Seminole High graduate also becomes Eagle Scout in same week

Left to Right: Jayson Weiner, David Weiner (Jayson's dad), Levi Siewert, Ray Siewert (Levi's dad), Philip Cappelli, John Cappelli (Philip's dad) and Ned Covel at Christ the King Lutheran Church in Largo on May 21.

Note: to view article in paper go to bit.ly/JaysonWeiner

In December of last year, we told you about a Seminole High School senior, Jayson Weiner, who was working on becoming a Eagle Scout. The project he picked to become an Eagle Scout was to help a former nonprofit, St. Pete Beach Support our Troops, who had lost all their volunteers and needed to ship care packages to the military overseas. The organization had all the boxes to send, but not enough money to send the packages. 

"After I had been informed that I had to fundraise the money for the shipping, I thought this project was over due to the fact fundraising $10,000 with a deadline of 9 days seemed impossible. The support I received from the community helped me ship a total of 566 care packages to soldiers in Afghanistan before Christmas," said Weiner.

After calling local businesses and an article running in Tampa Bay Newspapers, Weiner was able to collect the money he needed to send off the care packages. "This would not have been possible in any world without the backing of the community, and I would like to thank those people dearly, they include: American Legion Post 252 ($2500.00), American Legion Post 125 ($1,000), American Legion Post 79, Operation: Military Matters, United States Postal Service: Seminole Post Office, and St. Albans Church," added Weiner.

Weiner received the honor of Eagle Scout on May 21, 2018, during a ceremony at Christ the King Lutheran Church in Largo with several of his friends who have been in scouts together since starting . It was a wonderful week because earlier in the week he also graduated from Seminole High School. In the fall, he plans on going into the Marine Corps to help fulfill what he says is his civic duty and to get his college education.

Fewer than 4 percent of all Scouts in the United States reach the Eagle Scout rank, achieve the scouting purpose in the building of character, training of leadership, and the practice of serving.

Some of the 500 care packages Jayson Weiner shipped to the military overseas.

Jayson Weiner and other Boy Scouts who helped him with his project back in
December 2017, before shipping the care packages overseas. 

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!

Veterans Day is Every Day

Cody Anderson carries a photograph of Steve Tubbs,
who was then serving in Iraq, during a 2003 walk between
Naples and Fort Myers in tribute to U.S. troops

Why is Veterans Day so important? It's important because we are so blessed to be in a land where we are free and have the privilege of living the American dream. I think our veterans should be honored not just on Veterans Day, but every day. The sacrifice they have given for us is something we shouldn't take for granted. When a person decides to join the military, they are dedicating their life to our country.

I have quite a few veterans in my family. My dad, father-in-law, brother-in-law, grandfathers and uncles all served fighting for our country. My brother-in-law, Steve Tubbs, was the most recent serving two tours in Iraq.

I remember when my brother-in-law was serving for Iraq, how tough it was on the family, especially my mother-in-law. She told me it was hard having my father-in-law in Vietnam, but even tougher for a son to be fighting. I could only imagine what parents go through when their kids are overseas. It's tough on our military and also their families who are back home, some raising kids all alone. I remember one lady in church a few years ago had a baby and her husband missed the baby's birth because he was fighting for us. These men and women sacrifice not only their lives, but memories and life events with their families they can never relive.

Back in 2003, a man named Cody Anderson came into my office one day, while I was working for the Mayor of Fort Myers. He wanted to do something to pay tribute to U.S. troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan . If you remember back than it was during Operation Iraqi Freedom. He was going to walk from Naples City Hall to Fort Myers City Hall, which was 45 miles carrying a U.S. flag. Cody's walk was to encourage people to adopt a soldier and send cards to them, to let them know we care. Cody adopted my brother-in-law, Steve, who was serving at the time in the 101st Airborne Division's 2nd Squadron, 17th Calvary Regiment. Cody had never met Steve before doing this walk and I remember him saying how honored he was to do this for Steve and the others serving. It made me so happy to see this and I knew how much it meant to my husband, my in-laws and to my brother-in-law. While Steve was still in Iraq, he wrote Cody a letter thanking him for his sacrifice in walking for him and said, "Nothing makes a soldier feel better than to be recognized, though that is not our purpose."

I saw how one person's kindness made life a little brighter for my family, while my brother-in-law was fighting in Iraq. Today, I watch how my 10 year-old-daughter, Graci, sending care packages to the military serving overseas, as what started out as her school service project a year ago and has continued into a community project Operation: Military Matters.  While she was sending packages at the post office the other day, she was talking to a veteran who served in Vietnam and I heard him say to them, "I wish there were kids like you back when I was serving."

I think our veterans need to know how important they are and what they did and are doing for us does not go unnoticed. Don't just thank a veteran on Veterans Day, but thank them every day. We are free because of them. Freedom is not free.

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. 

Free tickets for military to the remainder of the 2015 regular season Rays Games!

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