We recently hosted more than 900 warriors for our annual Warriors Weekend. What a magnificent event. Over 400 boats went fishing; more than 3500 servings of desserts and cookies were lovingly homemade and served with care, in excess of 5000 eggs were cracked and cooked; 1200 plus pounds of meats, acres of veggies, pounds of potatoes and mounds of fruit were prepared, cooked and served; gallons of coffee, water, juice, milk and soda were poured; some 750 massages and hours of family entertainment games and activities were planned and carried out; mountains of sand were molded into art; 2500 plus fish were cleaned; 40 golf carts made 25 to 30 trips each through and across town; buses shuttled, vans delivered; hosts and hostesses went the second and third mile; and heaven only knows how many hugs, handshakes, high fives, smiles, joint laughter and collective tears were shared, all with the hope that each and every warrior and their family would feel loved and supported. Some ask how our little town of Port O’Connor, Texas is able to manage such a feat. I told them it was the ultimate team effort.

One guy told me he had been awake most of the weekend. He had a warrior and his family staying at his home. He cracked eggs Friday night for the breakfast, returned home to visit with his guests, drove them to the dinner, hauled breakfast gear and cookers to the community center in the wee hours, helped cook before the sun came up, drove a golf cart most of the day, pitched in to clean fish when they got backed up, helped with dinner, took bait out to night fishing, spent some quality time with his young warrior, drove his guests to breakfast, and then helped clean up when the buses pulled out. He was tired, but satisfied. There were hometown cooks who cooked for the sandcastle crew, made multiple desserts, helped prepare group meals and still made treats and goodies for their soldier houseguests. There were local guides who forfeited a day of pay to fish with a hero. Leisure boat owners waited on the water, some for hours, wanting to be sure that every warrior who wanted to fish got a spot. Dozens of men wore out filet blades and themselves cleaning and bagging fish for transport by and to heroes who caught them. Lots of locals gave time, money and effort from a place of sacrifice, not surplus. Many who lined the roads and welcomed soldiers with a handshake or a hug have loved ones serving or lost in service to our country. The preparation and execution was beautifully done and masterfully executed. Of course there were hiccups and foul ups behind the scenes. That is to be expected. But the welcome the soldiers and their families received seemed sincere and unproblematic.

Well, here is a huge heaping helping of gratitude to all of those who make it possible! The food was great, the activities fun, and the greetings special, but it is what‘s behind them that matters most. The care and concern is palpable. The love expressed has hands and feet and voice, and those soldiers feel it. They know that POC loves them. They can see it and feel and taste it throughout their visit here. It is not really about a delicious cookie, or a fish perfectly filleted. The meals are important but just part of the picture. No one person or group could even come close to doing it alone. The talents and skills involved are as varied and special as the people who possess them. So, that cookie is much more than just a cookie, and hours spent in the weekend are investment. Americans say they care about our troops, but we get the unique opportunity to show it. And that is a special blessing in and of itself, because as we love and appreciate our warrior heroes, we receive much more than we give. The cookie we give might just be the sweetest treat we ever get!