thedrifter
07-15-06, 10:30 AM
Support group helps military moms cope
By Christine Mastalio
As the mother of a U.S. Marine, Sheri Carnahan is familiar with the dangers of war.
“My son said to me, ‘You can’t possibly know how it feels to know that every time you blink your eyes it could be the last time’,” the Davenport mother said.
When she hears about roadside bombings on the news or sees a police car drive down her block, she is afraid there will be a knock on her door.
Carnahan’s son, Blair Clark, joined the Marines seven years ago. He met his wife, Ana, in the Marines and both sergeants have served in Iraq.
The Clarks are now in Yuma, Ariz., but they probably will be sent back to the Middle East.
Carnahan tried two support groups in the Quad-Cities but found them lacking.
“They were geared more toward spouses, children and sweethearts. It seemed like there was a vacuum for parents,” she said.
When Thea Welke of Bettendorf started the Quad-Cities Marine Corps Moms in 2005, Carnahan joined right away.
The group, modeled after Marine Moms Online, meets once a month. Members come from as far away as Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
With 50 active members, and 50 more on the e-mail list, Marine Moms is open to all family of Marines, vice president Meredith Brandt said.
“You’re able to share a lot of stories and make some good friends,” Brandt, of Maquoketa, Iowa, said. “It’s nice to know other families are going through the same things you are.”
When Brandt’s son Michael joined the Marines two years ago and was sent to Okinawa, Japan, she couldn’t believe it.
“My first reaction was, ‘Are you nuts? People get killed in the military’,” she said. “It’s a lot better now. The support group does help.”
Group members get together to talk about their fears, frustrations and how much they miss their kids, Brandt said.
The Marine Moms appear at public events from patriotic parades to Sturgis on the River. Their next fundraiser will be at the Davenport Sam’s Club cookout in August. Eighty percent of funding goes directly to the Marines, usually in the form of care packages, Brandt said.
“It’s really important to keep our Marines in the forefront,” Carnahan said. “It’s very important that all branches come back with honor, regardless of your position on the war.”
Parents of career Marines in the group teach parents of new recruits things like how to use MotoMail. Initiated in Desert Storm, the mail system lets families of Marines send electronic messages which are downloaded and distributed within 24 hours.
Carnahan said Marine Moms also helps newcomers cope with the emotional change in their children. When Ana Clark was a military policewoman for convoys from Kuwait to the Sunni Triangle, she was the lone woman in a company of 350.
“She had to reconnect physically and emotionally with everybody,” Carnahan said. “We talk about the change in makeup of a Marine. It’s like you experience a loss; they’re not the same person they were growing up in your home.”
The group is not all business, though. The moms hosted a cookie exchange day where members brought their Marine’s favorite cookie to share.
“We have a lot of fun,” Brandt said.
The city desk can be contacted at (563) 383-2245 or newsroom@qctimes.com.
Support group meeting
The next meeting of the Q-C Marine Corps Moms will be Sunday from 3-5 p.m. in the basement of Knights of Columbus Hall at 1111 W. 35th St. in Davenport. For more information contact Meredith Brandt at (563) 652-3470 or email marmaqca@yahoo.com.
Ellie
By Christine Mastalio
As the mother of a U.S. Marine, Sheri Carnahan is familiar with the dangers of war.
“My son said to me, ‘You can’t possibly know how it feels to know that every time you blink your eyes it could be the last time’,” the Davenport mother said.
When she hears about roadside bombings on the news or sees a police car drive down her block, she is afraid there will be a knock on her door.
Carnahan’s son, Blair Clark, joined the Marines seven years ago. He met his wife, Ana, in the Marines and both sergeants have served in Iraq.
The Clarks are now in Yuma, Ariz., but they probably will be sent back to the Middle East.
Carnahan tried two support groups in the Quad-Cities but found them lacking.
“They were geared more toward spouses, children and sweethearts. It seemed like there was a vacuum for parents,” she said.
When Thea Welke of Bettendorf started the Quad-Cities Marine Corps Moms in 2005, Carnahan joined right away.
The group, modeled after Marine Moms Online, meets once a month. Members come from as far away as Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
With 50 active members, and 50 more on the e-mail list, Marine Moms is open to all family of Marines, vice president Meredith Brandt said.
“You’re able to share a lot of stories and make some good friends,” Brandt, of Maquoketa, Iowa, said. “It’s nice to know other families are going through the same things you are.”
When Brandt’s son Michael joined the Marines two years ago and was sent to Okinawa, Japan, she couldn’t believe it.
“My first reaction was, ‘Are you nuts? People get killed in the military’,” she said. “It’s a lot better now. The support group does help.”
Group members get together to talk about their fears, frustrations and how much they miss their kids, Brandt said.
The Marine Moms appear at public events from patriotic parades to Sturgis on the River. Their next fundraiser will be at the Davenport Sam’s Club cookout in August. Eighty percent of funding goes directly to the Marines, usually in the form of care packages, Brandt said.
“It’s really important to keep our Marines in the forefront,” Carnahan said. “It’s very important that all branches come back with honor, regardless of your position on the war.”
Parents of career Marines in the group teach parents of new recruits things like how to use MotoMail. Initiated in Desert Storm, the mail system lets families of Marines send electronic messages which are downloaded and distributed within 24 hours.
Carnahan said Marine Moms also helps newcomers cope with the emotional change in their children. When Ana Clark was a military policewoman for convoys from Kuwait to the Sunni Triangle, she was the lone woman in a company of 350.
“She had to reconnect physically and emotionally with everybody,” Carnahan said. “We talk about the change in makeup of a Marine. It’s like you experience a loss; they’re not the same person they were growing up in your home.”
The group is not all business, though. The moms hosted a cookie exchange day where members brought their Marine’s favorite cookie to share.
“We have a lot of fun,” Brandt said.
The city desk can be contacted at (563) 383-2245 or newsroom@qctimes.com.
Support group meeting
The next meeting of the Q-C Marine Corps Moms will be Sunday from 3-5 p.m. in the basement of Knights of Columbus Hall at 1111 W. 35th St. in Davenport. For more information contact Meredith Brandt at (563) 652-3470 or email marmaqca@yahoo.com.
Ellie