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Support Our Troops
California Federation of Republican Women
Hosts Successful Event for Military Wives
CFRW Vice President Diane McGlinchey is the wife of
a retired lieutenant colonel, and she had this great
idea to sponsor a project called "Military Wives
Evening Out." Seven Members of Congress, the
California Republican Party and many of our local
clubs and individual members served as sponsors of
this event.
We established a base coordinator at Camp Pendleton
to contact the wives. Her name is Karen Mendoza.
The sponsorship donations were used to charter a bus
to bring them about 75 miles to our event, pay for
their meals and pay for their babysitting. We had an
entertainment group called the "Kids next Door" from
the Program of the Orange County School of the Arts.
This group is one of the most sought-after in the
county. They were great entertainment for the
military wives.
One of the military wives lives off base and found
this e-mail below when she arrived home on Saturday
night. When this letter was read on Sunday morning,
there was not a dry eye in the room.
- Martha House, CFRW President
Would you be so kind to please tell Diane McGlinchey
and the California Federation of Republican Women
how much the military wives truly do appreciate all
of the love, support and smiles that we received
Saturday night.
It was an INCREDIBLE evening. From the smiles at the
door when we entered to the hugs when we said
goodbye. They were all friendly touches that made
the military wives feel very special. We were
overwhelmed by all of the details that were meant
just for us ... from the charter bus, Cheryl's
patriotic stars on the name tags, the envelopes with
cash for babysitting, singing of the Marine Corps
hymn, to the flag goody bags with HOMEMADE cookies.
Wow!
Most importantly the highlight of the night were the SPONSORS!!! I think the military wives were a little awe struck to see other people so excited to see us. We're use to just blending into the woodwork and not getting too much recognition or attention. But to feel the love and support, it was amazing to say the least. The sponsors made us feel very comfortable. They were friendly and never too pushy when it came to questions about our husbands or politics. I think it was more of a meeting of "new friends."
Words cannot describe the feeling I got when a wife received her childcare envelope. When she RSVP'd for the event, she told me her childcare costs apprehensively. She didn't believe that the group was going to actually pay for it all. I tried to reassure her that her childcare money would be available for her, but she kept telling me, "Well, it's okay if it's not all there. I'll pay the difference". I was standing there when she received the envelope from smiling Shirley. The look in her eyes was amazement and just complete joy. This military wife is a mother of six kids, three of who have special needs with autism. She said that she rarely if ever goes out with her husband, let alone her friends, because they can't afford it with six kids. Seeing the look on her face, the look of appreciation and relief made Saturday night a huge success.
There were wives in attendance who didn't know any other military wives. They simply needed to get out of the house. Some of their husbands were just deployed two weeks ago, and some of their husband's units have already received fatalities. Some wives learned earlier that day that there was another fatality in their unit, just three weeks before they were scheduled to come home. That is the reality that the military wife lives day in and day out. There is no break from that stress. So attending the dinner was such a huge positive evening away from the stresses of military life. It re-energized our souls and re-affirmed our belief in our country and fellow Americans.
To attend such a wonderful event tonight resurrected
my feelings that Americans do still care about our
military. This evening wasn't about being a
Republican; it was about being an American. Even
during a time of crisis, we as Americans can bond
unilaterally to support each other during tough
times. I felt that the California Federation of
Republican Women understood the Marine wife bond
that you and I both share as Marine Corps wives.
It's a sisterhood. A sisterhood that can't clearly
be described, but is always faithful.
I know the intent of the evening was not to
"solicit" new Republican voters. It was to show
appreciation to the military wives. I think the
military wives took home the feeling that
Republicans TRULY do care about the military and the
military families. That, in turn, I believe, will
change the way some will view the Republican Party.
You won our hearts tonight by making us ALL feel so
very special.
I try to live by a motto which has blessed me with
several wonderful friends. "People never remember
what you say, but they will always remember how you
made them FEEL".
As a military wife, I personally felt so
appreciated, respected and welcomed by the group. I
will cherish this evening and remember how the
California Federation of Republican Women made me
feel.
There was only one thing that the military wives
said that they would have changed about the evening.
They wanted to spend more time with their
sponsors!!! I was very moved when I read what my
sponsor Joan Joseff inscribed to me in a book...
"Thank you for sharing your Marine husband with the
world so that we in America can be safe." It made my
eyes swell with pride because this wonderful women,
whom I have NEVER met before, understands what I do
every day... share my husband with all Americans.
Thank you, Joan, for understanding and being
wonderful. I hope that this is the beginning of a
new friendship. My only regret is that I didn't have
a picture taken of Joan and myself so I can share it
with my Marine when he comes home from Iraq. So, I
can show him and say, "Look, Honey, this is a
picture of my new friend, Joan ... the lady who
reaffirmed my belief that a Republican should be our
next president."
I hope you have a wonderful day on Sunday, and many
thanks to Diane McGlinchey and to all who made the
evening so special for all of the military wives.
With Deep Appreciation,
Karen Mendoza
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