By VANESSA COULTER
newsroom@newsandtribune.com
May 03, 2008 12:25 am
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Recently, a Good Friday Military Awareness Day and Prayer Vigil was held at the “Wall of Honor” in Jeffersonville in March. This event was to honor our Indiana troops who are deployed to Iraq and the surrounding area.
I was impressed at the turn-out of people who showed up to support our troops; but to be completely honest, I’m not surprised. There are many people in our Southern Indiana community who are extremely supportive of our troops and many are looking for ways to show they care. The Military Awareness Day provided the opportunity to show the troops and their families our support. Many showed up for the Channel 32 morning show at 4 a.m. and a large group formed in the evening for the prayer vigil.
As the Blue Star Mother’s Chapter President for Southern Indiana, I receive reports of injuries. A recent report told of a local soldier who was injured when his unit hit an improvised explosive device. His family was with us during the prayer vigil. Their son’s injuries are not life threatening and he is rapidly healing. This young hero will be back on the job soon. His parents feel that the many prayers directed toward their son and all of the soldiers, “provided a shield of protection.” Thank you all for the prayers and let’s keep them coming.
I would like to start out by thanking the news media that helped kick off the “Military Awareness Day/Prayer Vigil”. For the wonderful media coverage leading up to and after the prayer vigil, I would like to thank the Tribune and Evening News. I would also like to thank Jim Bulleit, WLKY-32 Morning Show, for kicking off the event for the Blue Star Mothers.
There are many people and some businesses I would like to also personally thank. Without them, the dream of the prayer vigil would still be just that — a dream.
Special thanks to:
• Steve and Trish Williams, Salem
• Jerry Jacobi, Jeffersonville
• Carol Dawson, Jeffersonville
• Custom Plywood, New Albany
• Mary Lou Densford, Clark County Red Cross
• Diane Smith, Military One Source
• Ssgt. Jason Kimberling USAF, “Why We Serve”
• Jacob Coulter, Clarksville
• Betty Perry, Jeffersonville
• Don Herrod, Clarksville
Thank you to the people of Southern Indiana who have come together to support our troops and who have taken the hand of our military families to show they care. Most of all, I would like to take this opportunity say “thank you” to all of those fine heroes who are serving in this nation’s Armed Forces and to all of our veterans who have served. Thank you for the freedoms that we enjoy. To our military families, please know how much we appreciate the sacrifices you make on a daily basis. Your job is often overlooked, but we realize it is one of the most difficult. To our Gold Star families, your sacrifice is the most difficult and there are no words that could adequately describe how my heart aches for your loss. Your fallen hero will forever be remembered.
On behalf of Southern Indiana Blue Star Mothers, thank you Southern Indiana for a job well done! We are proud to be part of this great community.
Another purpose of the event is to keep our troops in your prayers and in your thoughts throughout their deployment. We need your help to be successful in accomplishing this goal. If you would like to donate items for care packages or cards/letters of support, the drop off boxes are located at the following locations:
• The New Albany Tribune — 303 Scribner Dr., New Albany
• The Evening News — 221 Spring St., Jeffersonville
• Perkfections Coffee Cafe — 359 Spring St., Jeffersonville
• Sam’s Club — Veterans Parkway, Clarksville
• 111 Gun Shop — 911 Hwy 31E, Clarksville
Southern Indiana Blue Star Mothers ships care packages and birthday packages to our troops who are deployed throughout the year. If you are an individual or business that would like to sponsor Blue Star Mothers monthly or with a one time gift to help defray expenses, please contact the Blue Star Mothers at 502-572-5914.
Although Blue Star Mothers is made up of mothers of members and veterans of our Armed Forces, you can be an associate member as a father, wife, husband, sister, brother, friend, etc. Let’s let our troops know we care – remember them in your prayers and with your on-going support.
Southern Indiana Blue Star Mothers, Chapter 2, meets the third Tuesday of each month at the Clarksville Library at 1312 Eastern Blvd., Clarksville. For any inquiries about donating to or joining Blue Star Mothers, you can call Chapter President Vanessa Coulter at 502-572-5914 or at inbluestarmom@insightbb.com
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