Families create troop support group

Published:  Wednesday, February 10, 2010 (1 month, 1 week ago)
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BY STACY TAFF
The Delphos Herald
staff@delphosherald.com

DELPHOS—When soldiers head overseas for active duty, the fear they experience is completely different from the fear felt by those they leave behind. The soldiers need support from their loved ones in order to deal with all they go through and all they see. Their families need to be a strong support structure for them to lean on both when they’re overseas and when they come home and try to cope with the sudden return to normalcy. In order for these families and friends to be strong, they too need someone to lean on, someone who understands.
After their sons deployed to Iraq, Mary Lou and Rick Knebel and Marica and Bob McNamee searched for a support group that would serve the dual purpose of helping their soldiers while also helping them cope. Having to go all the way to Columbus to find such a group made the couples decide to form a local group of families and friends who support not only their soldiers overseas, but each other ,as well.
“This started with mostly people who have family in the military but we’re hoping more will come and show their support,” said Rick Knebel. “When our son Zach deployed, we had people that we were able to talk to about it but then we talked to Marcia and Bob and they didn’t have anyone to talk to. That’s when we all decided to get together. Now that the boys are coming home, we’re dealing with the way they are now after everything they’ve been through.”
The general consensus among those gathered at the McNamee’s house on Monday night for the unofficial first meeting of the group was that all those who go over to fight come back changed.
“Before our son Mike came back for leave, we had no idea what he was going through,” said Marcia McNamee. “They come back and someone bumps into them or they hear a loud noise and they tense up and get ready for an attack. It’s very hard on a parent to see their kid go through that.”
Melly Stemen, also a part of the group, said it’s hard to identify with those who have children in the military until you experience it yourself.
“Before my son Don joined, I’d see soldiers going to war on the TV and I’d feel bad for them and their families but then I’d turn the TV off and it would be gone. But then it hits your home and it’s a whole other level,” she said.
Another concern is how the soldiers will find work when they come back home. With the economy and the extended periods of time away from civilian life, many soldiers are having a hard time.
“Don was really lucky when he got back; he got hired into a job quickly,” said Stemen. “It’s not like that with most of them but it should be. Every veteran should have that.”
Even though it was started initially as a group for the families, others are encouraged to show up.
“Anyone is welcome to join. It’s not just for parents of soldiers,” said Mary Lou Knebel. “It’s for anyone willing to come out and support our troops.”
The group plans to come up with different ways to support the local men and women overseas, whether it be sending them packages and cards or by just showing them that those at home are behind them 100 percent.
Anyone interested in helping out can contact Marcia McNamee by e-mail at marcia_mcnamee@yahoo.com.

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