This was an email sent to me on Memorial Day by one of our Marine heroes from Utah. This is the result we hope for.
Ron Kocian, President
Warrior’s Weekend

Dear Ron,

On this “Day of Remembrance,” I just wanted you to know that you sir, were on my mind.

My wife and I being able to be a part of Warrior Weekend 2011, was not only something I will never forget, but was a “saving grace” for me as well.

Though my injuries are over three years old, I have just recently (last 6 months) had some stability in my life. My recovery road has been long. I suffering a broken neck, Severe Traumatic Brain Injury, Anatomical loss of my right eye and only enough vision in my left to see an area the size of a small saucer; Bi-lateral hearing loss, which required having a Cochlear Implant and Hearing aid with an FM receiver to be able to regain some hearing; I am able to walk with support canes on good days and in a wheelchair on bad ones… if I can get out of bed; I have had the left side of my face “rebuilt;” I rely on medication to control tremors and seizures… to help memory, to regulate my heart, to keep a chemical balance in my brain and help cognitive functioning, to prevent nightmares and to try to induce sleep. The risks of being a “Bomb Hunter.” After being “Blown-up,” literally, on six different occasions, I am damn lucky to have all that I still have and do not take that for granted.

To date, it has taken 6 major surgeries, eight different hospitals in three different states and over 47 different Health Care Specialists to get me to where I am today. That is not counting the Dental and Oral Surgeons or the Emergency Care Personnel who I have visited 51 times to get 10 or more stitches in my forehead from continued falls due to a “broken” vestibular system. I have to use a catheter to go to the bathroom. I have been on a liquid diet for over three years. In fact, the solid food I ate during the “Warrior Weekend,” was some of the very first “Solid Food” I have had since my injury… And DAMN was it GREAT!!!

My wife and I have been struggling. To have this time together was nothing short of a “God-send!” It was the chance we needed to be away from everything and everyone here, to be able to just enjoy and focus on us, while feeding off of the “Spirit of Patriotism and Volunterism” that was wrapped around us at Warriors Weekend. It gave us a renewed strength and commitment to each other, that we could not have obtained anywhere else… that we might have lost altogether if not for Warriors Weekend!

To make a long story short… Thank you so much for the gift you have given us, by having us at Warriors Weekend! For the “second chance” you gave us… for the renewed strength to press forward and “carry on,” and to do it together!

God Bless you Ron, and all who make Warriors Weekend a Reality!

It was truly an Honor and a Privilege to meet you Sir! What you give to our Wounded Warriors, what you gave to me, is something that you could never put a pricetag on, and something I could not have gotten anywhere else, but in Port O’Connor, and Texas!

It’s not enough, but again, from the Humble Heart of my Broken Warriors Body, I sincerely Thank You Ron!!!

God Bless!

Respectfully, A Friend Always,

“Gordy” Ewell (“Gordy” and Terra Ewell, of the Utah Group)

Letter to the Editor:

I would like to express my pride in our community for all that they are doing to let our warriors know that we are proud of them. Every place in America does not treat our warriors with the honor due them, but we can do all we can to make up for those others.

It would be futile of me to attempt to say thanks to all who did so much. Those who are on the Board spend the entire year getting things ready for this one weekend – thanks! Those who provide all the necessities – food, entertainment, transportation, and housing – can never be adequately thanked – but thanks! Those who worked so hard at the Community Center – and so many behind the scenes – thanks! Those who worked at Froggie’s and those who provided the boats and bait and fuel and, and, and…-thanks! What about those who manned the Sanctuary for night fishing – thanks!

The Chapel only had a very small part in this weekend, but we know how many people helped us do what we did, and to all of you, we say thanks. I know that I am going to get in trouble for not mentioning people who helped, but I am going to acknowledge some. Thanks, Allen and Terri, Dick’s Food Store (Seadrift), Dr. and Mable, Pat and Mike, Larry and Annette, Rommie, Lee and Kim, Mike and Martie, W.K. and Barbara, Port O’Connor Speedy Stop and Mike, La Original Tortilla (Victoria), Jerry and Cathy, Joane, and others for providing the things we needed to work with and to countless people who made it happen. Thank you!

When I was discharged from service, at the airport in Philadelphia, I was dishonored, but now I get the opportunity of honoring those for whom honor is due! Thank you, Warriors, for serving me! “I’m proud to be an American, a Texan, but especially proud to be from Port O’Connor!”

Erny McDonough

The Dolphin welcomes letters from our readers on any subject that is of general interest to our audience. Letters should be 300 words or less (with exceptions at the Dolphin’s discretion). Letters reflect the opinion of the writer, and not that of Dolphin Talk staff, and we retain the right to determine suitability for publication. It is the policy of this newspaper to promote area interests: therefore, complaints against local businesses should be directed elsewhere. Letters must be signed and include day and evening phone numbers, which will not be published. Your name will be withheld upon request, but anonymous material will not be considered for publication.

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