thedrifter
06-21-09, 07:27 AM
House named for late Marine
Patriot’s Path dinner pays tribute to Col. Thomas M. Stokes Jr.
By Jenni Vincent / Journal staff writer
MARTINSBURG - The late Col. Thomas M. Stokes Jr. is widely remembered for his giving nature.
Stokes, who spent 30 years serving his country in the Marines, remained active in retirement when he championed many civic and community organizations in Jefferson County.
Friends and family remembered Stokes as a "real man's man and Marine's Marine" when they gathered Friday night for a special tribute to him, which was sponsored by the Patriot's Path Foundation.
Approximately 80 individuals attended the event at the Purple Iris at Hartwood Mansion, where it was announced that the foundation will rename one of its residential houses for veterans in honor of Stokes.
Stokes' family members, including his widow Julia, were on hand to learn that the foundation's house on Kentucky Avenue will soon have a plaque dedicating it to him.
Patriot's Path Foundation, a nonprofit organization that got under way last year, was created to help veterans deal with the challenges of daily life that they face after receiving treatment for substance abuse, said foundation President and Executive Director David D. Hill.
Hill said the foundation originated in 2008 after discussion with officials at the Martinsburg Veterans Affairs Medical Center, which provides care to a large number of veterans each year.
Since many vets have no place to go once they complete VAMC substance abuse treatment, the organization's founders were specifically concerned with providing safe, affordable housing for veterans in that situation, Hill said.
The Kentucky Avenue house, which was one of the first three residential homes opened by the foundation to help veterans, will now officially be known as the Stokes House.
Retired Maj. Christopher Stokes, who spoke on behalf of his family at the event, said his late father would appreciate this honor and support the work being done on behalf of veterans.
He said his father's lifetime philosophy, not unlike the foundation's, was a commitment to "doing things for others."
After recalling his father's military duty in the Congo, Vietnam and Beirut, Lebanon, as well as his later days with the Jefferson County United Way, Stokes said his father's days centered on "serving others for the greater good."
But he also was personally impressed with what he's seen from the foundation, Stokes said.
"When I first visited it, I was just blown away. This is a very classy house," he said with a smile.
"And the foundation itself is a superb example of serving others. That is why this dedication is very fitting," he said.
Friday's keynote speaker, retired Brig. Gen. James B. Crawford, said he considered both the late Stokes and Patriot Path Foundation members to be heroes.
"While our veterans have answered the call to serve, to protect America's interests around the world, it is the people in this room, the sponsors of tonight's events, that have also answered a calling of their own," Crawford said.
"Their calling is to make sure that our veterans can overcome the myriad of personal challenges veterans face as they reintegrate into society. Their calling is to help these veterans become productive members of the society that these veterans swore to serve and protect - the society that has already asked so much of them," he said.
Heroes are nothing new to this region, where "more than 4,000 soldiers in the West Virginia Army National Guard and about 2,000 airmen in the state's Air Guard have been deployed. Add in the reserve elements of the Army, Navy and Coast Guard, and the total number deployed jumps to nearly 10,000," Crawford said.
Crawford said the foundation's work, the life skills its teaches and the mentoring it provides to veterans make up a "great complement" to the VAMC's care.
"They really fill in the gaps and take a personal, one-on-one approach to helping our veterans. We owe them a huge debt of gratitude," he said.
- Coming Monday, the weekly Unsung Heroes series will feature a profile on Edward Reardon, Patriot's Path Foundation chairman and chief executive officer.
- Staff writer Jenni Vincent can be reached at (304) 263-3381, ext. 138, or jvincent@journal-news.net
Ellie
Patriot’s Path dinner pays tribute to Col. Thomas M. Stokes Jr.
By Jenni Vincent / Journal staff writer
MARTINSBURG - The late Col. Thomas M. Stokes Jr. is widely remembered for his giving nature.
Stokes, who spent 30 years serving his country in the Marines, remained active in retirement when he championed many civic and community organizations in Jefferson County.
Friends and family remembered Stokes as a "real man's man and Marine's Marine" when they gathered Friday night for a special tribute to him, which was sponsored by the Patriot's Path Foundation.
Approximately 80 individuals attended the event at the Purple Iris at Hartwood Mansion, where it was announced that the foundation will rename one of its residential houses for veterans in honor of Stokes.
Stokes' family members, including his widow Julia, were on hand to learn that the foundation's house on Kentucky Avenue will soon have a plaque dedicating it to him.
Patriot's Path Foundation, a nonprofit organization that got under way last year, was created to help veterans deal with the challenges of daily life that they face after receiving treatment for substance abuse, said foundation President and Executive Director David D. Hill.
Hill said the foundation originated in 2008 after discussion with officials at the Martinsburg Veterans Affairs Medical Center, which provides care to a large number of veterans each year.
Since many vets have no place to go once they complete VAMC substance abuse treatment, the organization's founders were specifically concerned with providing safe, affordable housing for veterans in that situation, Hill said.
The Kentucky Avenue house, which was one of the first three residential homes opened by the foundation to help veterans, will now officially be known as the Stokes House.
Retired Maj. Christopher Stokes, who spoke on behalf of his family at the event, said his late father would appreciate this honor and support the work being done on behalf of veterans.
He said his father's lifetime philosophy, not unlike the foundation's, was a commitment to "doing things for others."
After recalling his father's military duty in the Congo, Vietnam and Beirut, Lebanon, as well as his later days with the Jefferson County United Way, Stokes said his father's days centered on "serving others for the greater good."
But he also was personally impressed with what he's seen from the foundation, Stokes said.
"When I first visited it, I was just blown away. This is a very classy house," he said with a smile.
"And the foundation itself is a superb example of serving others. That is why this dedication is very fitting," he said.
Friday's keynote speaker, retired Brig. Gen. James B. Crawford, said he considered both the late Stokes and Patriot Path Foundation members to be heroes.
"While our veterans have answered the call to serve, to protect America's interests around the world, it is the people in this room, the sponsors of tonight's events, that have also answered a calling of their own," Crawford said.
"Their calling is to make sure that our veterans can overcome the myriad of personal challenges veterans face as they reintegrate into society. Their calling is to help these veterans become productive members of the society that these veterans swore to serve and protect - the society that has already asked so much of them," he said.
Heroes are nothing new to this region, where "more than 4,000 soldiers in the West Virginia Army National Guard and about 2,000 airmen in the state's Air Guard have been deployed. Add in the reserve elements of the Army, Navy and Coast Guard, and the total number deployed jumps to nearly 10,000," Crawford said.
Crawford said the foundation's work, the life skills its teaches and the mentoring it provides to veterans make up a "great complement" to the VAMC's care.
"They really fill in the gaps and take a personal, one-on-one approach to helping our veterans. We owe them a huge debt of gratitude," he said.
- Coming Monday, the weekly Unsung Heroes series will feature a profile on Edward Reardon, Patriot's Path Foundation chairman and chief executive officer.
- Staff writer Jenni Vincent can be reached at (304) 263-3381, ext. 138, or jvincent@journal-news.net
Ellie