GIG LINE
By Marsha M. Brown
We’ve all heard the saying, “It takes a village to raise a child” and of course it’s a reference to more than just raising children…to me…it means, in essence, that we all raise each other…or influence each other at the very minimum.
Sometimes the person you would least expect to influence you does just that by inspiring a new perspective or amending our preconceived notions. Because of that, I wanted each of you know who read GIG LINE or who contact me (or my sweetie pie Billy) through email, phone or text that you have touched our hearts. You matter and so do the stories you share with us about your husbands and wives, sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, parents and grandparents who have served this country…our country…so thank you all. Your ‘accounts’ and family stories are priceless.
Each morning when I get up, I have my ‘me and the Lord time’ and before I ask for anything from Him, I consider what I have to thank Him for first…the blessings of His love and forgiveness; His birth, sacrifice and resurrection; for inspiring, teaching and healing; for our family and friends both near and far and for our church family too. Then I thank Him for bringing my husband home from Vietnam followed by a thankful prayer for all of our veterans who serve today and always. I pray too for our P.O.W. & M.I.A. It’s my morning ritual and a lot of times my nightly practice too just before shutting my eyes for the night.
In my prayers this morning an idea came to me that I want to share with you. Remember how I suggested we write/deposit/distribute in bulk Valentine’s Day cards for our deployed troops to mail out? We usually think of Christmas but what about other holidays? Well, what if…us ‘Outer Bankers’ initiated another new tradition from Corolla to Hatteras Village, Roanoke Island, Wanchese and the Mainland? What if…each one of us bought a box of thank you notes…or for that matter gathered simple notebook paper and envelopes…and we wrote a note of thanks to veterans in general that we happen to see get out of their car at the store, restaurant or barbershop etc. and place them under the veterans car/truck windshield wiper blade to surprise them and thank them personally for their service? We wouldn’t have to sign the card/note or identify yourselves unless we wanted to…but what if we expressed our appreciation for their sacrifice and loyalty to country taking the cards with us everywhere we go between now and July 4th (or perpetually for that matter) so the sincere expressions of thanks would be handy to give out in areas where we might see a veteran license plate on a car, T-shirt or hat etc.
Sometimes people want to approach a veteran but are too shy or they just don’t know what to say; sometimes even veterans themselves want to thank their brothers & sisters or say “Welcome home”…and maybe…just maybe an outreach of this sort would provide a way to touch many veterans who both live, work and visit the Outer Banks between now and the holidays. Maybe…just maybe a visiting veteran on vacation will leave at the end of his/her stay and take home more than a suntan or a cooler of fish but rather a boost of American pride…community pride and a sense of special gratitude from the people of Dare County who found a discreet way to acknowledge them.
If you chose to do it and you have any interaction with a veteran and you don’t mind, can you please call me: (252) 202-2058 or email me: editor@giglineheroes.com because I’d like very much to hear about it.
We all love our vets and we all want to do things for them by showing our support and gratitude, right? And if we have unique ideas to bring attention to them and their families (who have also served), I would embrace the opportunity to hear about it. Maybe in previous years (elsewhere) you’ve done special acknowledgments of our military; maybe you’ve had special fundraisers that everyone enjoys…brain storming is great! However we go about it, pulling out the stops to do positive things to uplift, celebrate and remind us of the value of our veterans is worthy of practice!
Just prior to and during our big Independence Day weekend, we have a lot of events to look forward to, for example: a parade in Duck, an Art Show in Rodanthe, a 5K run in Kill Devil Hills, a challenging climb on Jockey’s Ridge, and a United States Marine Corps 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing Band performance at Festival Park in downtown Manteo…not to mention fireworks on Saturday, July 4th in Manteo, Nags Head, Kill Devil Hills and Avon on Hatteras Island. WOW!
Regarding the Dare County Veteran Advisory Council I. D. Card: we have recently added the following new businesses that provide you our local veterans a discount for the goods and/or services you purchase from them, so please check them out:
Island Central Grill (Manteo); OBX Beach Wash & Detail (Manteo);
Steve Hampton Plumbing (Manteo)
Colington Café’ (Colington). Please refer to www.darenc.com – see Desktop Version home page; click Departments & Services; click Departments T – Z; click Veteran’s Office; look left and click on ‘Businesses that accept ID Cards for Discounts’ where you’ll see details on the specific discount they offer.
OK folks…for questions about getting your I. D. Card, veteran meetings etc. please call me if you would like. Until next time…be happy, be safe and be proud! God bless you all! Stay tuned!