“Holiday Cheer 2011″ at Richmond

December 10, 2011 – Richmond VA Medical Center

Katie and I met early in the morning just before sunrise to head down to the Richmond VA Medical Center aka Hunter Holmes McGuire VA Medical Center in Richmond, Virginia for Marine Moms-Bethesda’s final event of the year. What a beautiful morning it was!

Weeks of preparation were about to wind up with a festive luncheon full of Southern Hospitality.

Janet and Lew willingly took on the task of planning the menu and pulling “Holiday Cheer at Richmond” together with help from Sarah, Diane, and many, many others who were excited to have the opportunity to show support to the Warriors and their families at the hospital.

Step by step, each aspect of the event – the holiday meal, stockings, cookies, and cards fell into place to make this a heart-warming event to all who attended.

First on Elf Janet’s the list were the stockings. Elf Jess shared her secret list of stocking stuffers with Janet, including the “Snowman Soup” recipe. (Shhhhh… don’t tell… hot chocolate, candy canes and Hershey Kisses!)

Then came the next Elfish update from Janet:

“A friend of mine had her sewing classes make pillowcases for the combat Wounded in Richmond for this upcoming luncheon.

A few weeks ago, I went into the class and spoke to the young girls about having a son that was wounded and that I work with MM-B to serve luncheons. They were very excited about helping to provide a bit home.”

With the Snowman Soup, the Patriotic Pillowcases, and the other goodies, the stockings made for the troops by Bayside Quilters were stuffed to overflowing!

Next came the cards. Many of the people who sent “Holiday Cheer”cards made sure there were enough for both WR/Bethesda AND Richmond, and Janet had friends in her area who also wrote cards. Donna and her daughter, Savannah, made the candy cane decorations with “The Story of the Candy Cane” attached to them.

There were at least 25 cards in each bundle and were very festive looking tied up with the cheerful ribbon!

Cookies!!! Diane helped Janet find the Cookie Elves and Sarah helped with the packing.

Menu: pork roast and gravy, roast beef and gravy, mashed potatoes, cheesy mixed veggies, fresh fruit salad, garden salad, sweet potato casserole, fresh apple cake, assorted cookies, a cheese cake,and chocolate-covered rice krispy treats.

Katie taught Mary Allen how to make smoothies. It was Katie’s first trip to Richmond, and Mary Allen’s first time with us at a luncheon.

While we were setting up, a visitor arrived!

GI Santa! He brought his remote controlled tank, USMC banner, and his Marine chair. Under the tank behind thecamo was his stereo system. Christmas music to dine by! It set a really nice mood in the room we were in. The tank made for fun entertainment after lunch. GI Santa built it himself – the top rotates, and it shoots paint balls. No paint balls the day of the luncheon, though.

The notes attached to the blankets said, “This blanket was made by Camp Foster Young Marines, Okinawa, Japan. It has been blessed and sent to you. This is our way to say “Thank You!”

Mary Lou from Missouri sent a box of cards and stockings for the Gunny to hand out at the hospital. He brought some of them up for the luncheon and we placed the cards around the room on the tables as centerpieces.

“Elf Stuff” left to right: the blankets from the Young Marines in Okinawa, cards from Mary Lou and Friends, the black bags were full of things from the Wounded Warrior Regiment Marines, cards from the MM-B Elves, stockings from Mary Lou’s Friends, more cards, and cookies and stockings from MM-B Elves.

The patients, their family members, and the Veterans who came by really enjoyed the “Holiday Cheer”.

We first met one of the Marines and his mom when they were at Bethesda this past spring. The road to recovery is so long, and he is making progress.

One of the Soldiers with us was so appreciative of the lunch and the outpouring of support shown to all of them that he insisted on having his picture taken with us. Then he gathered us around him and gave a little speech thanking us for the outpouring of support.. It really, really touched him.

So on behalf of this brave HERO and all who enjoyed the day,

“Thank You, Elves!!!”

The time, the planning and logistics, the care, and the love that went into this event leaves me overwhelmed with gratitude knowing that our troops are not forgotten and that so many people were willing to show they care.

With Special Thanks To:

The Marine Liaison Staff at Richmond VAMC, Bayside Quilters, Virginia Military Families Gathering for Support, Janet and Lew, Katie K., Mary Allen, Carol, Sarah, Diane, Katie S. Coleen, Tina, Mary Lou and Friends, SSgt. Hudson and the Camp Foster Young Marines, Mary Lou and Friends, Donna and Savannah, SRCH Homeschoolers, Reach Homeschoolers, the Morgans and friends, Lynne & her Baking Circle, N.Va Women’s Republician Club, Shirley, Brenda Bass & Grace Co-op Sewing Class, Haley and Bethany, Mike S., Paula, and all who sent support, encouragement and “Holiday Cheer” to the PTRP, Spinal Cord, and Polytrauma patients and their families at the hospital.

Today’s Luncheon Crew:

Katie, Mary Allen, Janet and Lew, with Santa GI Thank You! Job Well Done!

As the holidays approach, please keep the families of the Fallen, our Precious Gold Star Families, in your thoughts and prayers.

Passing on from one of my favorite “Old Corps Devil Dogs”, Jim:

“Remembering the Brave”

and a Christmas message from General and Mrs. Amos:

The Commandant and First Lady of the Marine Corps’ 2011 Christmas Message