Here are the "Best Of" pictures I've collected so far.
I don't have any pictures of the crowd, which is a shame, since there were at least 200 (my best guess).
For everyone who hasn't heard the story about Willie, here it is:
Matt was laying on a stretcher in a bus at Landstuhl waiting to be put on a transport to the US. He was pretty much miserable, cold and in need of a pillow. All of a sudden a lady with a German accent appears out of nowhere, knowing his name, gives him a pillow and a quilt and a backpack with essential personal items. Before he can get her name, she's gone. He said it was like an angel had just appeared!
Willie is a German citizen and a volunteer Soldier's Angel who puts together backpacks for soldiers and distributes them in Landstahl. She drives 150 miles from her home to the hospital to do this.
Kay of the Oregon Army National Guard public affairs office called her and asked if she could check on Matt. After going to ICU and being sent to the ward and then sent to the buses, she found him on the 2rd bus, 5 minutes before they closed it up to leave.
Once Matt got to Madigan Army Medical Center at Ft Lewis, he told me the story and I started going through his stuff. I found a card with Willie's name and email address in the very bottom and we started to correspond.
Through all this time she has continued to support Matt with mail and gifts. She went a step farther and showed up to attend his Purple Heart Ceremony!
As a recognition for all Willie and two other Angels present have done for him and other soldiers he presented them with stained glass angels. And to watch over while her husband is in Iraq he gave one to Laura, as well.
Enjoy the pictures!
Rhetta
Dear Patti,
Dear Kathy,
I am glad that I had the great opportunity to visit Matthew Braddock in Oregon and went with him together and his mother Rhetta to his puple heart ceremony. Here a few pictures from the ceremony from Matthew's mother, Rhetta. The ceremony was a great event 200 people were there. Rhetta and Matthew introduced me their family members and the Oregon National Guard. Matthew had told all his comrades and his guests about the great work from the Soldiers Angels and the Fisher House Landstuhl. Two wonderful ladies, Kathy and Willie had brought him - as he felt himself so alone and cold - a backpack, a blanket and a pillow. For him it was his most important moment as he was in LRMC, to see that he was not alone.
I am glad that I had the great opportunity to support him and was sitting nearby him as he has received his purple heart. I know that God will Bless him and give him the power for a fast recovery. I am proud that we have men and women who are fighting for more freedom in our world and against the terrorism.
With best regards,
Willie
Wilhelmine Aufmkolk,
Germany Soldiers Angels
(right click image, then "Save as")
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