Saturday we visited McQuire hospital in Richmond, Va. Thank you so much to all who shared the journey.
This weekend started out with a visit to McQuire Hospital in Richmond, Va. Thank you to all of my sister queens for sharing the journey and touching so many people lives. I was truly amazed at the courage, strength and truly internal beauty that was in each and every one of the ladies. Thank you to Joe Finch and the Armed Forces Foundation for arranging this. You are an inspiration.
McQuire hospital specializes in spinal chord injuries. Although a veterans hospital,many of the wounded were wounded in the Iraq war and were there due to the severity of their injuries in the spinal region. Many of the wounded showed such courage and spirit. Some were young, some old. There were a few that I think we all were particularly touched by. One was Josh and his fiance. Josh is 23 and has been there since January. He was tubed and could not speak. His body was clearly emaciated from having been in this state for quite a few months. His fiance was by his side. She is all of 21 and has never left his side. The walls of his room were covered in pictures of a life that in all likelihood, they would never live again. I found myself wondering how does someone find this strength at such a young age. Humbled is the only way to descibe how I felt.
There is a picture that was taken with Josh and many of the queens. He looks like he is smiling...I hope so.
The other was Daniel. He has been in coma for a year and is 22. His mother was by his side and showed such strength in spirit and pride in her young son. When you walked in the room it was not initially obvious that he was in a coma as he was blinking. The walls were covered in Army banners. You could feel his Army pride.
Perspective is a funny thing and there are days that I forget just how precious each moment of each day is and just how special family and friends truly are. We all hear life is short but when you see just how short it can be for a 22 or 23 year old who just wanted to make a difference. It puts everything in perspective. These are our heroes and the one's who talked, just wanted to go back. I pray that the heavens will shine down on them and each day I will remember Josh and Daniel. That to me puts everything in my life in perspective.
These are the beauty queens who visited the troops on 22 Sep:
Mrs. D.C. International 2008 - Deanna M. Linz
Mrs Virginia United States 2007 - Jennifer Phillips
Mrs. Galaxy 2007 - Darlene Deeben
Mrs. Mercer County New Jersey United States 2008 - Mary Moulds
Mrs. Glen Allen Virginia United States 2008 - Allison Hubble
Mrs. Richmond, Virginia International 2008 - Joy Phister
Mrs. Southern Chesterfield Virginia United States 2008 - Maria Beall
Ms. American Renaissance 2007 - Marci McNair
Mrs. New Jersey International 2008 - Kimberly Meehan
Mrs. Piedmont Valley International 2008 - Rebecca Crossan
God bless to all who serve, their families, my family and my beautiful sisters in pageantry....
PS-Thank you to Andy for being there and taking our pictures. I LOVE YOU!!!!
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