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Tuesday, June 14, 2011

It's Pinup Time Baby!

     So what's a Military Wife to do when her Marine is deployed?  Stop watching the news, for one!  It's extremely distressing to see every little thing that gets broadcast, especially since the media rarely has the details I'm interested in.  For example, what KIND of helicopter crashed?  Seahawk, Blackhawk, Apache, Cobra, Phrog, Super Stallion?  Each service has their own airframes and I can immediately tell if it's Marines if the anchor says more than "Military Helicopter."  Not that it's a relief when it's not a Marine, because my heart is breaking for whoever it was in there and their family who is hearing the news no one wants.  I've been to more funerals since I married Matthew than in the rest of my life combined.  This deployment has been more difficult in that respect, three Marines from Matt's unit have been killed in the last week alone.
     The families of these Marines are what we refer to as "Gold Star" families.  Families of those who serve in harm's way are "Blue Star", those who lose a loved one become "Gold Star" families.  It's a title of honor that no Military family wants to earn.  The Blue and Gold Star banners are specially made under a Department of Defense directive implemented by Congress.  Learn a bit more about the banners from the American Legion here.  One such Gold Star family is that of 1st Lt. Rob Seidel III.  Here's a bit about him: "Rob Seidel died in Baghdad, Iraq, from injuries sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated near his HMMWV during combat operations. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 22nd Infantry, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), Fort Drum, New York. Died on May 18, 2006."  Trying to make the best out of this tragedy, his family has set up the 1st Lt. Rob Seidel Wounded Soldier Fund to help those who survived combat but left with permanent scars.  Recently, I got an e-mail seeking models for a pinup style calender, with the proceeds from the calendar's sale directly benefiting this charity.  How could I say no?   All of the submissions were done through Facebook, you can find the page by following this link.  My photo is under "West  Coast Submissions", and if you "like" the charity's page, you can vote for me to be in the calendar by "like"-ing the picture.  There's also a short essay I wrote about why I want to be involved with this project, which I think is pretty darn good!  The photo I've posted here is the same one that's on the FB page for voting.  Please ignore my rear, it's REALLY unnatural for me to have this photo posted for everyone to see.  I keep reminding myself of the movie "Calendar Girls" where a Women's Club asks some of its members to pose nude, tastefully and quasi censored with flower pots and such, for a calendar to benefit their local hospital.  If some English biddies can pull this off, so can I!
Voting ends June 22, and I'm way behind in the polls.  I'd like to win for my own ego, but if I don't, at least I know that I tried to do something good. I can find other ways to support our Gold Star families. Coping normally in an abnormal situation is what Military life is all about!

1 comments:

two girls, a boy and a blog said...

I love it! Miss you guys soooo much:-( Hope all is well hugs to you!!

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