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The Being There-Reaching Out newsletter for the Families of our Fallen.
April 2013 Issue 24
Your BT-RO Board of Directors
Sent in by Gold Star Mother Sue Block
I have great news! November 14th little Adam Gregory Novak came
into our lives! I cannot even begin to tell you how happy this Grandma
is! He is named after our Son and Hero, Adam Novak. Daddy is
Adam's brother Logan, my 2nd youngest, mommy is Chelsey.
Sent in by Kaia Kalscheuer: I want to
introduce our grand-niece, Madison Marian Hanson. Arrived at 1:23
on December 19, weighing in at 8 pounds 8 ounces, already - 21.5
inches. CONGRATULATIONS Amanda Lauck and Jeremy Hanson!!!!!
Sent in By Cheryl Patrick: Patrick Pereida joins a team
from parents who gave tribute to their sons using Patrick as middle
name: Elias Patrick Mikunda, James Patrick Vollendorf, Aiden Patrick
Golat, Rowan Patrick Winkel and Jessie Patrick Smith.....each one
carries our Patrick's legacy forward another generation.
Sent in by Don and Kate Jansky. Here is a picture of our first great granddaughter..........Gianna, 5lbs. 13oz. 3/13/13
Amy Theresa Bixler and Brandon Christopher Georgi of Racine
announce their engagement. Amy is the daughter of Kevin Bixler
and Lisa Bixler, both of Racine. Brandon is the son of Gottfried
and Sharon Georgi of Racine. An autumn wedding is planned
Weddings!!!!!
Steven and Olivia Jopek, Brother of our Hero Ryan
Happily married January 5th
.
Jessica and Clint Holmgren happily married March 9th
.
She is the sister of our Hero Ryan Jopek.
January 25th
, 2013, Elaine McDonald, 89. Mother of
Our Doug McDonald and Grandmother of our Hero James McDonald.
February 20, 2013, Molly M. Opichka 90.
Grandmother of our Sheila (Dean) Halverson,
Randy Novak and Great Grandmother of our Hero Shaun Novak.
Carol A. Neufeld, 74, March 4th
2013
Mother of Our Lisa Bixler and Grandmother of our Hero Evan Bixler.
Cindy Bear-Eagle, 58 years old. March 18, 2013.
Sister of our Belle Wichlacz, Aunt to our Hero Travis Wichlacz.
Up Coming BT-RO Events
June 14th and 15th: LaCrosse Freedom Fest With entertainment by Chicago and Chris Daughtry.
August 18th: “Walk for our Fallen”
November 9th: Unveiling of our “Memorial Wall of
Honor And Veterans Day Parade
Our Canine Military
The classified canine that went on the Navy Seals' raid of Osama bin
Laden's compound has generated a wave of interest in military dogs,
which have been used by the United States since at least World War I.
Now, more valued than ever, they are on their own surge into
Afghanistan.
American troops may be starting to come home this summer, but
more dogs are going in. In 2007, the Marines began a pilot program in
Afghanistan with nine bomb-sniffing dogs, a number that has grown to
350 and is expected to reach nearly 650 by the end of the year. Over
all, there are some 2,700 dogs on active duty in the American military.
A decade ago, before the Sept. 11 attacks, there were 1,800.
"Most of the public isn't aware of what these dogs add to national
security," said Gerry Proctor, a spokesman for training programs at
Lackland Air Force Base in Texas, including the Military Working Dog
School. Dogs are used for protection, pursuit, tracking and search and
rescue, but the military is also increasingly relying on them to sniff out
the homemade bombs that cause the vast majority of American
casualties in Afghanistan. So far, no human or human-made
technology can do better. A monument to our Canine Veterans will be
erected at Lakeland this year.
Within the military, the breeds of choice are generally the German
shepherd and a Belgian shepherd, or Malinois, but Marines in
Afghanistan rely on pure-bred Labrador retrievers because of the
dogs' good noses and nonaggressive, eager-to-please temperaments.
Labs now accompany many Marine foot patrols in Helmand Province
in southern Afghanistan, wandering off-leash 100 yards or more in
front as bomb detectors. It is the vital work of an expensively trained
canine (the cost to the American military can be as high as $40,000 per
dog), but at the end of a sweltering day, sometimes a Lab is still a Lab.
The bonds that grow in battle between the Labs and their Marine
handlers are already the stuff of heart-tugging war stories
So far, 20 Labrador retrievers out of the 350 have been killed in action
since the Marine program began, most in explosions of homemade
bombs, Marine officials said. Within the Special Operations Command,
the home of the dog that went on the Bin Laden mission, some 34
dogs were killed in the line of duty between 2006 and 2009, said Maj.
Wes Ticer, a spokesman. Like their handlers, dogs that survive go on
repeat deployments, sometimes as many as four. Dogs retire from the
military at the age of 8 or 9.
To an American public weary of nearly 10 years of war, dogs are a way
to relate, as the celebrity status of the still-unknown commando dog
proved.
Few understand the appeal of dogs in battle better than Rebecca
Frankel, the deputy managing editor of ForeignPolicy.com. Last week,
she posted a "War Dog" photo essay, with her favorite pictures of
dogs jumping out of helicopters, skydiving from 30,000 feet and
relaxing with Marines. The photo essay went viral, with 6.5 million
page views to date -- a record for the site.
MWD…Military Working Dog by Sandra Allen.
MWD…three little words
To describe the exuberant, joyful streak toward a target
The courage under fire, The pure power in motion,
The gentleness when all is well,
The puppy dance when a mission is over.
Military Working Dog…three little words
To describe a soldier who ignores injury when the voice he loves calls
to him to go. Not to find safety, But to find danger,
So that those he claims as his own can live free.
Because that’s what it means to be an American soldier.
And if he should become one of the fallen...Or if his partner makes the
ultimate sacrifice, they will mourn deeply for each other because a
part of their heart has died too.
But there is a bigger part of each one that has come alive on their
journeys together because they mirror the greatness in each other.
And that can only be celebrated.
Military Working Dog…Three little words
*********
As a result of the passage of H.R. 5314 on 6 Nov 2000, civilians can adopt a retiring Military Working Dog! These
wonderful animals can now have a well-deserved retirement with a loving family. Check out how you can add a most deserving Veteran to your family! www.militaryworkingdogadoptions.com
Friends, I am on this Committee to send our kids to this summer camp- I hope you consider it. While it will focus on a “Good time” for our kids,
dealing with grief will be an undertone of the event. Ages 7-16 are invited and will have age appropriate events planned. I plan to be there. Let me
know if your kids will be. Children and other relatives of our Fallen Heroes are invited to attend. L-J
The Matawa Difference: One thing is certain in these uncertain times: our children need the strengths and memories they develop at summer camp
more than ever! At Camp Matawa, we are committed to making sure every child who comes to camp makes friends and has a great time! There is
always magic when we mix outstanding staff, outdoor programs and good old fashioned fun! Independence, self-esteem, friendship, acceptance,
new skills, success, laughter and fun are outcomes you can expect for your child. Our mission at Camp Matawa is to change people in positive ways.
Camp is about developing the life skills that help campers build and maintain positive relationships, become respectful and interested in the
differences we all have and feel confident in the person they are becoming. This is the Magic of Matawa!
YMCA Camp Matawa is located just 45 minutes north of Milwaukee, in the Northern Kettle Moraine State Forest.
Driving Directions from Milwaukee
Head north on US Hwy 45 into the town of Kewaskum
Turn right on Hwy 28 and follow for 0.3 miles to Hwy S
Turn left on Hwy S and follow for 2 miles until it intersects with Hwy G
Follow Hwy G straight for 2.4 miles to Youth Camp Road
Turn right on Youth Camp Road and drive until you reach YMCA Camp Matawa
How many squares in this photo?
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April
SPC Cord Daentl 1-Apr 2010
LCPL Eric Palmisano 2-Apr 2006
AC2 James Ehrlich 2-Apr 2008
SPC Chsistopher Becker 3-Apr 2010
SPC Kyle Ryba 3-Apr 2010
CPL Jesse Thiry 5-Apr 2004
PFC Ryan Jerabek 6-Apr 2004
PVT James MacCrutheras 6-Apr 2010
PFC Gregroy Goodrich 9-Apr 2004
SPC Michelle Witmer 9-Apr 2004
Christian Mason 11-Apr 2008
SSG Robert Basham 14-Apr 2007
CPL Richard Nelson 14-Apr 2008
LCPL Dean Opicka 14-Apr 2008
SSGT Jimmy Arroyave 15-Apr 2004
MSGT Daniel Richardson 15-Apr 2010
SPC Paul Atim 16-Apr 2011
SPC Michael McGlothin 17-Apr 2004
SP4 Carl Morrison 19-Apr 1969
MAJ Brett Bekken 21-Apr 2004
SPC Steven Christofferson 21-Apr 2008
CPL Benjamin Neal 25-Apr 2012
LT Christopher Mosko 26-Apr 2012
PFC Nicholas Riehl 27-Apr 2007
SFC Christopher Sauer 27-Apr 2008
SGT Ed Davis 28-Apr 2006
SGT Matthew Hermanson 28-Apr 2011
HTFN Brenda Anderson 30-Apr 2011
May
PO2 Michael Anderson 2-May 2004
SGT John Griffith 5-May 2006
LCPL Adam Ludwigson 5-May 2005
SGT Nathan Vacho 5-May 2006
SPC Jason Bohac 7-May 2006
SGT George Manis 7-May 2011
ME3 Matthew Oleson 9-May 2004
PFC Eric Clark 11-May 2006
OIF James Garvin 14-May 2012
PFC Brooks Foth 14-May 2012
PFC Grant Dampier 15-May 2006
SFC Jesse Albrecht 17-May 2007
SFC Scott Brown 18-May 2007
LTC Paul Bartz 18-May 2010
SGT Kirk Straseskie 19-May 2003
SGT Kurt Schamberg 20-May 2005
Brandon Lasley 20-May 2011
SPC David Lawson 22-May 2007
SFC Brian Naseman 22-May 2009
PFC Kyle Hemauer 23-May 2005
SGT Chad Polinske 23-May 2009
ANG Brian Ashwell 25-May 2008
MSGT Joseph Foltz 25-May 2010
Timothy Lind 25-May 2010
MAJ Mathew Schram 26-May 2003
CW2 Joshua Scott 26-May 2005
SGT Mark Maida 27-May 2005
SGT Jonathan Markham 29-May 2007
CW3 Chris Allgaier 30-May 2007
June
PFC Theo Kaems 2-Jun 2007
SGT Tyler Kritz 3-Jun 2007
SPC Justin Linden 4-Jun 2004
SGT Cody Legg 4-Jun 2008
SPC Eric Poelman 5-Jun 2005
PO2 Jaime Jaenke 5-Jun 2006
SGT Travis Van Zoest 6-Jun 2006
SSGT Tyler Pickett 8-Jun 2008
LCPL John Mattek Jr. 13-Jun 2005
PV T Ryan Larson 15-Jun 2011
OIF Christopher Schneider 15-Jun 2012
SSGT Kenneth Rockwell 18-Jun 2004
SPC Tyler Kreinz 18-Jun 2011
SSG Patrick Lybert 21-Jun 2006
SPC Brian May 21-Jun 2011
SSG Charles Kiser 24-Jun 2004
LCPL Bradlee Wilber 24-Jun 2008
ANG Tim Marquardt 24-Jun 2012
SGT Fred Voss 25-Jun 2010
SPC Charles Kaufman 26-Jun 2005
PFC William Ewing 26-Jun 2011
SGT Shaun Bollig 27-Jun 2010
CPL Michael Nolen 27-Jun 2011
SPC Joshua Kurer 27-Jun 2011
LT Michael McGreevy JR 28-Jun 2005
PVT Steven Drees 28-Jun 2009
July
SSG Stephen Martin 2-Jul 2004
SrA Timothy Dittmar 8-Jul 2008
SFC Daniel Gabrielson 9-Jul 2003
SPC Erica Alecksen 9-Jul 2012
SGT Paul Kastner 14-Jul 2010
SSG Jeremy Vrooman 15-Jul 2008
SPC Daniel Drevnick 16-Jul 2009
CPO Patrick Wade 17-Jul 2007
SGT Ryan Schlack 18-Jul 2009
1LT Nick Dewhirst 20-Jul 2008
LCPL Joshua MaGinn 22-Jul 2007
CPL John Jr. Yatso 22-Jul 2009
SPC Stephen Castner 24-Jul 2006
SGT Courntey Finch 24-Jul 2007
CPL Matthew Zindars 24-Jul 2007
ANG Andrew Cebular 25-Jul 2012
EMC Clinton Callahan 26-Jul 2008
SeaBee Bradley Christman 26-Jul 2012
CPT Benjamin Jansky 27-Jul 2005
SPC John Tollefson 27-Jul 2005
CPL Thomas Gaede 28-Jul 2008
SPC Donald Scott, Jr. 29-Jul 2008
SSGT Matthew Smolinski 30-Jul 2012
August
SPC David Badie 1-Aug 2008
SGT Ryan Jopek 2-Aug 2006
SSGT Chad Simon 4-Aug 2005
LTC Michael Laabs 5-Aug 2011
SPC Joshua Bunch 6-Aug 2004
LCPl Zachary Gallenberg 6-Aug 2010
SSGT Robert Stephens 12-Aug 2010
SPC Alum Howells 13-Aug 2007
CPL Kevin Rodrick 15-Aug 2009
LT Michelle Vacho 15-Aug 2009
SPC Dustin Knapp 16-Aug 2010
SrA Adam Servais 19-Aug 2006
PVT Jonathan Morales 20-Aug 2009
CPT Derek Dobogai 22-Aug 2007
LCPL Robert Newton 23-Aug 2010
SFC Trevor Diesing 25-Aug 2005
CPL Kenneth Cross 27-Aug 2006
SPC Shaun Novak 27-Aug 2006
PVT Adam Novak 27-Aug 2010
SPC Chad Coleman 27-Aug 2010
SGT Earl Werner 28-Aug 2009
SGT Adam Gray 29-Aug 2004
SPC Jason Greeno 30-Aug 2006
SSGT Matthew West 30-Aug 2010
As of February 2013
4474 Iraq Fallen
2156 Afghanistan Fallen
Sex
6483 Men
146 Women
Service branch
4195 Army
1378 Marines
480 Army National Guard
215 Navy
137 Air Force
120 Army Reserves
Age
2977 20-24
1599 25-29
1250 30-39
402 18-19
341 40-49
50 50-59
Cause of death
2573 Hostile action
2496 IED
665 Non-combat
402 Helicopter accident
361 Vehicle accident
63 Unknown
39 other-unknown
31 Airplane crash
And I'm proud to be an American, where at least I know I'm free.
And I won't forget the men who died who gave that right to me…
~Lee Greenwood
POW/MIA Flag
In 1971, Mrs. Michael Hoff, the wife of a U.S. military officer
listed as missing in action during the Vietnam War, developed
the idea for a national flag to remind every American of the
U.S. service members whose fates were never accounted for
during the war
The black and white image of a gaunt silhouette, a strand of
barbed wire and an ominous watchtower was designed by Newt
Heisley, a former World War II pilot. Some claim the silhouette
is a profile of Heisley’s son, who contracted hepatitis while
training to go to Vietnam. The virus ravaged his body, leaving
his features hallow and emaciated.
They suggest that while staring at his son’s sunken features,
Heisley saw the stark image of American service members held
captive under harsh conditions. Using a pencil, he sketched his
son’s profile, creating the basis for a symbol that would come
to have a powerful impact on the national conscience.
On August 10, 1990, Congress passed U.S. Public Law 101-355,
designating the POW/MIA flag:
“The symbol of our Nation’s concern and commitment to
resolving as fully as possible the fates of Americans still
prisoner, missing and unaccounted for in Southeast Asia.”
Editors note: and all Wars.
Remembering our OIF/OEF POW/MIA’s
Prisoners of War-Missing in Action From the War on Terrorism
2006 SPC Ahmed K. Altaie: On October 23, 2006, Altaie was categorized as Missing in Action when he allegedly was kidnapped while on his way to visit family in Baghdad, Iraq. The Pentagon changed his status to Missing-Captured on December 11, 2006.
2009 SGT Bowe Bergdahl: Captured in Paktika Province, Afghanistan, on June 30, 2009. The Pentagon declared him Missing in Action (MIA) on July 1, 2009; his status was changed to Missing-Captured on July 3, 2009.
Remember all POW/MIAs from US Wars
War of the Revolution: POW - 18,152 MIA - 1,426
War of 1812: POW - 20,000 MIA - 695
Mexican War: POW - 46 MIA - 238
Indian Wars (US): POW - 339 MIA - 11
Indian Wars
(Native American):
POW - 2,958 MIA - 40
Civil War - Union: POW/MIA - 194,743
Civil War - Confederacy: POW/MIA - 214,865
Spanish-American War: POW - 8 MIA - 72
World War I: POW/MIA - 7,470
World War II: POW - 124,079 MIA - 30,314
Cold War Era: POW - Classified MIA - 343
Korean War: POW - 7,140 MIA - 8,025
Vietnam War: POW - 766 MIA - 1,719
Grenada: MIA - 4
U.S.S. Stark: MIA - 1
Persian Gulf War: POWs - 29 MIAs - 21
Somalia: POW - 6 MIA - 2
Yugoslavia: POWs - 3
So many fates are left unknown and so many rumors that abound. So many families ask the question “When will, the answers be found?”
So many years have come and gone, sometimes, hope is hard to keep.
There’s some who feel there’s none and in some, it’s buried deep.
The pain, is in not knowing how, to put loved ones’ to rest When there is no way to prove they have passed, the final test.
But, no matter what the answers, we can’t let this cause alone Until, each and every one of them is found, and brought back home
©Copyright 05 September 2004 by Del “Abe” Jones
“The National Alliance of Families”
Pray for them and their Families still waiting their return. L-J
A good time at the Grand Slam
to raise money for our kids summer Camp
Dorothy and I :>)))))
M and
I
d Star Wife
GP
GP
!
A letter from our Gold Star Sibling Craig Bosveld Serving in Afghanistan
It has been some time since I last sat down and put some thoughts to paper. We have been quite busy the last six weeks and I have had a hard time just keeping my head above water. First off, I would like to thank all of you who have sent care packages. Our team gets the most mail and we are the envy of the FOB. We now have a pantry which is well stocked as well as a small Wal-Mart, we have marked up our prices and making quite a nice profit. Just kidding. Nevertheless, we really do appreciate the support. I know it's hard to know what we need/want when you all put packages together. The Soldiers like magazines, books, and movies. They burn through plain white athletic socks (no marking). They need caffeinated and non-caffeinated drink powder, especially the stuff you can add to a bottle of water. It helps them stay awake while driving or pulling security late at night. We have quite an impressive bulk coffee collection, where we are short is coffee singles for the field. Coffee creamer goes pretty quick as well. They all are very active in the GYM and the junk food does not get eaten. Healthy snacks are good as they take them on missions with them. Vitamins, air fresheners (Febreeze), flushable baby wipes, tuna/chicken packets are also appreciated. There are cigarette lighter plug points in each truck. A small power inverter that plugs into the cigarette lighter that can charge phones and iPods are clutch. We only have one. Also in short supply is AAA batteries. We have AA's for days. I hope this helps. I will add our address at the end of the email for those who don't have it. We are working our second newsletter; we just need a bit more time. We have been very busy due to missions. In March, we accompanied our ANA KDK on an out of sector mission. It was our first time being out in enemy territory for an extended period of time. We learned a lot from our Afghan Soldier counterparts. They took good care of us and are super vigilant about keeping us safe. We have good habits that wear off on them and they do things that we never even thought about. Counterinsurgency is a Doctrine that we are taught that attempts to separate the population from the enemy and provide safety and security for the population to a degree where the people openly reject attempts by the insurgents to co-opt the people into supporting them. I say it's a doctrine because we have to be taught it. The ANA do it instinctively, they go to great lengths to help, support, and interact with the population. This natural protective nature of the population often times results in great human intelligence. The people want to help the ANA. It is a very enlightening phenomenon to witness and learn from. The ANA love the children as well. It's almost like the children view the ANA Soldiers as big brothers. That relationship does not exist for us though. We are viewed with much suspicion. I suppose it's natural. We just returned from our latest out of sector mission with the KDK, it lasted eight days. We were called to Ghazni. There is an annual Muslim festival and we were tasked with going out into the countryside to disrupt the enemy. Unfortunately the KDK suffered two losses, a Company Executive officer and a Platoon Sergeant. It was very hard for us to watch as the KDK mourned the loss of their leaders and colleges. The healing process is universal though. It was good for the Soldiers to be on mission together and away from the distracters of garrison life. They were able to tell stories, spend time together and heal. Previous advisors advised from the safety of a FOB. We go where ever they go and we do whatever it is they do, 100%. They admire us for that. We have learned how to eat rice without a spoon or fork. Try is some
time. Each Soldier is allocated 215 grams of rice per meal. As such, there is a surplus of rice which means we eat a lot of rice, bread (Nan) and boiled chicken or lamb. My Soldiers love to go through their field chow line, one tray of food per buddy team. Occasionally they
Gold Star Wife Peggy Naseman and Robin Yount
Peggy, Gilbert Brown and Sue Spivey
serve beans with the rice. The rice is not plain; it has a tomato base and onions added to it. The CDR found out that I like onions, so I now for each meal, he and I share a raw onion with our meal. For breakfast, we either have a fried egg and Nan or marmalade and cream cheese with Nan. This is a luxury that I am afforded because I eat with the CDR. The Soldiers are not that lucky, more rice, Nan and fruit for breakfast. I have seen some of the Soldiers pay the children for raw eggs which they fry. They laugh at us when we bring a spoon to the meal. Oddly enough, I have yet to see an obese Afghan. I wonder why? Today we learned that terror once again struck the homeland. We will pray for the families of the victims. Even with such tragedies, trust me when I tell you that Americans are very fortunate. Once again, thanks for the support. Craig W. Bosveld Security Force Advisor Green 6 Team Leader RC-E, AFG Green 6 SFAAT C TRP/1-89 CAV FOB Rushmore APO AE 09311
Gold Star Dad Hero ay Boston Marathon
Gold Star Dad Hero at Boston Marathon
For Carlos and Melida Arredondo, the explosions they watched firsthand from the VIP stands at the Boston Marathon reverberated like terrible flashbacks. They lost two sons violently: One was killed at age 20 by sniper fire in Najaf, Iraq, in 2004 and the other took his own life.
"I am still very shaken," said Carlos, who is Red Cross trained and stayed on to help. "I am covered with blood and still at the scene where the tragedy happened. I jumped the fence after the first explosions and all I saw was a puddle of blood and people with lost limbs. I saw adults, much younger than myself -- ladies, men, pretty much everyone was knocked out."
The couple, who live in Boston, watched as more than 130 runners and bystanders were injured at the finish line. They were waiting for the last of the National Guard runners, representing Run for the Fallen Maine, an organization established to honor Marines who have been killed since the terror attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. One of the National Guard runners was in the marathon in honor of their son. They were also supporting a suicide awareness group, Samaritans, which also had runners in the race.
Lance Cpl. Alexander Arredondo, whose mother was from Bangor, Maine, served two tours in Iraq with the Marines. The news of his death on Aug. 25, 2004, devastated his younger brother, Brian, who hung himself in 2011 at the age of 24.
"They were very close -- Irish twins," said their stepmother Melida Arredondo. "The only document we found with him [Brian] was the casualty report of how his brother died," said Carlos Arredondo, who immigrated to the United States from Costa Rica and became a U.S. citizen with the help of Sen. Edward Kennedy. "He died of grief."
Monday's carnage reminded Arredondo, a Gold Star Parent who has been active in veterans' groups, of an Iraq war zone.
"It was like an IED [improvised explosive device]," he said. "It broke everybody's legs. Two ladies at my left side were knocked unconscious. They lost their legs. I was putting pieces of clothing on their legs to stop the bleeding and called for assistance. Someone came and we helped get them in wheelchairs."
Both husband and wife had been sitting in the bleachers. After the first explosion, Arredondo jumped the fence.
"My first reaction was to run toward the people," he said. "There was so much commotion and a lot of people running away. I was one of the first to help people and God protected me. It was horrific."
"Carlos was a real hero," said John Mixon, 60, of Ogunquit, Maine. "He jumped right over the fence even before there were police and tried to help people."
At first, his wife Melida, a public health administrator, stayed in the stands. "I was in the bleachers at the finish line, looking right at the explosion," she said. "We were watching and waving at the runners as they were coming in. My husband was at the finish line talking to the Guardsmen about the one who had Alexander's name [on his shirt]. One bomb went off -- we all hit the decks, but we were calm at that point."
"The second bomb went off and everyone in the VIP bleachers went crazy," Melida Arredondo said. "I was dizzy trying to get off the top deck." She finally found her way to the bottom and first responders were encouraging people to get off the street and "go into buildings."
"I know my husband, and he would go right in," she said. "They opened all the barricades that were keeping the public away. There were shards and people cut and injured." She sought shelter on the other side of the street by the Boston Public Library, but couldn't find her husband.
"I couldn't even get a text to him," she said. Eyewitnesses reported that cell phones were blocked by the deluge of calls after the explosions. "Then I saw him, covered in blood."
Her husband was "rinsed off and sent on his happy way," according to Melida Arredondo. "I took the train home. I was nervous and didn't know where to go at first. It was a bit confusing."
Most the National Guard runners had made it to the finish line before the explosions -- all but one, and the couple said they had no idea what his fate was.
When Melida Arredondo finally got a chance to clear her head at home, she said, "I immediately went back to my stepson who we lost in Iraq." Melida Arredondo said she has been concerned about the "all the children" who were injured in the marathon explosions.
And she thought of her stepson Brian, who couldn't cope with life without Alexander. "He was never quite the same after his brother's death," she said. Just before the older boy's death, the brothers were making plans together to go to California.
"We are running on adrenaline right now and unfortunately we have a lot of experience," she said, cutting off her sentence, but meaning, unmistakably -- trauma.
A
A
VVA 224 of Green Bay PGR Denny: PGR and dad of a WI Hero
Plaque Presentation to 224 Our Dad Honor Guard Orlin Brommer-Flag Memorial MC Sheila Halverson-Gold Star Aunt
Movers and Shakers Angela: Gold Star Mom Rev Eva Kathy Brommer Neil: Summer Camp for our Kids
To the Hankwicz To the Ross Family To the Daentl Family
..Nice job Belle..as always.
…and the presentation of the Gold Star Banner
..can’t miss this sign!
Medal of Valor Presentation to Our Vrooman Family
Portrait Presentation to Sue Block and Travis with Mike Reagan on SKYPE
N
No pool or No pool or craft photos this year…we’ll do better next year. L-J
