thedrifter
12-21-07, 05:54 AM
WASHINGTON, D.C.-- Five Marines from Combat Instructor Company gave up their weekend liberty Sunday to spread holiday cheer and show Marine Corps support to a special group of kids and their families at Georgetown University Medical Center in Washington, D.C.
In conjunction with Home of Miracles and Embraces Inc. and Dr. Charlotte Barbey-Morel, the hospital’s chief of pediatrics infectious diseases, the Marines of Combat Instructor Company helped put together a Christmas party for children infected with HIV⁄AIDS and other challenging illnesses.
‘‘HOME received a Christmas wish list from the kids that most of them could only dream of,” said Ozzy Ramos, director and founder of HOME. ‘‘Due to our diligent efforts in fund-raising and with the dollar for dollar match, challenge issued by Doris Buffet, a prominent Fredericksburg resident, our ‘Home for the Holidays’ fund-raising campaign was able to raise almost $23,000 in a little over three weeks. We were then able to purchase the bulk of the children’s wish list, if not the entire list.”
HOME’s goal is to provide direct support and assistance to disease-inflicted children and their families. They are dedicated to providing a safe-haven retreat, granting wishes, creating memorable experiences and providing financial assistance to deserving families.
Ozzy Ramos’s cousin is Sgt. Melvin Ramos of Combat Instructor Company. Through Sgt. Ramos’s espirit de corps, he has it taken upon himself to support HOME’s efforts by volunteering his free time at fundraisers and events. He has motivated fellow Marines of the Combat Instructor Company to follow in his tracks, including the company first sergeant, Victor Williams.
Williams was looking for programs the Combat Instructor Company could give back to within the surrounding community and then he ran into Ozzy Ramos during a reenlistment ceremony in November. The two of them had a very casual and enlightening conversation. After their meeting, Williams decided to offer to assist in any way he could.
‘‘Marines know what battle is all about and being successful at it,” Williams said. ‘‘One of the main ingredients to our success is the support we receive from family and friends and we believe these kids are in a battle too. Although it may be a different enemy, we want to be there to give them the support and encouragement they need to continue to push on in their battle.”
When Williams and his Marines entered the room where the Christmas party was held he heard a lady saying ‘‘Thank goodness, the Marines have landed.” He knew just from that statement their presence just being there made a difference.
‘‘Our presence at an event for these kids gives them and their parents a true look at how deep their support is. Anything we can do makes such a difference and we’re always happy to be there.”
It was evident that the kids were in awe of the Marines and their uniforms from the moment they stepped into the room.
One of the unfortunately infected children even asked Sgt. Taylor Jolly what he needed to do to become a Marine and what it was like to be a Marine.
Jolly talked to the boy for a long time about the training and dedication it takes to become a Marine. He told the boy that if he wanted to become one himself, he needed to stay away from drugs and smoking and work hard so he could grow up and fulfill his dream of becoming a Marine. Even though there may be no hope for the young boy becoming a Marine because of his illness, for that day his illness was put aside in his mind and dreams of a normal life were made possible.
‘‘If these patients can stick with their medications they could potentially lead normal lives into adulthood,” Barbey-Morel said, ‘‘but most have a difficult time following through with the meds. This was a day for these kids to forget about their conditions and just be happy for a change. We wanted to do something for them to show them that it’s not always just blood tests and number counts; it’s about caring and bringing some joy into their lives. For these kids it’s a really long haul and they need to know there is life for them beyond their illnesses.”
Barbey-Morel has taken upon herself the burden of directly supporting the annual Christmas party in the past. Ozzy Ramos and HOME recognized her dedication to the children and their families and felt the need to help her throw this year’s party to allow her to concentrate on being with her patients and giving them hope for a brighter, healthier future.
‘‘Events like these are very important,” Ozzy Ramos said. ‘‘There are times and circumstances where mental health can be just as important as medicine. Having an event, such as the Christmas party, lets the kids be kids and not patients for at least one day.”
Home has great plans for 2008. They plan on supporting events that include a concert that will bring well-known artists to the area, sponsoring kids to go to camp, better educational opportunities for the kids, and a black tie gala. Being a former chief warrant officer three in the Marine Corps himself, Ozzy Ramos, along with his cousin, Sgt. Ramos plan on including the Marines in as many of the upcoming events as possible.
‘‘Marines have always been in the forefront of all battles,” said Ozzy Ramos, ‘‘and this one is no different because this disease does not discriminate. I myself am retired from the Marine Corps and although I am now a civilian, my commitment to the Marine Corps, the public sector and the communities I live in remains the same.”
Ellie
In conjunction with Home of Miracles and Embraces Inc. and Dr. Charlotte Barbey-Morel, the hospital’s chief of pediatrics infectious diseases, the Marines of Combat Instructor Company helped put together a Christmas party for children infected with HIV⁄AIDS and other challenging illnesses.
‘‘HOME received a Christmas wish list from the kids that most of them could only dream of,” said Ozzy Ramos, director and founder of HOME. ‘‘Due to our diligent efforts in fund-raising and with the dollar for dollar match, challenge issued by Doris Buffet, a prominent Fredericksburg resident, our ‘Home for the Holidays’ fund-raising campaign was able to raise almost $23,000 in a little over three weeks. We were then able to purchase the bulk of the children’s wish list, if not the entire list.”
HOME’s goal is to provide direct support and assistance to disease-inflicted children and their families. They are dedicated to providing a safe-haven retreat, granting wishes, creating memorable experiences and providing financial assistance to deserving families.
Ozzy Ramos’s cousin is Sgt. Melvin Ramos of Combat Instructor Company. Through Sgt. Ramos’s espirit de corps, he has it taken upon himself to support HOME’s efforts by volunteering his free time at fundraisers and events. He has motivated fellow Marines of the Combat Instructor Company to follow in his tracks, including the company first sergeant, Victor Williams.
Williams was looking for programs the Combat Instructor Company could give back to within the surrounding community and then he ran into Ozzy Ramos during a reenlistment ceremony in November. The two of them had a very casual and enlightening conversation. After their meeting, Williams decided to offer to assist in any way he could.
‘‘Marines know what battle is all about and being successful at it,” Williams said. ‘‘One of the main ingredients to our success is the support we receive from family and friends and we believe these kids are in a battle too. Although it may be a different enemy, we want to be there to give them the support and encouragement they need to continue to push on in their battle.”
When Williams and his Marines entered the room where the Christmas party was held he heard a lady saying ‘‘Thank goodness, the Marines have landed.” He knew just from that statement their presence just being there made a difference.
‘‘Our presence at an event for these kids gives them and their parents a true look at how deep their support is. Anything we can do makes such a difference and we’re always happy to be there.”
It was evident that the kids were in awe of the Marines and their uniforms from the moment they stepped into the room.
One of the unfortunately infected children even asked Sgt. Taylor Jolly what he needed to do to become a Marine and what it was like to be a Marine.
Jolly talked to the boy for a long time about the training and dedication it takes to become a Marine. He told the boy that if he wanted to become one himself, he needed to stay away from drugs and smoking and work hard so he could grow up and fulfill his dream of becoming a Marine. Even though there may be no hope for the young boy becoming a Marine because of his illness, for that day his illness was put aside in his mind and dreams of a normal life were made possible.
‘‘If these patients can stick with their medications they could potentially lead normal lives into adulthood,” Barbey-Morel said, ‘‘but most have a difficult time following through with the meds. This was a day for these kids to forget about their conditions and just be happy for a change. We wanted to do something for them to show them that it’s not always just blood tests and number counts; it’s about caring and bringing some joy into their lives. For these kids it’s a really long haul and they need to know there is life for them beyond their illnesses.”
Barbey-Morel has taken upon herself the burden of directly supporting the annual Christmas party in the past. Ozzy Ramos and HOME recognized her dedication to the children and their families and felt the need to help her throw this year’s party to allow her to concentrate on being with her patients and giving them hope for a brighter, healthier future.
‘‘Events like these are very important,” Ozzy Ramos said. ‘‘There are times and circumstances where mental health can be just as important as medicine. Having an event, such as the Christmas party, lets the kids be kids and not patients for at least one day.”
Home has great plans for 2008. They plan on supporting events that include a concert that will bring well-known artists to the area, sponsoring kids to go to camp, better educational opportunities for the kids, and a black tie gala. Being a former chief warrant officer three in the Marine Corps himself, Ozzy Ramos, along with his cousin, Sgt. Ramos plan on including the Marines in as many of the upcoming events as possible.
‘‘Marines have always been in the forefront of all battles,” said Ozzy Ramos, ‘‘and this one is no different because this disease does not discriminate. I myself am retired from the Marine Corps and although I am now a civilian, my commitment to the Marine Corps, the public sector and the communities I live in remains the same.”
Ellie