Too often we forget the real impact that the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan continue to have on the lives of American families. In the wake of President Obama's recent decision to allow the press to cover the homecoming of fallen soldiers, we are beginning to see once again the toll our conflicts abroad are taking in real, visual ways.
For many military families, support is hard to come by, as people outside of military circles often don't understand the struggles they go through. Here in Vero, however, a group of women has come together not only to support and strengthen each other, but also to work together to support the troops in tangible ways. The group, known as the Military Moms Prayer Group, meets weekly to pray for our troops at home and abroad.
Recently, two of Vero Beach's own "military moms," Linda Colontrelle and Roma Anderson, travelled to Tampa to take part in the unveiling of a four brand new disability-converted vans, awarded to military amputees returned from combat. The women were invited by the Wheels for Warriors program, a subsidiary of Operation Support Our Troops, a non-profit group started by the families of West Point graduates.
"Once a year the Wounded Warriors Project awards vans to soldiers", said Roma. This year, she said, four were chosen from the James A. Haley Veteran's Hospital, a military hospital in Tampa that specializes in head, neck, and spinal cord injuries.
A company called Ride-Away of Tampa furnished the conversion vans, which include ramps for wheelchair access and space for a chair-bound passenger. Donors to the Wheels for Warriors program gave financial backing.
"I wasn't expecting the severity of the injuries, said Roma, a "gold star" mother, whose son, Lt. Col. Trane McCloud, died in a helicopter crash in Iraq in 2006. "But I watched the love that was given by the wives and the parents and I just thought - I wish I could have had that same opportunity to help my son. There's nothing too great that you wouldn't do for a child.
"It really caught me off guard, the emotions of the whole experience," confessed Roma. "I feel like the American people should be aware of the sacrifices these young men and women make, and the sacrifices their spouses make. And they do it so unselfishly. They just do it because this is a passion they have, so they make a commitment to join the service."
As for Linda Colontrelle, she said the experience of giving the vans away was a "life changing experience." Linda, the mother of West Point grad Danny Colontrelle, who served two tours in Iraq, has supported the Wounded Warriors project for several years through Barker Electric Air Conditioning and Heating, a family company where Danny now works with his father and brother. She also explained other ways she has reached out to service men and women, such as the drive she organized to send care packages to the troops in Iraq and Afghanistan in 2006.
"When I had the vision back in 2006 to send boxes to our troops, my goal was to send 500 packages at Christmas," said Linda. "Our goal for these packages was to give to those who get nothing."
Since Linda's first gift drive for the troops three years ago, the Military Moms Prayer Group has continued the program every year, with regularly scheduled deliveries to the troops around Christmas and Valentine's Day.
"There's nothing like a support group," says Linda. "For those of us in the Military Moms Prayer Group, our strength is in the power of prayer. We are religiously affiliated, but we have women of all denominations involved." Members of the group include not only those with sons and daughters in the military, said Linda, but also those who "just believe in the military."
Roma Anderson sums up the passion that led her and Linda across the state to support the wounded soldiers in Tampa: "I just look forward to the day when everyone's home. But once they come home, there's still a lot of recovery to do. I just hope that the support for our troops, for our young men and women, will just continue in our country, and that their sacrifices will not be in vain."
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The Military Moms Prayer Group is an interdenominational group that meets every Thursday from 5 to 6 PM at the Women's Refuge, 1850 Lemon Ave, Vero Beach, 32960. New members are always welcome. For more information, call 772-231-2221.
To learn more about the Wounded Warriors project, visit www.operation-support-our-troops.org.
Ride-Away of Tampa is on the Web atwww.ride-away.com.