24 October 2010

Continuing the story line...

I have gotten such a wonderful response and have found a mentor or two in the process as well!  I urge you all to continue to submit your stories to me.  Further, and equally as importantly, I ask you to please forward this link to anyone you know that may be interested.

http://storiesbehindthefrontline.blogspot.com/

It is so important to click on "FOLLOW" once you are on the blog.  This will keep you informed with any updates and/or changes that occur on the site or with my project.  I hope to get TONS and TONS of followers in the not too distant future!

Currently, I am looking for an attorney that would be willing to give me legal advice...gratis!  Eventually, there may be a way to begin a payment schedule but for now, I need to receive answers to some questions and need to do that with no money out of pocket.  This project is starting to roll...in the direction I envisioned...and I do not want to stop that ball!  If anyone knows of an attorney, preferably one with a heart for military personnel or military projects, please put them in touch with me.  I will not take much of their time at first and we can discuss how much they are willing to be available to me at no charge.  Send them to my email:   angelaengele@gmail.com   Once we have touched base through email, I will pass on further contact information.

I would like to go ahead and take the time to thank everyone for being so supportive and encouraging up to this point!  You are making it so easy for all the pieces to just fall into place.  From my husband to my ex-husband, to my cousins and complete strangers...you are all wonderful and thank you all for your help. 

If you would like to help, here is what I need as of now:

1.  Stories:  I want "The Soldier" in words...whether it comes from the soldier themselves, their spouse, child, best friend, old classmate, relative...old co-worker.  Doesn't matter.  I just want people's stories about what a soldier is to them.  I also want from the soldier, or immediate family member, what being in the military is like for them.  Whether they have served during war time or not, regardless of their MOS (front line, office, medic, etc.).  In my mind once you have signed up...you have served your country in a way that many of us haven't.  You have taken a path that many people never will.  What does it mean to you?  What has it done for you?  What has it changed for you?  Help us know you.

2.  Help me find an attorney (prefer one near or in Texas, I live near Dallas) that would be willing to assist me with some preliminary questions that I will go into detail about with them.

3.  Let me know if you would be interested in volunteering on any projects (many of which can be done through email if you live far from me) and can take as little or as much time as you have.  I do not have these "committees" in place yet, but once I discuss some particulars with an attorney, I expect some things to begin rolling fairly quickly and will need some volunteer support.

4.  Follow my blog and pass my blog on to others.  Even if you cannot help in ANY other way, you CAN follow this blog and pass it on to others!  That is a GREAT help to me!  Without the support, none of the rest of it can happen!

If you have any questions OR suggestions, please email me!  Thank you so much for the wonderful response so far, I hope to keep the momentum going and going!

Keep it going!

Angela

21 October 2010

Day two in the story line!

I am so excited about this endeavor!  So far, so good!  I already have one official follower on the Blog Site...with many more to come, I am sure!  I have shared the link on my Facebook page as well as on some of the Yahoo groups I am a member of.

Through those mediums I have gotten several responses already.  Thank you all so much for responding so far!  I am very positive that this project will make us all proud and will bring so many people together.

I remember a long time ago I spent a lot of time trying to find people who knew my father, in doing that I was able to find all but just a few members of his Pilot Training class from Webb AFB that had graduated in 1970.  I found so many of them, in fact, that they ended up having a reunion and invited me to it and they did a dedication...a kind of "missing man" dedication to my father as he was not with them for the festivities.

I cannot tell you how therapeutic I feel that reunion was for those men...as well as for their families and for me.  I received numerous phone calls from wives saying, "Prior to you calling my husband, he never spoke of the experiences in Vietnam.  After you called...it was family meeting time...he opened up!  He's been different ever since!  It is wonderful!"  I truly believe people just need to feel valued and heard.

I also believe strongly that many people cannot vocalize when they can write.  In many ways we can get to know someone in ways we never thought possible just by reading what they have to say.  I look forward to hear all the stories I receive.

I want stories detailing experiences on and off any battle field.  I do not want stories only relating to my father, only relating to Vietnam, only relating to war.  If you are currently active duty and have just signed up and are currently serving as a Medic, state-side...write me!  I want to know what you are experiencing! 

Our military, through all it's faults, remains the strongest and proudest around.  I want to show that, I want the pride and patriotism that made you enlist to show through!  God Bless America and God Bless You!
Angela

20 October 2010

The beginning of my search!

Here we go!  My first attempt at a blog!  I am attempting to write a blog in an effort to get you to help me complete a project that has been working in my mind for over 20 years!  I have wanted for years to bring the military way of life to light in a more personal way; a way in which had never been done.

My father, Capt. Steven L. Bennett, was killed in Vietnam on June 29, 1972 and was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. 



While this was a great honor for our family, it was also a great responsibility for us to bear.  We did and do so with great pride, but every day I wish that I could give back to those men and women who so bravely serve our great country with the same pride and dedication that my father served with.

This brings me to my project.  There are several levels to this endeavor of mine; starting with this one, the blog.  This blog will serve as a means by which I can reach out to people and ask for their stories.  I want stories from service men and women, their spouses, children, comrades, etc.  I want to know what service means to you, to your loved ones.  I want to know what you have experienced being in the service, or have experienced being the family member of a service member.

For example, I would write about how my father passing when I was 2 1/2 had an impact on my life, both in a positive and in a negative way.  My father's backseater may write about his days as a Marine, or he may write about that fateful day with my dad, or he may write about what it has been like to be a survivor and meet the family of the deceased...who knows, I just want you to write about what you feel and what you know.

I want a face to a name.  I want people to see you through your words, feel you through your phrases, understand you through your expressions.  I believe that it is time for us to understand you as human beings, not as uniforms, tanks, guns, helmets or planes.  People used to ask me how I could attend dedications and remain so calm and not get emotional.  I used to tell them that I would just focus on an object, a plane or a picture and that would keep me from thinking of my father or of the sad emotions involved with the moment.  Then it dawned on me...I think America in general is doing the same thing.  We have focused on the helmet, the tank on the TV.  We aren't taking the time to get to know the individual, but I think we want to...I know we need to.

Please start submitting your stories.  I will fill you in with what we will be doing in the future.  You can continue with me or opt out at any time, I do hope you will continue with me down this exciting path.  I believe wholeheartedly in your service and feel very strongly in telling your stories...please let me!

Thank you for your time, we'll talk soon!