thedrifter
12-16-07, 08:33 AM
ORLANDO CHRISTMAS PARADE
Kids of fallen troops get glimpse of holiday magic
Christopher Sherman
Sentinel Staff Writer
December 16, 2007
Amid the marching bands, firetrucks and scurrying elves at Saturday's Orlando Christmas Parade, three children who lost their fathers to war were treated to a holiday experience they won't soon forget.
Riding aboard the Operation Ensuring Christmas float, 7-year-old Camryn Darling shouted "Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year" to the throngs lining the parade route. Flashing a pearly smile and the wave of a beauty queen, the natural performer from Davenport relished the attention.
In April 2004, a suicide car bomber killed her father, Army Pfc. Norman Darling, and seven other soldiers on patrol near Mahmudiyah, a town south of Baghdad. Darling, a 29-year-old combat medic and citizen of the Bahamas, was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star and a Purple Heart as well as U.S. citizenship.
Camryn's mother, Amy Prince, said her daughter remembers her dad but does not talk about him much. When Prince tries to bring it up, Camryn often changes the subject. But the precocious girl was all smiles Saturday.
"This is great," Prince said just before the float rolled down Rosalind Avenue. "When do you get a chance to be in a parade?"
The chance came through nonprofit Operation Ensuring Christmas. Founder Robert McDowell of Oviedo invited Camryn and Prince to ride the float. Also invited were Jennifer Swain and her sons J.C. and Aaron Boles, whose father, National Guard Sgt. Dennis Boles, died of a heart attack in Kuwait in October 2004. Swain's youngest son, Bobby Swain, was also along for the parade.
Boles, a 46-year-old helicopter mechanic from Homosassa, collapsed on a 10-mile fitness march. Boles had served eight years in the Marines before eventually joining the Florida National Guard. He was a drummer in a rock band, a talent he carried overseas along with his drum kit.
J.C., 12, wants to follow in his father's footsteps and has asked for his own drums for Christmas. Aaron, 14, wants an electric guitar.
Swain and her sons rode in the Orlando parade last year as well. Instead of a float, they cruised in a military Humvee. J.C. and Aaron said they preferred waving to the crowd from the red, white and blue float they shared this year with country musician Michael Peterson.
"The float was really cool," J.C. said.
Their smiles were McDowell's reward.
McDowell, who never served in the military, said he started the nonprofit organization because he grew up with a war hero. His father was severely wounded in the Philippines. So when he started hearing the stories of soldiers' children left behind during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, he decided to start spreading some holiday cheer.
With private contributions, McDowell has been able to send out Christmas gift cards to about 80 children this year. He also brought about 40 kids to Central Florida theme parks this summer for a "Christmas in July" gathering. Camryn, J.C., Aaron and their mothers were scheduled to spend today at Universal Studios.
"This is what I'm supposed to be doing," McDowell said. "Of course, I wish I didn't have to be doing it."
Christopher Sherman can be reached at csherman@orlandosentinel.com or 407-650-6361.
Ellie
Kids of fallen troops get glimpse of holiday magic
Christopher Sherman
Sentinel Staff Writer
December 16, 2007
Amid the marching bands, firetrucks and scurrying elves at Saturday's Orlando Christmas Parade, three children who lost their fathers to war were treated to a holiday experience they won't soon forget.
Riding aboard the Operation Ensuring Christmas float, 7-year-old Camryn Darling shouted "Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year" to the throngs lining the parade route. Flashing a pearly smile and the wave of a beauty queen, the natural performer from Davenport relished the attention.
In April 2004, a suicide car bomber killed her father, Army Pfc. Norman Darling, and seven other soldiers on patrol near Mahmudiyah, a town south of Baghdad. Darling, a 29-year-old combat medic and citizen of the Bahamas, was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star and a Purple Heart as well as U.S. citizenship.
Camryn's mother, Amy Prince, said her daughter remembers her dad but does not talk about him much. When Prince tries to bring it up, Camryn often changes the subject. But the precocious girl was all smiles Saturday.
"This is great," Prince said just before the float rolled down Rosalind Avenue. "When do you get a chance to be in a parade?"
The chance came through nonprofit Operation Ensuring Christmas. Founder Robert McDowell of Oviedo invited Camryn and Prince to ride the float. Also invited were Jennifer Swain and her sons J.C. and Aaron Boles, whose father, National Guard Sgt. Dennis Boles, died of a heart attack in Kuwait in October 2004. Swain's youngest son, Bobby Swain, was also along for the parade.
Boles, a 46-year-old helicopter mechanic from Homosassa, collapsed on a 10-mile fitness march. Boles had served eight years in the Marines before eventually joining the Florida National Guard. He was a drummer in a rock band, a talent he carried overseas along with his drum kit.
J.C., 12, wants to follow in his father's footsteps and has asked for his own drums for Christmas. Aaron, 14, wants an electric guitar.
Swain and her sons rode in the Orlando parade last year as well. Instead of a float, they cruised in a military Humvee. J.C. and Aaron said they preferred waving to the crowd from the red, white and blue float they shared this year with country musician Michael Peterson.
"The float was really cool," J.C. said.
Their smiles were McDowell's reward.
McDowell, who never served in the military, said he started the nonprofit organization because he grew up with a war hero. His father was severely wounded in the Philippines. So when he started hearing the stories of soldiers' children left behind during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, he decided to start spreading some holiday cheer.
With private contributions, McDowell has been able to send out Christmas gift cards to about 80 children this year. He also brought about 40 kids to Central Florida theme parks this summer for a "Christmas in July" gathering. Camryn, J.C., Aaron and their mothers were scheduled to spend today at Universal Studios.
"This is what I'm supposed to be doing," McDowell said. "Of course, I wish I didn't have to be doing it."
Christopher Sherman can be reached at csherman@orlandosentinel.com or 407-650-6361.
Ellie