The Best Veterans’ Day Ever

Jenna, a scrapping friend of mine in the New Hampshire area, told me about Soldiers’ Angels last year. So TeamShively adopted a soldier who’s stationed in Iraq/Afghanistan, and I send him cards and care packages (through the angelsstore.org). I also get email updates from Patti Patton-Bader, the founder of Soldiers’ Angels.  A couple days before Halloween, all the Colorado Angels received an email request from Patti, asking anybody who can to help a disabled hero in Colorado Springs.  Much to my chagrin, I had presumed or was hoping that all the ’south’ Angels had set this hero up and that’s why I hadn’t called him, but I shouldn’t have assumed.

Josh on the couch we gave him

I asked Bill to call this hero, Josh, the day before Veterans’ Day, to find out what we might be able to bring him on 11/11 to give him a nice VDay. As a result of Bill’s phone call, we found out that Josh was still without most of the basics that make a home. So at the very last minute, my wonderful hubby started making phone calls, first to U-Haul (no go) then to Penske in Fort Collins, who let us rent a truck for half price. Bill then dropped by Subway in Wellington, and the manager offered to make a sammich tray so we would be fed during ‘moving’ day. Next, genius hubby called the 94.3 radio station based out of Windsor and talked to Rachel; she announced over the airwaves what we were attempting to do, and a couple of generous listeners heard the call (one bought Josh a brand new 27″ HDTV and DVD player; another donated a $100 Wal-Mart gift card). Lastly, I emailed several people I work with, and several of them came through, it was wonderful!

Driving behind the rental truck

On Tuesday morning, we got the kids off to school, drove over to Cindi&Steve’s house, where we picked up some dishes/pans/microwave (thanks Sarah) and $50 toward the cost of the rental truck (thanks so much C&S!!!). We picked up the Penske truck and drove over to Caroline’s. She and Brett had all SORTS of stuff ready for us to pack into the truck! They gave Josh a double mattress, headboard, futon, Bombay cabinet, dresser for a bedroom, a small drop-leaf table, a TV, two chairs, throw pillows, tall white bookshelf, it was amazing – thank you C&B!!! We drove back to our house in Wellington to load up our sofa and loveseat. I drove the Camry and Bill drove the Penske, and we dropped by the Loaf&Jug in Johnstown to pick up an end table and some blankets/bedding that Tyler and Jesseca (Bill’s second cousin, small world!) gave to Josh. After a couple of pit stops, we got to Josh’s apartment at 6:20pm.

Most everything unloaded into living room

The apartment management allowed Josh to borrow a futon, a couple bar stools, and a TV for 30 days, and the expiration was quickly approaching. So when we got to Josh’s apartment, “bare” was definitely accurate. We arranged the sofa and loveseat we gave him into his living room, put the small drop-leaf table (Caroline) into the kitchen along with the bookshelf, then the dresser into his bedroom along with the mattress and box spring. The end table went next to the sofa, the brand new TV and DVD player went on top of the Bombay cabinet, and his ‘new’ futon went into the second bedroom of his apartment where his son and daughter will sleep when they visit.

Taylan playing in the living room

It took us until about 11pm to get everything unloaded since Josh lives about 25 yards back from where we could back up the truck AND he lives on the third floor. And yes we kept the kids out that late, shame on us. But we felt it was absolutely worth it, and the kids got to meet a hero who fought for our country – Josh speaks 4 languages fluently and is SO friendly. We all talked to him like we’d known him forever! Although I was getting a cold and had to take 11/12 off because I was absolutely wiped out, what an awesome experience we had! Helping Josh out was the highlight of our year! UPDATE: After I wrote this blog entry, we received a check from Becky & Kenny Brandt in Cheyenne that has helped with the cost of gas to get two vehicles from Wellington to Colorado Springs (approx. 150 miles one way), and to get one vehicle back – thank you so much!! Here are some more pictures from our adventure:

Braeden in the dining room

Josh and Taylan on his couch

Wonderful hubby Bill and Josh

Me (decided to be silly for some reason) and Josh