Honoring those serving our great country

Fort Myers Mayor Jim Humphrey presents Sgt. Steve Tubbs
with a proclamation and keys to the city (2003)

I have been working with my daughter Graci for the past two years on her nonprofit Operation: Military Matters where she sends care packages to the military overseas. It is amazing to see how the community supports our men and women fighting for us every day.

The community rallying behind our troops, brings back memories of when my brother-in-law Steve Tubbs served two tours in Iraq starting in 2003. As I was thinking about it, I remembered how the community was supportive of our military and how Steve was treated when he came home. My wish is all the men and women serving in our military experience some type of welcome home like my brother-in-law experienced.

Cody Anderson walked 45 miles in honor of the troops in 2003

What a joy and blessing it was for my 23 year-old brother-in-law at the time to know there were people who truly appreciated what he did and the sacrifice he made for them. We lived in Fort Myers at the time and the community truly rallied behind Steve. One man, Cody Anderson, even walked 45 miles carrying a US flag for Steve and the troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan at the time.

A celebration with family and friends.
Even the local television stations
came out for the event.

When Steve did come home from serving one of the tours, we had a huge celebration for him. Not only was there family there, the media was there and the Mayor of Fort Myers Jim Humphrey presented a proclamation to my brother-in-law declaring it Steve Tubbs Day.  Steve was also given the key to the city. To this day, my brother-in-law celebrates Steve Tubbs day and it is a reminder of appreciation for what he did for our country.

Steve Tubbs talking to students
at Fort Myers schools.

When Steve came home, some of my friends who were teachers wanted to have Steve come talk to their schools. Steve had no problem putting on his uniform to talk to kids about what he did and Operation Iraqi Freedom. I also fortunate to go with Steve to several schools where he spoke to rooms full of students. The kids asked great questions and he was able to give them a perspective they couldn't get anywhere else and they heard it from a soldier. 

Steve Tubbs signing autographs for the
students.

Students wanted photographs and
autographs of a real soldier.

What was really neat was the kids treated Steve like he was a "rock star." I remember the kids all crowding around him asking him for his autograph and photo. It was truly a day I will never forget. I was so happy for him because he felt appreciated by those back home and they were thankful.

Steve Tubbs with a school official
and Cody Anderson who walked
45 miles in honor of the troops.

Steve Tubbs talking to students
at a Fort Myers school.

He was in his Army fatigues and when we stopped for lunch after going to the schools someone even

bought his lunch to thank him for his service. It couldn't have been a better day of gratitude. Something I think all our service men and women deserve, but I know never expect. They do what they do because they love our country!

These men and women are giving their lives for us and those who have families are giving time away from their families for the betterment of our America. Next time you see a service member out in public remember to thank them for their service. If you can do something more, do it! Let them know they are appreciated!

Helping others keeps this 80-year-old happy and active

Joan Windis

Meet Joan Windis. She is 80 years young and always on the move. 

“Busy, busy, busy keeps you young,” said Windis. “I’m hardly home because I choose to be busy.”

Windis is a native of New York – Manhattan to be exact. She moved to Florida about 25 years ago when her husband passed away. 

She is always on the go and very involved in the community, helping different service organizations and nonprofits.

One group she has been with since 2002, is New Horizon’s for Widowed People and Friends. She served as president for six years. This organization is for widowed, divorced or women with dying spouses who need support of other women. 

“We play cards, go to the theatre, have picnics, potlucks and a Christmas party. The whole idea of this group is so you are not alone,” she said.

The group meets once a month at the Imperial Palms Apartments in their clubhouse. Windis says she enjoys being a part of this wonderful group of people. 

One of Windis’ hobbies is knitting. She loves to knit. She makes hats for the troops and for cancer patients going through chemotherapy. When she knits the hats, the dark colored hats she says are for the troops and the bright colors are for the chemo patients. 

Hats for the troops

The military have a special place in Windis’ heart. “My husband was in the service and my brother was also in the service. I think 911 affected me. It was very upsetting. It made me want to do more for our troops. Since 911, I have been collecting and sending items to our troops. One organization she helps is the nonprofit Operation: Military Matters started by two Seminole fifth graders. For the past year, she has been bringing them hats and toiletry donations so they can send them overseas. “It gives me a good feeling to know I’m doing something for someone wherever, whoever.”

When she’s not knitting for the troops, she’s knitting for family. She has two daughters and a granddaughter who live in New York along with other family members. She recently made 14 infinity scarves and took them to her family in New York. Her favorite time to knit is when she is watching television. 

Joan Windis collects items
for the military and gives
them to Operation Military
Matters founder Graci Tubbs

You also will find Windis collecting items like diapers, juice boxes, clothes, onesies, toys and other items for children. She brings everything to the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Child Protection Agency for kids who are taken from their homes because of abuse or neglect.

She also gives clothes and food to the RCS Food Bank in Largo to help the poor. Another thing she likes to do is collect tabs from aluminum cans to donate to the Shriners Hospitals for Children. 

Not only does Windis do all of this in the community, but she also has a part time job working for S & S Casino Tours. She takes groups of people to Atlantic City. “Travel is fun,” said Windis. Even there she’s working her magic to collect items for the troops. “I give them tours and while on the bus, I tell them to save toiletries for the troops. I even ask the people who clean the rooms for extras. I tell them I have room in my suitcase to bring them back.” She’s been doing casino trips for 17 years. She loves this job and says her bosses are like family. 

Another place you’ll see Windis is at the Central Parks Performing Arts Center formerly the Largo Cultural Center. She’s the head usher and has been volunteering there since 2001. She also volunteers at the VA in St. Petersburg.

Windis has been active her whole life. She has had quite the career. Her past includes jobs like a medical assistant, real estate agent, travel agent, defensive driving instructor for AAA at the police department and she worked in a bank.

Windis is not only active, but healthy. “My doctor says I don’t have any health issues. I only take vitamins and minerals. So far, so good. I do my own cleaning and errands and cook a lot.” Windis says when she cooks, she cooks big and freezes meals. She even has an extra freezer for all her frozen meals. 

So what’s her secret to being active and healthy: “Do what pleases you, only be with happy people and stay away from negative people because that makes you negative.”

Windis says she doesn’t really need anything, so if she can help someone she tries to. She says she doesn’t have a lot of money, but likes to give it her all when she does something.

Her friends keep her busy too. Once a week she plays cards and the Chinese card game Mahjongg. 

She says even though she sees her friends weekly, they have a ritual every morning. “We call each other and say, ‘We made it. See you tomorrow.’”

And tomorrow is another day for Windis to help those around her. Because Windis is so busy, she tells her friends, “You’ll have to find me to bury me.”

Supporting our military

As another holiday goes by, I can't help but think of the men and women serving in the military.  For families with active military, holidays like Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukah and Easter are spent usually in two different parts of the world. I know first-hand what it's like because my brother-in-law missed several holidays with us while serving two tours in Iraq. We missed him and thought about him all the time.

I think that is one reason, my 10 year old daughter, Graci wanted to do something for our soldiers serving overseas. In January what started out as a school project called Operation: Military Matters with one of her friends became a personal mission.  The girls started collecting items for the military like shampoo, conditioner, playing cards, socks and anything else people wanted to donate.  They were able to get the Mayor of Seminole, Leslie Waters behind their project. She allowed them to have a collection box at City Hall and helped promote their project.

 

So far Operation: Military Matters has been very successful. I am amazed at the community support and the passion I see in my daughter for our soldiers.

To get the word out about the project, Graci asked if I would help her set up a Facebook page to post updates and a Go Fund Me account to collect money. The power of social media is truly remarkable!

She has collected more than $250 on the Go Fund Me account, plus she has received other monetary donations from family and friends who saw her posts. They have collected lots of items from the community in the collection boxes. One local dentist donated hundreds of tooth brushes, another person crocheted beautiful hats. People have donated bags of toiletry items.  Students from Graci's school Seminole Elementary made beautiful cards and children from other schools like Woodlawn Community Academy made cards.

I am overwhelmed to see the support. What's really been neat is to get reaction from the soldiers who receive these items. Since those receiving the packages are some of  our friend's family members we are fortunate to hear from them through email. One of the troops who received the packages said they loved the crocheted hats. We were able to tell the lady who made the hats how much they were appreciated and she is making more. She says it takes her about two days to make each hat. Incredible how much people care!

Graci also received an email from a soldier who received one of the packages. Here's a part of the letter.

I received your very thoughtful care packages. Me and my guys were excited to see the much needed items (esp. the shampoo - I haven't had shampoo out here in quite a while). You really helped us out and made life in Afghanistan a little bit better. Thank you for your kinds notes, thoughts, prayers, and actions. You are great Americans and I am proud to be over here serving when there are people like you back home. I wish you all the best (enjoy the break from school during the up-coming holidays). Again, thanks.

Graci thought that was so neat to get a letter. When she read the part about the shampoo she decided she would buy a lot of shampoo to make sure our soldiers have shampoo.

This mission has not only blessed our soldiers, but the people who are contributing. It has also been a blessing to our family to be able to help Graci with this project.

As you go about your week, pause for a moment and think of our military and their families and the sacrifices they are making for us to be free.

 If you want to contribute items to Operation: Military Matters you can visit the collection box at Seminole City Hall. To find out other ways to be a part of this community project you can log onto www.Facebook.com/OperationMilitaryMatters or to donate money go to www.gofundme.com/militarymatters.