thedrifter
11-26-06, 07:34 AM
Posted on Sun, Nov. 26, 2006
TROOPS STAR ON TREE, IN HEARTS
By James Hohmann
Mercury News
It's a modest Christmas tree, just a little taller than six feet, in downtown San Jose's Plaza de Cesar Chavez. But it is a point of pride and symbol of love for more than a dozen mothers whose children are serving in the U.S. armed forces this holiday season.
The moms were among more than 20 people with close ties to the troops who began hanging laminated blue stars on the tree at 9 a.m. Saturday with photos of uniformed love ones who have served or are serving in the military. It was the second year they've done it.
``We need to make sure they know we're behind them'' said Mountain View resident Gloria Cervantes, 49, whose daughter is in the Navy.
The tree was one of more than 400 being decorated as part of Christmas in the Park, a monthlong celebration that city officials expect to attract 500,000 people downtown. More than 1,000 Scouts, teachers, parents, church parishioners and students bristling with spirit huddled around evergreen firs Saturday.
On a cool and clear morning, the war moms were decked out like high school football boosters. The South Bay Blue Star Moms -- which include a few wives and a handful of men -- wore sweatshirts and lanyards emblazoned with pictures of their loved ones.
The moms can point out on a map of Iraq or Afghanistan where their children have been deployed and casually drop military lingo into their conversations. They follow the daily ups and downs in the news, waiting with anticipation for the next e-mail, phone call or letter.
Supporting each other
Barbara Serrano, whose Marine son was awarded two Purple Hearts for service in Al-Fallujah, Iraq, and now suffers from a form of post traumatic stress disorder, helped found the South Bay Blue Star Moms in 2004, a non-profit that now claims 80 members.
``They understood because they were going through the same thing,'' said Serrano, 56, of Morgan Hill. ``Here nobody gets tired of hearing about our kids.''
Yellow bows were hung on the white picket fence in front of their tree and empty packages with Air Force and Navy wrapping paper were placed around the base of the tree. There was one prominently hung gold star with a photograph of Marine Cpl. Travis Layfield, a Fremont native killed in Iraq on April 6, 2004.
Opposition to the increasingly unpopular war is perhaps most galvanized in the Bay Area, some mothers suggested. In this climate, they say, having others who empathize is invaluable.
``To a lot of moms here, this means everything,'' said Santa Clara resident Jerilyn Lightfoot, 49. ``We get attacked so we're learning to coat ourselves up with Vaseline. I know my son is doing the right thing -- volunteering to protect the country.''
Her son, Sgt. A.J. Pasciuti, returned this week from his third deployment to Iraq. Prompted by the attacks of Sept. 11, the Eagle Scout who graduated from Fremont High School in Sunnyvale joined the Marines at 17 and recently re-enlisted.
``When any of our kids come back into town, the first thing all the military moms want to do is hug them because we can't hug our own kids,'' Lightfoot said.
Navy Lt. Christina Ortega, 27, was on duty over Christmas for six years in a row. But she said her heart was warmed when she received a picture of the tree from her mom, Gloria Cervantes, last year. She flies back to Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas, today, but she was able to spend Saturday morning decorating with her sister and mom.
``When you're home, it's like they've adopted you,'' she said. ``My mom shares all her stories with the other mothers so, when you're home, they're as happy to see you as to see their own child.''
The group -- a part of the larger Blue Star Mothers of America created during World War I -- meets the third Tuesday of every month at the American Legion post in Santa Clara and makes hundreds of care packages for the troops three times a year.
The women traded updates about their children Saturday as they nibbled on doughnuts, drank coffee from a thermos and hung the ornaments.
Reaching overseas
Jean Browne, 65, of Santa Clara said she and her husband went to Mimis Cafe on Thanksgiving because no one else was home. But the best part of her day was a call from her daughter Michelle, stationed in Afghanistan, who assured her mother that she got two good meals -- prime rib and turkey.
When the moms gathered around the tree to pray, the crying began. Serrano used a napkin to dab her face as others hugged her.
``You started it,'' she said, motioning at another crying mom.
Lightfoot said her son's last deployment was the hardest. When her son's comrades were killed in the line of duty, she flew to Colorado and Michigan for their funerals. To keep track of his deployments, she has written the dates he departed and returned on small U.S. flags.
``We enjoy them when they are home,'' she said. ``We worry about them when they're gone, and we support them all the time.''
Contact James Hohmann at jhohmann@mercurynews.com or (40 920-5460.
Ellie
TROOPS STAR ON TREE, IN HEARTS
By James Hohmann
Mercury News
It's a modest Christmas tree, just a little taller than six feet, in downtown San Jose's Plaza de Cesar Chavez. But it is a point of pride and symbol of love for more than a dozen mothers whose children are serving in the U.S. armed forces this holiday season.
The moms were among more than 20 people with close ties to the troops who began hanging laminated blue stars on the tree at 9 a.m. Saturday with photos of uniformed love ones who have served or are serving in the military. It was the second year they've done it.
``We need to make sure they know we're behind them'' said Mountain View resident Gloria Cervantes, 49, whose daughter is in the Navy.
The tree was one of more than 400 being decorated as part of Christmas in the Park, a monthlong celebration that city officials expect to attract 500,000 people downtown. More than 1,000 Scouts, teachers, parents, church parishioners and students bristling with spirit huddled around evergreen firs Saturday.
On a cool and clear morning, the war moms were decked out like high school football boosters. The South Bay Blue Star Moms -- which include a few wives and a handful of men -- wore sweatshirts and lanyards emblazoned with pictures of their loved ones.
The moms can point out on a map of Iraq or Afghanistan where their children have been deployed and casually drop military lingo into their conversations. They follow the daily ups and downs in the news, waiting with anticipation for the next e-mail, phone call or letter.
Supporting each other
Barbara Serrano, whose Marine son was awarded two Purple Hearts for service in Al-Fallujah, Iraq, and now suffers from a form of post traumatic stress disorder, helped found the South Bay Blue Star Moms in 2004, a non-profit that now claims 80 members.
``They understood because they were going through the same thing,'' said Serrano, 56, of Morgan Hill. ``Here nobody gets tired of hearing about our kids.''
Yellow bows were hung on the white picket fence in front of their tree and empty packages with Air Force and Navy wrapping paper were placed around the base of the tree. There was one prominently hung gold star with a photograph of Marine Cpl. Travis Layfield, a Fremont native killed in Iraq on April 6, 2004.
Opposition to the increasingly unpopular war is perhaps most galvanized in the Bay Area, some mothers suggested. In this climate, they say, having others who empathize is invaluable.
``To a lot of moms here, this means everything,'' said Santa Clara resident Jerilyn Lightfoot, 49. ``We get attacked so we're learning to coat ourselves up with Vaseline. I know my son is doing the right thing -- volunteering to protect the country.''
Her son, Sgt. A.J. Pasciuti, returned this week from his third deployment to Iraq. Prompted by the attacks of Sept. 11, the Eagle Scout who graduated from Fremont High School in Sunnyvale joined the Marines at 17 and recently re-enlisted.
``When any of our kids come back into town, the first thing all the military moms want to do is hug them because we can't hug our own kids,'' Lightfoot said.
Navy Lt. Christina Ortega, 27, was on duty over Christmas for six years in a row. But she said her heart was warmed when she received a picture of the tree from her mom, Gloria Cervantes, last year. She flies back to Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas, today, but she was able to spend Saturday morning decorating with her sister and mom.
``When you're home, it's like they've adopted you,'' she said. ``My mom shares all her stories with the other mothers so, when you're home, they're as happy to see you as to see their own child.''
The group -- a part of the larger Blue Star Mothers of America created during World War I -- meets the third Tuesday of every month at the American Legion post in Santa Clara and makes hundreds of care packages for the troops three times a year.
The women traded updates about their children Saturday as they nibbled on doughnuts, drank coffee from a thermos and hung the ornaments.
Reaching overseas
Jean Browne, 65, of Santa Clara said she and her husband went to Mimis Cafe on Thanksgiving because no one else was home. But the best part of her day was a call from her daughter Michelle, stationed in Afghanistan, who assured her mother that she got two good meals -- prime rib and turkey.
When the moms gathered around the tree to pray, the crying began. Serrano used a napkin to dab her face as others hugged her.
``You started it,'' she said, motioning at another crying mom.
Lightfoot said her son's last deployment was the hardest. When her son's comrades were killed in the line of duty, she flew to Colorado and Michigan for their funerals. To keep track of his deployments, she has written the dates he departed and returned on small U.S. flags.
``We enjoy them when they are home,'' she said. ``We worry about them when they're gone, and we support them all the time.''
Contact James Hohmann at jhohmann@mercurynews.com or (40 920-5460.
Ellie