Humbling experiences with some true Heroes

[Frankie]

My daughter (13) was inducted into the National Junior Honor Society this year which requires it's members to perform 30hrs of community service. To her, the ideal volunteering gig would be with an animal shelter or anything working with animals. Unfortunately, her age and the liability involved, prevents it. We tried a couple local libraries but they are all over whelmed with volunteers.
Remembering back to last summer when my wife, daughter and I did our SCUBA certified, we had several Wounded Warriors who were assisting with the class and working towards higher level certifications (i.e. Dive master). Being a DAV myself, I hit it off with these guys and between instructions and diving, we exchanged Army stories. So, still needing to find some place for my daughter to volunteer, I contacted the local dive shop and asked if they were doing any more of the adaptive diving classes for the Wounded Warrior program and if they would like a volunteer to assist with the classes. Luck have it, they were starting a class that day at Ft Sam Houston and they were happy to have her come and help out. I informed my daughter who we became super excited to work with these guys and gals.
Yesterday was swim test and day 1 of pool work. 100% passed the swim test and before the end of the session, all had assembled their gear, entered the pool and took their first breaths underwater. I never heard any one of them use the word can’t. It is extraordinarily humbling be in the presence of these men and women.

Here is a link to a story that Kens5 did on the program last year http://www.kens5.com/news/Soldier-amput ... 61045.html


A side note: the young man in the still photo before the video begins was one of our assistant instructors. He recently lost his other leg and had to take a break from diving. But he is getting to spend some of that extra time with his 5th child, a little girl, and is already preparing to come back and complete his instructor’s certification. John Duggan told me yesterday that his ultimate goal is to have all Adaptive Divers teaching Adaptive diving to these heroes.


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[SQLGeek]

What a wonderful and kind thing for your daughter to do. Good onya for thinking of that and to her for being eager to help our wounded warriors.

[Charles L. Cotton]

I suspect your daughter got far more out of this experience than merely meeting the 30 hour community service requirement. Thanks to you and your daughter! Please tell her we appreciate what she did.

Chas.

[RPBrown]

Congrats to her for the NJHS induction and thanks to you both for the work you are doing

[E.Marquez]

Please, Tell your daughter............... Thank you.. And to you Sir for making that happen....

[MotherBear]

That's awesome. When I was in NHS in high school, we did things like pass out hot cocoa at a Christmas light display. I wound up quitting because we never seemed to do anything significant and it frequently conflicted with my other volunteer commitments (mostly teaching children at church). I would have loved to see a project like this that has real significance!

[Frankie]

Proud dad just wanted to share a few pics of my daugher working with the Wounded Warriors. She enjoyed it so much, she it looking forward to the next class in August.

[MoJoeWrkn]

I have been reading "bad news" stories all morning. It is so good to hear of someone doing such meaningful and unselfish work. Thank you to you and your daughter!

[RoyGBiv]

That's awesome...!! And a great idea... I've got a kid looking for volunteer hours this year..

[Dragonfighter]

God bless you Frankie and God Bless that beautiful child you raised.

[longtooth]

Thanks from me too. When I was 18 they classed me 4F for health reasons & I cound not go. You have one a noble thing.

[ScooterSissy]

I once worked for a medical supply company that provided wheelchairs (among other things). When they participated in a similar program for kids, my wife and assisted with the scuba diving (we're both certified). Because of that, the wheelchair mfg rep invited my wife and I to a dive trip to Cozumel. With the exception of me and my wife, and the rep and her husband, all of the participants were either para/quads or with a para/quad.

It was amazing, humbling, and pride-filling all at the same to watch these folks overcome their "disabilities". When I say pride-filling, I don't mean self-pride, but pride in the human spirit that propels people to overcome so much.

Kudos to your daughter and to you.