash-scattering pilgrimages worldwide, 

combined with intimate interviews and vérité filmmaking, Hallie’s story — one that 

has cross-pollinated and traveled so organically, resonantly, inspirationally — shows us 

that social media can act as a connector and a vehicle for empathy, as opposed to 

the more toxic aspects of social media interaction we're currently witnessing. 

Her story further illustrates how there can be positive action grown from suicide, 

and that even if it isn't reliably predictable, it just may in some cases be preventable.

​

Scattering CJ is scheduled for release in 2019.

 

~*~ CJ Twomey ~*~

Remembering Swannee and All Vietnam Veterans

A niece, Felicia DeLappi remembers 

her dear Uncle Swannee.
A good man....
On this Veteran's Day weekend
AND every day....
THANK YOU Swannee.

On December 1, 1969, the Selective Service System of the United States conducted two lotteries to determine the order of call to military service in the Vietnam War for men born from 1944 to 1950.

The Draft in Context

The military draft brought the war to the American home front. During the Vietnam War era, between 1964 and 1973, the U.S. military drafted 2.2 million American men out of an eligible pool of 27 million.  Although only 25 percent of the military force in the combat zones were draftees, the system of conscription caused many young American men to volunteer for the armed forces in order to have more of a choice of which division in the military they would serve. While many soldiers did support the war, at least initially, to others the draft seemed like a death sentence: being sent to a war and fight for a cause that they did not believe in. Some sought refuge in college or parental deferments; others intentionally failed aptitude tests or otherwise evaded; thousands fled to Canada; the politically connected sought refuge in the National Guard; and a growing number engaged in direct resistance. Antiwar activists viewed the draft as immoral and the only means for the government to continue the war with fresh soldiers. Ironically, as the draft continued to fuel the war effort, it also intensified the antiwar cause. Although the Selective Service’s deferment system meant that men of lower socioeconomic standing were most likely to be sent to the front lines, no one was completely safe from the draft. Almost every American was either eligible to go to war or knew someone who was.

Without a doubt, Swannee's life was
cut short due to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, PTSD.  

The Vietnam Veterans were not welcomed home

with open arms, in fact they were disrespected 

in almost every way imaginable. 

That disrespect caused so many of them to 

shut down, to close it off, to stuff it inside

as there was no way to process it all within

the mental health system, the military horriably

failed those who returned.  They were left on

their own to deal with the trauma of being in

a war zone.  Death of friends, the taking of lives

as is such with war.  The constant fear and

anxiety of being in danger.  Unimaginable

fears that most of us will never know. 

We can not let Swannee AND so many

thousands of others EVER be forgotten. 

Also the families who were and continue to be 

perhaps the only form of support for these

brave soldiers... we must not forget about them. 

IF you happen to see someone wearing Vietnam 

military gear, PLEASE extend your hand

and THANK THEM for their service.

GOD knows it's long overdue.  

 

Some Gave All 

 Written by Billy Ray Cyrus - Cindy Cyrus

1993

I knew a man, called him Sandy Cane
Few folks even knew his name
But a hero, yes was he
Left a boy, came back a man
Still many just don't understand
About the reasons we are free
I can't forget the look in his eyes
Or the tears he cried
As he said these words to me

All Gave Some, Some Gave All
Some stood through for the red, white and blue
And some had to fall
And if you ever think of me
Think of all your liberties and recall
Some Gave All

Now Sandy Cane is no longer here
But his words are oh so clear
As they echo throughout our land
For all his friends who gave us all
Who stood their ground and took the fall
To help their fellow man
Love your country and live with pride
And don't forget those who died
America can't you see?

All Gave Some, Some Gave All
Some stood through for the red, white and blue
And some had to fall
And if you ever think of me
Think of all your liberties and recall
Some Gave All

And if you ever think of me
Think of all your liberties and recall
Yes recall
Some Gave All
Some Gave All

 

 

 

Please Show Your Support For Our US Military

Blue Star Mother and Soldiers Angel Melissa made this
Facebook post today : 


Melissa Sanken: Many fallen heroes, many wounded, we are needed...
please do something for a hero today!!   Thank you very much!

 

Here are some ways that you can get involved and support for our US Military.

 

Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors -

    http://www.taps.org/Give


A Thousand Thanks - Through TAPS -
From this link, just enter your info.  
You will receive an email where you can mail a post card.
EVERYONE can send a postcard.   1 postcard - 1 stamp !!!!

http://www.giveathousandthanks.org/send-a-postcard

 

 Wounded Warrior Project -

    http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/

 

 Soldiers Angels -

    http://soldiersangels.org/

 

 Blue Star Families -

    http://www.bluestarfam.org/

 

 A Million Thanks -

    http://www.amillionthanks.org/

 

 Operation Gratitude -

    http://www.opgratitude.com/

Let's Say Thanks -   Send a FREE postcard right fromt his site

http://www.letssaythanks.com/Home1280.html

And if you are not moved to some action, would you please pray
for our men and women who are serving and their families .......
They are away from home protecting your freedoms.   


♥♥♥ THANK YOU ♥♥♥

Deb -   Proud Air Force Mom -  SSgt Vinny