Contra Costa Times
reviews Operation Mom
- 03-18-09
- Military mothers' groups grow as wars continue
By John Simerman Contra Costa Times
Posted: 03/18/2009 04:10:22 PM PDT
A Vietnam Veterans Group San Quentin hat sits in front of Gloria Godchaux of Operation: Mom as she talks about the group in Richmond, Calif. on Wednesday, March 18, 2009.
For Dotty Selmeczki, the memories surface easily of those chilling days six years ago when President George W. Bush launched the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq.
Those were the days when Selmeczki knew little about where her son might be, except that Marine reconnaissance sniper Casey Calderan almost surely rode in harm's way.
She said she sees herself reflected in the freshly frazzled faces that now show up at "Operation: Mom" support meetings in a veterans hall in Hayward. Previously, only about a dozen mostly Marine Corps mothers would gather in her Castro Valley living room for tea, sympathy and care-packaging.
"Last time we had three new moms, and sitting there reminded me so much of where we began. The same fears, same worries, same anxiety," Selmeczki said. "The reality of it all hasn't changed. A mom's heart never changes."
What has changed since 2003 is the reach of the group, which Selmeczki and Gloria Godchaux of Antioch started modestly to support their military children. Now, it encompasses three groups in California, with another support group in Iowa.
Since 2003, Operation: Mom has raised about a half-million dollars, sent thousands of care packages overseas, comforted military spouses, launched a scholarship fund and helped four Bay Area families cope with the combat deaths of loved ones.
Another group, Blue Star Moms, founded in San Ramon by a trio of military moms, also has grown. The chapter, now with about 100 active members, has funded thousands of care packages, supported wounded veterans returning home, comforted families of the war dead and helped new branches sprout across the state. Blue Star Moms chapters now operate across California, including in Antioch, Brentwood, the Modesto area, Pacifica, Santa Cruz, the South Bay and Vacaville.
Together, the two East Bay groups have made the region a hub for unabashed troop support efforts, despite — or perhaps arising from — the region's thick anti-war strain.
It may be a little of both, said Peggy Conklin of San Ramon, who cofounded the Blue Star Moms chapter here after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.
"Families who have loved ones serving in the military are so incredibly proud of their loved ones' willingness to step up and serve their country, especially in a time of war, I don't think there's anything anybody could do or say that could change that feeling," she said.
These are days of sober memories for Conklin, whose three soldier sons have served a combined 16 deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan. Her oldest son, Chris, entered the war early, and later suffered shrapnel wounds on his birthday, in April 2003. He is fine now, she said, and in Army officer candidate school.
"All these dates are in our minds right now," she said.
The November election and President Barack Obama's call for an eventual troop withdrawal from Iraq has done little to slow the groups down. In some ways, the expected surge of troops into Afghanistan marks a return to the pleas for basics — snacks, deodorant, candy — that marked the early part of the Iraq War, Selmeczki said.
It wasn't just members of military families who packed those sacks. The group once got an eager hand from a group of veteran inmates at San Quentin State Prison, most of them serving life sentences.
Her son recalls those packages fondly.
"Food, candy, cookies, toilet paper. Toilet paper was a big one," said Calderan, now a Richmond police officer.
John Simerman covers military affairs. Reach him at 925-943-8072 or jsimerman@bayareanewsgroup.com.
This editorial is no longer available on the Contra Costa Times website due to the age of the document - 08-13-03
- 04-10-03
- Posted on Thu, Apr. 10, 2003
AROUND DUBLIN: ALAN ELIAS
Operation: MOM well under way
EACH MORNING, the custodian of Dougherty Elementary School raises the American flag up the pole at the front of the school.
And each morning, as the Stars and Stripes rise into the air, Joyce's thoughts are transformed thousands of miles away to the battlefields of Iraq, where her 22-year-old son Daniel, a Marine lance corporal, is fighting to remove Saddam Hussein from power.
Joyce's motherly concerns for the safety of her son and the other men and women of the U.S. and British armed forces are not lost on the students or faculty of Dougherty. Joyce has been receiving a strong outpouring of support as part of "Operation: MOM," which works to gather, package and ship toiletries and sundries to the U.S. soldiers in Iraq.
"I've always felt patriotic. I became active when Desert Storm was going on. I decorated the school with yellow ribbons. And I never thought that it would be my son fighting the next time," says Joyce.
Operation: MOM volunteers had been waiting for approval from the military before sending packages to the soldiers. That came just last week, when the first 87 boxes were shipped to Iraq. The next shipment is scheduled to be sent Friday, and will include a variety of items the soldiers will certainly welcome, including cleaning wipes, eye drops, toothpaste and beef jerky, to name just a few of the carefully screened items.
What Joyce says has really touched her heart has been the support of children, including one first-grade boy who used all of his allowance to buy a variety of items to ship to the soldiers.
And then there's the many letters the kids have been writing to her son Daniel, including a note completely penned by Julia, a first-grader at Dougherty, who says she is praying for him to come home safely.
"What you are doing for our country is very brave," writes Julia, who added a handmade cross necklace for the lance corporal to wear for good luck. Joyce says some of the kids also have decided to write jokes for the soldiers, so they can take their minds -- for a minute -- off the battlefields.
Joyce is quick to point out that other schools in Dublin, including Dublin High School where her oldest son works as a custodian and also raises the flag there each morning, have been supportive of the effort and are contributing supplies and letters.
Operation: MOM chapters are beginning to spring up in the area. Besides a Tri-Valley group that Joyce is part of, there's also one in Antioch, Castro Valley and one expected to get organized in Tracy.
This editorial is no longer available on the Contra Costa Times website due to the age of the document
You can find out more information by logging on to www.operationmom.org or by contacting Joyce at 925-443-9572.
04-03-03
03-26-03
03-21-03
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Posted on Thursday, April 3, 2003
Rally to Support Troops set at City Hall Tuesday
CONTRA COSTA TIMES (Antioch)
STAFF REPORT
ANTIOCH - Trees festooned with yellow ribbons to honor U.S. troops overseas and a program of patriotic songs will highlight Antioch's "Support our troops" rally at 5:29 p.m. Tuesday.
A flag raising and a moment of silence at the flagpole outside City Hall will open the ceremonies at Third and H streets.
A bugle rendition of taps by Sea Cadet Andrew Strausbaugh will be followed by a walk to the El Campanil theater led by the Travis Air Force Base honor guard. The program continues at the theater with singing by Briana Soule and Jim Martin. The yellow ribbons will adorn trees on Second Street.
Antioch Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6435 honor guard will present flying military service flags.
Councilman Arne Simonsen cently presented the city the post quartermaster's gift of a POW flag to fly below the U.S. flag at City Hall until the troops all come home.
Clergy from the Roman Catholic, Protestant and Jewish Traditions will offer inspirational words and prayers.
Volunteers from Operation Mom will distribute yellow ribbons and "Until they all come home" lapel pins.
This editorial is no longer available on the Contra Costa Times website due to the age of the document
Rally to Support Troops set at City Hall Tuesday
CONTRA COSTA TIMES (Antioch)
STAFF REPORT
ANTIOCH - Trees festooned with yellow ribbons to honor U.S. troops overseas and a program of patriotic songs will highlight Antioch's "Support our troops" rally at 5:29 p.m. Tuesday.
A flag raising and a moment of silence at the flagpole outside City Hall will open the ceremonies at Third and H streets.
A bugle rendition of taps by Sea Cadet Andrew Strausbaugh will be followed by a walk to the El Campanil theater led by the Travis Air Force Base honor guard. The program continues at the theater with singing by Briana Soule and Jim Martin. The yellow ribbons will adorn trees on Second Street.
Antioch Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6435 honor guard will present flying military service flags.
Councilman Arne Simonsen cently presented the city the post quartermaster's gift of a POW flag to fly below the U.S. flag at City Hall until the troops all come home.
Clergy from the Roman Catholic, Protestant and Jewish Traditions will offer inspirational words and prayers.
Volunteers from Operation Mom will distribute yellow ribbons and "Until they all come home" lapel pins.
This editorial is no longer available on the Contra Costa Times website due to the age of the document