Be a part of something bigger.

     On the evening of April 16, 2011, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina and the surrounding areas were hit with a horrible band of storms that produced multiple tornadoes.  These tornadoes caused devastation beyond imagination in the lives of Marines and Sailors and their families living aboard Terewa Terrace I and II.  These neighborhoods are base sponsored communities full of children, wives, and families who all serve their country through their fathers or mothers, husbands or wives.

     Thankfully, these storms did not cause any fatalities, they did cause injuries and wide spread destruction.  Leaving almost 100 residents displaced for their beautiful homes and many others living in homes that are damaged.  I personally know of one wife, whose husband deployed less than one week ago to serve his country, whose car was destroyed by the storm.  One young boy, age 23-months, was air lifted because of injuries sustained by the tornadoes destruction of his home.  His mother was home with him and injured herself.  His father at a train up in Mojave Viper, California.  He will be home soon.  

     The community saved that little boys life.  And so I ask this of you.  Help save the community.  A community that is my family.  A community of heroes.  A community of families missing loved ones who are deployed.  A community of fighters.  A community that deserves to be lifted out of the shadows of this devastation.  A community that deserves the support of those outside of it.  

     These photographs show the damaged that occurred during the tornadoes on April 16, 2011.  These photographs were taken by a very talented friend, Kim Graham of Kimberly Graham Photography.  

     I am a military spouse and I can attest to the strength that is the military community.  It is a community where a stranger can instantly become your best friend.  It is a community of families that know exactly what it feels like to have loved ones off fighting a war.  It is a community that never faulters because they carry the weak to strength.  This community will not sleep until they see everyone affected taken care of.  But they cannot do it alone.  They cannot do without help.  

     So I ask you to please forgo your latte today and donate to help the warriors of Camp Lejeune rebuild their lives.  Forgo your pedicure to help rebuild a primary school that is causing displacement of many young students.  Forgo your lunch out of the office, in exchange for a brown bag and help support a young wife rebuild while her husband is deployed.  

     Support your troops when they need it the most.  Support your military.  And support a community that was ravaged by storms.  Help them rebuild.   

     If you would like to donate financially, please follow the following directions. 

          1.  Visit http://uso-nc.org

          2.  Click DONATE in the upper right.

          3.  Click the DONATE NOW button in the top right corner. 

          4.  In the special instructions section, specify JACKSONVILLE TORNADO

     If you would like to donate items to the USO for distribution, please mail these to 

               USO, Jacksonville Center

               9 Tallman Street

               Jacksonville, NC 28540

     Hygiene/toiletry items, baby items, undergarments, and food are being requested most. 

     * Please note that you are seeing Jacksonville in these directions.  Jacksonville is the town in North Carolina that houses Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune.

     * I hope to post pictures to this post soon, but without the permission of some of my friends I cannot do that.  Soon though I hope.