East Coast Wounded Warriors

The East Coast MarineParents.com Purple Heart Family Support volunteers served suppers at the National Naval Medical Center at Bethesda, Maryland on October 24, 2010. California Tortilla of Bethesda delivered huge burritos, salads, tostados, salsa and their signature Honey Lime salad dressing. The parents and staff from Little Flower Catholic School in Great Mills, Maryland sent loads of homemade desserts for the wounded warriors and their families.

PHFS volunteer Virginia Gerrish and Veterans Moving Forward service dog.

The PHFS volunteers were joined by their invited guests, the volunteers from Veterans Moving Forward and two of their service dogs, Iden and Edwin. These dogs are comfort and therapy dogs, trained to meet the needs of Veterans. The organization was founded by CDR Karen, USN Ret. Karen and the other dog handlers visited wounded warriors and their families on the 5th floor. They spent 45 minutes on the 7th floor PTSD ward and also went to Mercy Hall to visit the long term recuperating wounded warriors.

CDR Karen, USN Ret., founder of Veterans Moving Forward, Inc. and a service dog.

The PHFS volunteers were pleased to meet another member of MarineParents.com. Tina aka “Zzzaney” and her wounded warrior son, Darnell were visiting some of Darnell’s Marine buddies at the NNMC at Bethesda. Darnell is currently at Walter Reed, recovering from his wounds. This was his first day pass, and he wanted to spend it with his friends at Bethesda. They were delighted to find PHFS volunteers providing supper. As Tina said, this was a wonderful day for Darnell. He was with his friends, watching football and eating terrific burritos. We also met Baby Noah who was visiting his warrior daddy.

PHFS volunteer Virginia and Tina, a MarineParents.com member and mother of Wounded Warrior, Darnell.

Three Wounded Warriors were expected by medivac after the volunteers were to leave. We made plates for these new patients and left them with the ward staff so they would have something inviting waiting for them. Food was also left with the Marine Corps Liaison at the hospital for the families of the new arrivals, who were also arriving late.

PHFS volunteer CDR Rene, USN MSC holding Noah while his parents serve themselves Burrito suppers.