RMS January Update: Hollywood remembers our Gold Star families

Message from Remember My Service President, Sharlene Hawkes

I am chagrined to say that I didn’t think Hollywood cared at all about our troops and their families.
I know—it’s a stereotypical judgment.  I thought these big-time producers and stars, for the most part, were largely disconnected and often critical of anyone associated with our nation’s defense. Well… I am incredibly encouraged by what I saw in Las Vegas last weekend.

Take a look at this photo.  This little girl’s daddy, Staff Sgt. Daniel Wagoner, was KIA on September 14, 2007, in Iraq when Diana was just 3 years old.  Her mother left the scene soon after, leaving Diana in the care of her grandma, Daniel’s mom, Diane (far right in the picture).  Well Diana and Diane were two of the Gold Star Miss Americas in attendance at last week’s television broadcast.  One of the judges, Mike Fleiss, producer of the hugely popular “The Bachelor” series (the guy in the photo), heard about this VIP group and immediately contacted us in December to make a generous donation for any of these families needing a better Christmas.  It caught them by total surprise, and you can see how Diana felt when she got to meet Mike.  The host of “The Bachelor,” Chris Harrison, was the MC for the Miss America broadcast, and he too went all out to welcome our VIPs to Miss America during rehearsals.  This heartfelt support was evidenced throughout the week, and the most common sentiment I heard—from stars, contestants, producers, executives—was how humbled they felt to be around our Gold Star Miss Americas. That’s exactly right.

It is a tremendous and humbling honor to spend time with our Gold Star families.  I simply don’t feel worthy.  For some, it had been a year since they received the tragic news, and others, more like 4 or 5 years. This is an exclusive “club” that no one wants to be in, and I felt intrusive as they started comparing notes about when they go to Arlington and what their children leave at their Daddy’s gravesite.  Their homes are truly the “home of the brave.”  A great big salute to our Gold Star Miss Americas 2012.

If you would like to nominate moms, wives, daughters for next year, please email me directly. Thank you!

—Sharlene

RMS Notes:

• Sharlene will be in Washington, D.C. Jan 24-26, and again Feb 8-10.  Elayne Harmer will be in Norfolk next month, while Sharlene takes the San Diego duty… two of the prettiest places in the country!  Dates TBD.  Let us know if you would like to coordinate with their schedules.
• RMS Productions has just been officially authorized to move forward on a DOD Korean War 60th Commemoration historical project… more details to follow.
• Please like our page on Facebook!  We love to find new friends!

RMS Supports:

• The Library of Congress Veterans History Project: Connect now to share your—or
  your family members’—personal story of service in the US Military.
• No Greater Sacrifice is a non-profit organization that raises funds to provide college education for the children of our wounded warriors and fallen heroes.  Please visit
  their site and see what you can do to show your gratitude.
• Soldier On brings homeless veterans into a community where they govern themselves,
  as they work and serve in the community around them.  Based in Massachusetts,
  Soldier On is a first-rate organization and making a difference—an ideal model for other states and cities to adopt.  They are very willing to share their entire plan with any
  community action team looking for a working model to help their homeless veterans.
• Operation Gratitude is a non-profit, all-volunteer organization that sends care
  packages of items and letters addressed to individually named US Service Members
  deployed overseas.  Their mission is to put a smile on a service member’s face and to
  express to all troops our appreciation and support.  All donations are tax deductible.  
  If you want to help, contact opgrat@gmail.com.
• Sentinels of Freedom is a non-profit organization that provides up to four years of
  “life scholarships” to help wounded veterans become self-sufficient.  Our vets are finding
  that once they're released from the hospital, they face the everyday hardships of finding
  a home, continuing their education, or going to work to support their families.  Every
  American faces the same difficulties, but in the vet’s case, the situation is made more
  difficult because of their sacrifice.  Sentinels of Freedom provides life-changing
  opportunities for men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces who have suffered severe
  injuries and need the support of grateful communities to realize their dreams.