Respect
Hello All,
Today, I have received an email that I wish to forward to you, my readers. You may have previously seen this story; however, if you have not, I think you will appreciate the theme. I will include the photos that accompanied the email, as well as the words and I will list This Link for your referencing.
The following is the email:
TO: Reach
FW: Civilians would not understand how much we Love our country.......and them!!
CAMP PENDLETON, Calif.
(March 2, 2006)
Karla Comfort received a lot of looks and even some salutes from people when she drove from Benton, Ark., to Camp Pendleton, Calif., in her newly-painted, custom Hummer H 3 March 2. The vehicle is adorned with the likeness of her son, 20-year-old Lance Cpl. John M. Holmason, and nine other Marines with F Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division who where all killed by the same improvised explosive device blast in Fallujah, Iraq, in December.
For Karla Comfort, having the vehicle air brushed with the image of the 10 Marines was a way to pay homage to her hero and his fellow comrades who fell on Iraq's urban battlefield. "I wanted to let people know (Marines) are doing their jobs honorably, and some of them die," said the 39-year-old from Portland, OR "I don't want people to forget the sacrifices that my son and the other Marines made."
Leading up to her son's death, Karla Comfort had received several letters from him prior to his return. He had been deployed for five months, and Comfort "worried everyday he was gone until she got the letters and found out the date he was coming home," she said. Marines knocked on the front door of her home in Farmington, Mich., at 3 am with the dreadful news. "I let my guard down when I found out he was coming home," she said.
"There are times that I still cannot believe it happened. It's very hard to deal with." Karla Comfort came up with the idea for the rolling memorial when she and her two other sons attended John's funeral in Portland, Ore. "I saw a Vietnam (War) memorial on a car, and I said to my son Josh, 'we should do something like that for John,' she recalled. "He loved Hummers."
She purchased the vehicle in January and immediately took it to Airbrush Guy & Co. in Benton, Ark., where artist Robert Powell went to work on changing the plain, black vehicle into a decorative, mobile, art piece. "I only had the vehicle for two days before we took it in," she joked. Two hundred and fifty man-hours later, Powell had completed the vehicle. The custom job would have cost $25,000.
Out of respect for Karla Comfort's loss and the sacrifices the Marines made, Airbrush Guy & Co. did it free. Comfort only had to purchase the paint, which cost $3,000. "I love it," she said. "I'm really impressed with it, and I think John would be happy with the vehicle. He would have a big smile on his face because he loved Hummers." Karla Comfort gave Powell basic instructions on what to include in the paint job. In addition to the image of her son in Dress Blues and the faces of the nine other Marines, there were several surprises. "He put a lot more on than I expected," she said. "I think my favorite part is the heaven scene." On the left side of the vehicle, details of the Marines are depicted carrying their fallen comrades through the clouds to their final resting place. The American flag drapes across the hood, the words, "Simper Fi" crowns the front windshield and the spare tire cover carries the same Eagle Globe and Anchor design that her son had tattooed on his back.
"All the support I have been getting is wonderful," she said. Karla Comfort decided to move back to her hometown of Portland, and making the cross-country trip from Arkansas was a way for her to share her son's story. It's also her way of coping with the loss. "Along the way I got nothing but positive feedback from people," she said. "What got to me was when people would salute the guys (Marines). It's hard to look at his picture. I still cry and try to get used to the idea, but it's hard to grasp the idea that he's really gone."
HAND SALUTE!
Reach
Today, I have received an email that I wish to forward to you, my readers. You may have previously seen this story; however, if you have not, I think you will appreciate the theme. I will include the photos that accompanied the email, as well as the words and I will list This Link for your referencing.
The following is the email:
TO: Reach
FW: Civilians would not understand how much we Love our country.......and them!!
CAMP PENDLETON, Calif.
(March 2, 2006)
Karla Comfort received a lot of looks and even some salutes from people when she drove from Benton, Ark., to Camp Pendleton, Calif., in her newly-painted, custom Hummer H 3 March 2. The vehicle is adorned with the likeness of her son, 20-year-old Lance Cpl. John M. Holmason, and nine other Marines with F Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division who where all killed by the same improvised explosive device blast in Fallujah, Iraq, in December.
For Karla Comfort, having the vehicle air brushed with the image of the 10 Marines was a way to pay homage to her hero and his fellow comrades who fell on Iraq's urban battlefield. "I wanted to let people know (Marines) are doing their jobs honorably, and some of them die," said the 39-year-old from Portland, OR "I don't want people to forget the sacrifices that my son and the other Marines made."
Leading up to her son's death, Karla Comfort had received several letters from him prior to his return. He had been deployed for five months, and Comfort "worried everyday he was gone until she got the letters and found out the date he was coming home," she said. Marines knocked on the front door of her home in Farmington, Mich., at 3 am with the dreadful news. "I let my guard down when I found out he was coming home," she said.
"There are times that I still cannot believe it happened. It's very hard to deal with." Karla Comfort came up with the idea for the rolling memorial when she and her two other sons attended John's funeral in Portland, Ore. "I saw a Vietnam (War) memorial on a car, and I said to my son Josh, 'we should do something like that for John,' she recalled. "He loved Hummers."
She purchased the vehicle in January and immediately took it to Airbrush Guy & Co. in Benton, Ark., where artist Robert Powell went to work on changing the plain, black vehicle into a decorative, mobile, art piece. "I only had the vehicle for two days before we took it in," she joked. Two hundred and fifty man-hours later, Powell had completed the vehicle. The custom job would have cost $25,000.
Out of respect for Karla Comfort's loss and the sacrifices the Marines made, Airbrush Guy & Co. did it free. Comfort only had to purchase the paint, which cost $3,000. "I love it," she said. "I'm really impressed with it, and I think John would be happy with the vehicle. He would have a big smile on his face because he loved Hummers." Karla Comfort gave Powell basic instructions on what to include in the paint job. In addition to the image of her son in Dress Blues and the faces of the nine other Marines, there were several surprises. "He put a lot more on than I expected," she said. "I think my favorite part is the heaven scene." On the left side of the vehicle, details of the Marines are depicted carrying their fallen comrades through the clouds to their final resting place. The American flag drapes across the hood, the words, "Simper Fi" crowns the front windshield and the spare tire cover carries the same Eagle Globe and Anchor design that her son had tattooed on his back.
"All the support I have been getting is wonderful," she said. Karla Comfort decided to move back to her hometown of Portland, and making the cross-country trip from Arkansas was a way for her to share her son's story. It's also her way of coping with the loss. "Along the way I got nothing but positive feedback from people," she said. "What got to me was when people would salute the guys (Marines). It's hard to look at his picture. I still cry and try to get used to the idea, but it's hard to grasp the idea that he's really gone."
HAND SALUTE!
Reach
posted by Reach | 2:20 PM
8 Comments:
The human spirit can reamin so strong in the toughest of times and kindness is all around us. Fortunately folks like yourself will take the time and energy to point it out.
Thanks.
this is for below.. but the comment thingy isn't working. so here
omg i wish i had a ounce of what you son has. He is so blind to see what opportunities you have given him. I work a full time job, can't afford to put myself through school full time, but I do it anyways, I have thousands of dollars in debt and bills. My husband and I live pay check to pay check. You are more than welcome to adopt me Reach. I will be your favorite daughter with a wonderful son in law! :)
But know that sometimes its not just tough love, its letting go and letting him learn for himself just how much he had.
This is an inspiring story, it's great to hear about people like this.
One thing I do like about this war is that people aren't blaming, or shunning the troops like they did in Vietnam.
Rick,
I agree with you and would also like to add; it is through our networks, family, friends, and some strangers that we can pull together and transform the worst of tragedies into the positive.
Vaughn,
I would like to preface with, thank you for coming here. I appreciate and welcome you.
In the comments section, T.H. had mentioned his experiences, of which was educational for me, and that is why I post some of these topics- for my learning.
T.H.,
I know what you mean, being a "Navy-Brat" of that era. I, also, relived my father's "coming home" experiences with the spitting and trash throwing, as I returned and was sent to San Francisco. The protestors there, really hated me during the Gulf War.
PS. Please, I do not wish anybody to think that I would ever catagorize any person into those peoples roles- they were just rude and created a "black eye" for a beautiful metropolis.
Reach
I love this post Reach. Thank you for sharing. I have been a bit myopic lately, concentrating on my own corner of the world, as my next post will prove.
Thanks for redirecting my focus.
Ciao friend.
Teri,
You are always welcome, and thanks for coming by. I did read your post, and I completely understand.
Reach
Ahhh Reach, but is the next post, next Friday I speak of...if I get the nerve to post it.
Ciao,
What a GREAT story. As a war veteran myself, I know how deeply I was affected by the attitude of the people at home. We fought for thier right to be critical. That is the meaning of Freedom. I will always try to remember those that gave the ultimate sacrafice for OUR freedom.
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