The kids are alright

[Ray Dilfield]

At about 8pm last Tuesday evening, we got a call from a young lady in Oklahoma wanting to know if we had a vacancy for Tuesday and Wednesday nights and whether we could perform a wedding for her. She explained that her boyfriend’s Army Reserve unit had received orders - at 5pm, Tuesday, no less - to ship out for Kuwait and that they could be leaving as early as Saturday.

To make a longish story a bit shorter, between the time they received the news at 5 and left for Eureka Springs at 10:30, they bought rings, bridal gown, and bridesmaid dresses, rented a tux, and arranged for a handful of friends and relations to meet them here for the wedding on Wednesday.

Here was a 20-something kid facing a pretty horrific immediate future and all he could think about was doing the right thing by the mother of his 6-month old son. He was obviously pretty keyed up - at one point he thought the construction noise coming up from North Main was gunfire - but he kept focused. He arranged for his bride-to-be
and her bridesmaids to get their hair and nails done, got himself an even higher and tighter haircut, picked up a marriage license, and planned a post-wedding dinner.

We were so taken with this couple that we bent over backwards to help them have the most memorable wedding day possible. We waived our normal wedding fee and considered the service a donation to the pride, spirit and honor of this fine young man and all the others like him about to go into harm’s way. Throughout it all, we were mightily impressed with the love, care, and consideration these two people had for each other and all those around them. I can only describe their actions and demeanor as 100% honorable. They even asked if we’d mind if they sat on the porch and had a beer.

After they left on Thursday and we went downstairs to clean their room, we found that he had written a very touching tribute to his son, his new wife, and his family in the journal we leave in each room for guest comments. His final lines included Elise and me as part of his family. When we discovered that he had also left us his dog tag the tears really began to flow.

If this young man is any reasonable representation of a generally maligned generation, we have nothing to fear for
the future of this country. Godspeed T/Sgt. Velez.

[Kaye Miller]

Thanks Ray for sharing with us. Let's keep them in our prayers.

[Becky Davis]

They are flowing right now. What a beautiful and touching story.
They came to the right place and you have made some lifelong friends.
Thank you for being so nice to them. And I thank that young man, wherever he is now, for the valiant service he is doing for all of us.

[leslielowry]

Ray, as I sit here at 5am, the morning after the Challenger disaster,withalso a fear in the back of my mind due to the fact that I just don't feel completely safe with Bush at the helm, at least not as safe as with former President's over the years, you submission make my patriotism swell inside my chest and heart. I thank you for the post, and my prayers of course are with this young man and his family, thank you again for reminding us all that getting involved is the most important thing, we MUST help protect our sons, daughters, husbands and wives, our boys... Peace be with them all. Leslie

Originally posted by Ray Dilfield:
At about 8pm last Tuesday evening, we got a call from a young lady in Oklahoma wanting to know if we had a vacancy for Tuesday and Wednesday nights and whether we could perform a wedding for her. She explained that her boyfriend’s Army Reserve unit had received orders - at 5pm, Tuesday, no less - to ship out for Kuwait and that they could be leaving as early as Saturday.

To make a longish story a bit shorter, between the time they received the news at 5 and left for Eureka Springs at 10:30, they bought rings, bridal gown, and bridesmaid dresses, rented a tux, and arranged for a handful of friends and relations to meet them here for the wedding on Wednesday.

Here was a 20-something kid facing a pretty horrific immediate future and all he could think about was doing the right thing by the mother of his 6-month old son. He was obviously pretty keyed up - at one point he thought the construction noise coming up from North Main was gunfire - but he kept focused. He arranged for his bride-to-be
and her bridesmaids to get their hair and nails done, got himself an even higher and tighter haircut, picked up a marriage license, and planned a post-wedding dinner.

We were so taken with this couple that we bent over backwards to help them have the most memorable wedding day possible. We waived our normal wedding fee and considered the service a donation to the pride, spirit and honor of this fine young man and all the others like him about to go into harm’s way. Throughout it all, we were mightily impressed with the love, care, and consideration these two people had for each other and all those around them. I can only describe their actions and demeanor as 100% honorable. They even asked if we’d mind if they sat on the porch and had a beer.

After they left on Thursday and we went downstairs to clean their room, we found that he had written a very touching tribute to his son, his new wife, and his family in the journal we leave in each room for guest comments. His final lines included Elise and me as part of his family. When we discovered that he had also left us his dog tag the tears really began to flow.

If this young man is any reasonable representation of a generally maligned generation, we have nothing to fear for
the future of this country. Godspeed T/Sgt. Velez.

[Kaye Miller]

Ray, have you heard anything from Velez?

[Ray Dilfield]

We heard from his wife several weeks ago. She had gotten a phone call from Anthony and wanted us to know he was still OK. His unit is with the 101st A/B somewhere in country - he couldn't say where.
We told her not to worry about a welcome home getaway for when he -- God willing -- gets home; it'll be on the house.

[Kaye Miller]

Ray,
That's great. Let us know when this happens. We would like to give a gift certificate.

[Jim Wright]

Ray & Elise,
When they come back and they will come back, dinner for two is free at you know where. Also remind the Vet of the free feed for Vets each and every eleventh day of the eleventh mounth. Great post sir, it's actions like that by people like you two that keep memories burning for years in the minds of our guests.

[Ray Dilfield]

We talked to Anthony Velez and his wife Marla last evening. Anthony was injured (or wounded; he wouldn't say) in Iraq, had surgery in Kuwait, and is now at home going through 4 to 6 weeks of rehab before going back to his unit near Tikrit.
He was very philosophic about this homecoming/nothomecoming and just considers it part of the job. He was glad to be at home with his wife and son but was also anxious to get back to his brothers-in-arms.
As I said before: good kid.

[Kaye Miller]

Ray-
Any news?

[Ray Dilfield]

The little icon-guy is doing the happy dance.

Anthony has been rotated home for 90 days and is safe and healthy!!!

He and his wife Marla will be staying with us next weekend (4/23 & 24) when they come to town for a friend's wedding.

The little stinker even wanted to try to pay me for the room.

[This message has been edited by Ray Dilfield (edited 04-15-2004).]

[swain mountain]

How is our boy & his family doing?? Did they make it to town? Our prayers are with them and all our troops.
Not to mention, our deepest thanks.

[Kaye Miller]

Well, wish I had seen this before today!

[Ray Dilfield]

Anthony and Marla stayed with us last weekend and had a wonderful time in town.

Anthony got home on Good Friday after serving 16 months in Kuwait and Iraq.
His injury - not a wound, thank God - was a repair to cartilege and tendons in his left knee resulting from a prior parachuting injury which had been exacerbated by his service in Iraq. I guess humping a 60lb pack while getting shot at will do that.

They'll be coming back to visit us again later this summer. I'll post as soon as we hear from them. He said he has nearly a hundred rolls of film to get developed and organize into an album or slideshow. Apparently there'll be two batches; one PG, the other a "bit more realistic", as he put it.

BTW - I asked Anthony if what we were hearing here back home was an accurate picture of what was actually going on over there. His reply? "Oh yeah, you're getting the whole story."

[Kaye Miller]

Ray,
I don't always read the gratitude journal, but will try to remind myself. The gift certificate still stands and if we know when they will be in, we can get it to you for their room - if that is ok with you. Would just like to say "thanks".
K

[Ray Dilfield]

Kaye,
Thank you so much for your kind offer. I will be sure to post here again as soon as we know when they'e coming back.
Ray