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| Name: | Sharon Matheny |
| E-mail address: | Smathkc@aol.com |
| Homepage URL: | http://AftermathofwarcopingwithPTSDtwo |
| Comments: | I just wanted to thank you for all you are doing in memory and in life for all of the Vietnam veterans affected by Agent Orange. I am the wife of a two term vet who was forced to retire in 2001 due to peripheral neuropathy that I feel may be from exposure to AO. With all the tests he has had no one can come up with a reason so that makes me think all the more it is from his service. These veterans should not have to endure so much pain and heartache only to be ignored by the government they served. Thank God there are people like yourselves who are making sure their voice is heard and their story told. At least it gives them the validation they so rightly deserve may the Lord bless you and give you many years to carry on. I hope that I can be able to view your memorial in person when you come to Kansas City. |
| Name: | Terri Black |
| E-mail address: | Tetvetswife@aol.com |
| Homepage URL: | http://AftermathofwarcopingwithPTSDtoo@groups.msn.com |
| Comments: | Your Site was sent to me by another Nam Vetwife. We co-manage a support site together for Wives of Vets with PTSD. My Vet is a survivor of AO Prostate Cancer. Had removed and is still Cancer Free PTL. This is wonderful what you have done. Congrats...Love & Appreciation
Ter |
| Name: | Diane Kuhn |
| E-mail address: | shydi45@swbell.net |
| Comments: | What a wonderful tribute to an incredible lady. I met Jennie in Skidmore, MO at Freedom Fest a few years back. I am glad to see her legacy lives on and that the quilt will continue to be displayed and added to.
I hope to see the quilt when it is in KC next week. God Bless! |
| Name: | Gerald W Richardson |
| E-mail address: | gwrcurtis@aol.com |
| Comments: | Thanks for the good work for they should have to do more to us guys who were there when they sprayed the Agent orange. I was in the worst infected area that there was and still don't get enough comp for the problems that I have today. So much pain and hurt that will never go away. |
| Name: | Noah B. Dillion |
| E-mail address: | noahbdillion@yahoo.com |
| Comments: | I found your incredible website while reading a message sent to me via my VVA predident, Maj. Drew Vargo, Chapter 88 in Erlanger Kentucky. I consider myself lucky to have only the minor condition of Diabetes II from my exposure to A/O. I would never have filed for compensation had the Social Security Admn requirted me to do so. Now that I am on a fixed disability income for a non-service related lifelong affliction of NARCOLEPSY I am finally at peace with myself and my GOD. I don't think I can find it in my heart to forgive my government from those days, nor from today.
I was with the 114th Asault Helicopter Comapny in Vihn Long, and we sprayed that poision almost daily. We had a ship set-up for just that purpose. We had no idea what it would do to the country, to ourselves, to the future generations of Vietnamese, or our own children. I feel our government sold us out to the major chemical companies then, and are selling out our soldiers today with the Gulf war Syndrome. Keep up the good work. God is Love. |
| Name: | Bob Merullo |
| E-mail address: | bobeng2@lycos.com |
| Comments: | Thanks for not forgetting us! In country 64 thru 68. One old Sea Bee. |
| Name: | chris woolnough |
| E-mail address: | cwoolno1@aol.com |
| Homepage URL: | http://groups.msn.com/AftermathofwarcopingwithPTSDtoo |
| Comments: | As you requested Sheila,LOL. I hope I did honor to your lovely quilt of tears? Dedicated to the survivors with all my love, Chris Woolnough
The Agent Orange Quit of Tears The agent orange trail of tears, Travels far and wide, It tells the tale of betrayal, Of a government who lied. The patches of our lives unfold, Upon this quilt of tears. As soldiers lay down their lives once more, And their children live in fear. Each stitch is sewn with sorrow, Each patch is joined with pain, As the families mourn the losses, Of loves never seen again. The Agent Orange quilt of tears, Is just a symbol of our love, It is an earthly reminder, Of our heroes up above. Each tear we shed is colored, By the anguish that we feel, Every inch of cloth that's sewn, Allows our hearts to heal. As I gaze upon this quilt today, The image of death is altered. I see instead the symbol of life, For heroes who never faltered. As a soldiers immortality, Lies in his loved ones eyes, As long as he's remembered, Our true hero never dies. Chris Woolnough 5/13 /05 |
| Name: | Chris Woolnough |
| E-mail address: | cwoolno1@aol.com |
| Homepage URL: | http://groups.msn.com/AftermathofwarcopingwithPTSDtoo |
| Comments: | "A soldier died today"
A soldier died in the war today, He had a face, a name, a life. He was our sons, our daughters, He had children and a wife. He sacrificed his future, In the name of democracy, He died so every one of us, Could live in a land that's free. He was a man of honor, Morals and integrity were his guide, He was a true young patriot, His heart was filled with pride. A soldier lost the battle today, He will grace this earth no more, He gave his blood, sweat, and tears, To protect our mighty shore. He fought with courage till the end, For beliefs he held strong and true, A soldier laid down his life today, He died for me and you. Did you shed a tear for him? Did you thank him for his life? Did you grieve the fatherless children? Did you support his widowed wife? Will you honor him with remembrance, Of that precious life he gave? Are you grateful for your freedom, That he fought so hard to save? Do you know a parents ultimate grief, That lost their courageous son? Can you gaze into your child's eyes, And kiss them when the day is done? A soldier went to heaven today, He was playing war's deadly game. Will you honor and respect him? Do you even know his name? He shed his blood for you. Did you bow your head to pray? We lost a hero and a savior, When a soldier died today. Chris Woolnough 4/10/04 Please visit us in the aftermath of war. I would be honored to share your soldiers story. |
| Name: | Wilson Sproehnle |
| E-mail address: | will2mars@aol.com |
| Comments: | When I received an email about Jennie departing our world to rejoin her husband, I was greatly saddened at our
loss. Although I never met her face to face, she was there for me when I really needed an understanding shoulder to cry on and, in response to an email written in anger and overwhelming sadness, Jennie first emailed and then called me on the phone. She was just the person I needed at that time and we had a good cry together. I told her about my two buddies and she told me about her husband. I had two very close friends, Big Jim Hackney and Rich Montgomery, who died within three months of each other from AO cancer. Being involved for years in the Philadelphia Vet community, I was quite aware of the effects of AO upon many vets and the impact on their families. However, it wasn't until my two close friends became ill and then endured the pain and increasing debilitation that I realized how truly devastating their illness was AND the complete failure of our own government to help. When Big Jim died in October, '02, and then Rich died in January of '03, I was totally overwhelmed by the loss of two awesome 'Nam vets, two brothers who gave so much back to other vets and to the wider community. Big Jim had taken early retirement due to the worsening of his combat related disability and, as soon as he was able to get back on his feet, he went to work with a church-based organization as a volunteer. He worked with homeless vets, seeking them out on the streets and in homeless shelters and then trying to help them get back to reality through treatment programs and a lot of encouragement. At the same time, he was attending school and, in October of 2002, the month he passed on, he was going to be ordained as a minister. it was in considering how much both of these men did for others that I saw the wider issue; that there were and are 'Nam vets all across our country still dying. So, in that we continue taking casualties because of our Vietnam service, I came to the conclusion, which I still hold, that, for us and for our families, neighborhoods, church groups, employers and so-forth; for all of us and, particularly, the vets who are suffering right this moment, the Vietnam War hasn't yet ended-it won't, either, until we stop taking casualties. Rich Montgomery was the most compassionate person I've met and, believe me, I have no doubt at all thathe's the closest thing to a real angel I or anyone else who knew him will ever meet in this life. He was the PA State Director for Alcoholism and after work hours, was frequently out somewhere helping a family or an individual whose life had fallen apart. This was particularly true when it was a vet. I met him when a 5 year old little boy was shot and killed. The child was the son of a two tour marine Vietnam vet and, when Rich heard about this tragedy on the news, he pulled together a meeting of Vietnam vets and called for a press conference where we, Vietnam vets representing most of the city's veteran organizations, went before TV cqamera's to pledge our support for this vet and his family and to call upon other vets to get out and support any of Philadelphia's neighborhood anti-drug organizations. Rich and I formed a group we called "Vietnam Vets Against Drugs" and we went out at night to support anti-drug groups just as we had asked of others. Rich and I became close friends and I was always being amazed by his dedication to helping others. He didn't stop at our small vets anti-drug group; oh, no, he sold the idea to the national board of Vietnam Veterans of America and they made it a program for local chapters across the country with the national office providing funding. Once he had VVA national's support, he went to the Congressional Medal of Honor Society and obtained their support with the condition that we change our name to the "Veterans Against Drugs" so we might appeal to all vets. In addition, while I had to slow down due to my own disablity, he went on to form another group, SOSAD (Save Our Sons and Daughters) as a means to bring together the siblings and parents of kids killed in drug-related drive-by shootings. He later made his objective to be reaching out to support siblings and parents of ANY children killed unjustly. He took the group to help families when Timothy McVeigh destroyed the federal building in Oklahoma City and went to New York when the Twin Towers were destroyed. I could go on and on about both of these men but I'm sure that all of us who have lost a good friend or relative so unjustly to AO feel the same way. Along with sadness, at the time I came to know Jenny, I was also outraged. First, the idea that people profited from the sale of AO to the Department of Defense while lying about it being non-toxic when they knew it wasn't is beyond my understanding as is the fact that, for the most part, they have escaped from any liability. Then, the VA didnot live up to its responsi-bility to care for the Vets by providing health care or compensation. Jennie, of course, understood all of this completely and we had a number of good chats for a while. When I moved here to Hawaii, I lost touch with a lot of people and she was one of them. The last time we spoke, she had invited me aqain to stay at her home when I was visiting DC for some veteran activity. Unfortunately, that day will never come now but, at least, I did get to know Jennie and to become close friends. We will all miss her and must console each other with the fact that we were all very fortunate that we had the friendship of one very special lady. For that, I will always be grateful. PEACE to all, Wilson L Sproehnle III |
| Name: | fugitive247 |
| Homepage URL: | http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/Agentorange/ |
| Name: | Dawn H |
| E-mail address: | gsmompv1969@aol.com |
| Comments: | Although I am deeply sorry to hear about Jennie, I am grateful that the Quilt of Tears for Agent Orange victims will continue. I met Jennie when she brought the quilts to NY to honor Agene Orange victims including my father, Steve Littell. Jennie was so dedicated. She gave a hug, a smile, an ear to listen, or she was just there, she gave all.
Big hugs and thanks to Jennie now my father will not be forgotten by those who would sweep this under the rug. |
| Name: | Geerry Fitzpatrick |
| E-mail address: | captain_lighthouse@yahoo.com |
| Homepage URL: | http://cecilia-fitzpatrick.memory-of.com |
| Comments: | Jennie was a good friend of myself and Ccecilia and our organization Agent Orange Diabetic Victims. They are both in Heavwen now watching over all Agent Orange victims |
| Name: | Frank G. Clark |
| E-mail address: | FClark1@cfl.rr.com |
| Comments: | Your very dedication humbles me,
Sincerely and Fond Regards, Your friend, Frank |
| Name: | Me |
| E-mail address: | ArmrdAngel |
| Comments: | Test |
| Name: | RUSTY RUSTAN |
| E-mail address: | voiceforveterans@aol.com |
| Homepage URL: | http://www.vfvs.com/verpa.org |
| Comments: | In the begginning Agent Orange was ignored to many years by our own government is a real act of Treason. I am a disabled Vietnam veteran rated 100% 30 years after Nam. to many grivances that should not be that is why I founded Voice for Veterans Services www.vfvs.com and that work put me on the Board of Directors of VERPA www.verpa.org Veterans Equal Rights Protection Advocacy working all the time for Justice to all military and veterans families around the world. On my website is another Agent Orange website called www.silverrose.com that helps families with grivances over Agent Orange. We all come toghether collectivally our government has to respond to the American people for the damage that has been done. I will post this great website to Other Links section Of www.vfvs.com Its great to know that we all come togheter and the truth will prevail.
Bests, Rusty |
| Name: | admin@soft-vision.net |
| E-mail address: | admin@soft-vision.net |
| Homepage URL: | http://www.soft-vision.com/ao_vets/ |
| Comments: | The link you submitted to AOV&FFIT was added to:
Agent Orange Victims, Families & Friends, =IN=TOUCH= http://www.soft-vision.com/ao_vets databse and your news feed for your (b)log was added to http://thelastbattle.soft-vision.com http://thelastbattle.soft-vision.com/www/?q=aggregator/feeds |
| Name: | Rick Shuster |
| E-mail address: | rgsjesshuster@charter.net |
| Homepage URL: | http://www.veteransguesthouse.org/ |
| Comments: | Life is a Patchwork Quilt©
Each unique and special quality of the individual is best enhanced when joined in common cause with others as unique and special in their own right. Consider each as a patch in the the quilt of humanity. In order to make the quilt, it requires those extra special individuals who can join the patches together and produce the finished product, showing us all how much better we really can be when joined together in a common cause. 09/21/04 Richard G. Shuster (from Rick's Random Ramblings, Life is a Patchwork Quilt©) |
| Name: | Vikki |
| E-mail address: | ButterflywingsB3@aol.com |
| Comments: | Jennie was an amazing woman who have left her footprints on this earth....
I had the privilage of meeting her at the Melbourne reunion and she was larger than life in person. I am honored to have had time to talk with her. God Bless all our Agent Orange soliders those with us and those that have left us..."MAY THE NEVER BE FORGOTTEN" ~Vikki~ |
| Name: | Rose Anderson |
| E-mail address: | FlyGirlAZ05@aol.com |
| Homepage URL: | http://www.silverrose.org |
| Comments: | The above website is not mine, it's The Order of The Silver Rose all about Veterans exposed to Agent Orange, please visit the website. Also, I'm one of many Directors, am located in Arizona please feel free to write to me.
Henry & Shiela, Just wanted to say hello and to tell you what a wonderful job you have done on this website and thank you for carrying on Jennie's legacy, I can see why she knew you two were her "Angels in Training". You have honored Jennie & The AO Quilt of Tears beautifully, we're all grateful for that. I'm sure she's sending down hugs & smiles to you both daily. If your 2005 schedule brings you to Tucson or close by let me know, I'll be happy to assist in anyway possible. Just let me know. Take Care, Rose |
| Name: | Tina Reynolds |
| E-mail address: | blitz_02_2000@hotpop.com |
| Comments: | I have spent the majority of the day going through all the entries on Jenny's site. There are sooo many stories out there that have brought tears to my eyes. I too lost my father in feb 2003. I am just now learning about all the effects of AO. When my father first got out of the Air Force in '72 he was a very vibrant man and stayed vibrant right up until his death despite the unexplainable problems that he had. I remember him loosing bug patches of hair from his chest when he was in his younger years. He also would loose big patches of skin off the bottom of his feet when he showered.He wasn't one that complained about aches and pains but in October of 2002 that all changed. He was in a minor car accident and at that point everything went down hill. By January he wasn't able to eat, drink or have bowel movements and the doctors weren't listening to anything he tried to tell them. I finally had to meet my mother at the local hospital and demand to see the administrator to get him some help. He was admitted that day which was a monday and he died that Saturday. He had to have fluid drained from his stomache and when it was tested it came back cancerous, they found a 3 cm mass in one lung, something about his lymph nodes and then he was having problems with atrial fibrilation and then he went through these states of confusion and swore up and down that things were there that weren't. He thought he was back in Nam and through all of this, the doctors couldn't give us ANY kind of definate answer as to what was going on. He had 14 different doctors on his case. The night he died, my entire family was in to talk to the doctor and at that point my father was trying to climb out of the bed and wanted to go home. The doc told us that he was going to die but he couldn't even give us a time frame. We left to make arrangements for hospice care and I later went back to sit with him for the night, had a long talk with him and told him everything I ever wanted him to know and shortly after, his BP plumeted and I had to call the family in and he died not long after they all got there. His death certificate states..Adenocarcinoma- unkown primary; renal failure; and atrial fribrilation. I know in my heart that this is conected to AO and I will fight the VA to at least get widows benefits for my mother. We only just learned of these benefits within the last two weeks and I know I am in for a long fight but what I saw my father go through is enough of a reason to make sure that since this stuff took him when he wasn't ready, they owe him. This is a man who was proud of everything he ever accomplished. I am glad that there are people out there that recognize the affects of these chemicals and are fighting to make others aware. To all those out there that still have your family members with you....make ever last moment with them count, this stuff takes them fast.
I love you dad! In memory of SSGT Henry J. Gregg Jr. USAF |
| Name: | Barry Fitzgerald |
| E-mail address: | rcoderfitz@aol.com |
| Homepage URL: | http://members.aol.com/vietwarmem/plaque.htm |
| Comments: | Thank you for continuing Jennie's legacy.
Ruth Coder Fitzgerald and the members and friends of the Vietnam War In Memory Memorial Plaque Project were honored to have Jennie's support in the accomplishment of the goal of the addition of a plaque at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial to provide year-round acknowledging and honoring postwar casualties of Vietnam whose names are not eligible for placement on the Wall. Jennie's last public appearance with the quilts was at the In Memory Plaque's unveiling ceremony July 8, 2004. A link to a page of photographs of the unveiling ceremony, including Jennie, is available through the In Memory Plaque Project gateway page, or directly at angelfire.com/oz/in_memory. Sincerely, Barry Fitzgerald, Web Site Administrator |
| Name: | Barry Fitzgerald |
| E-mail address: | rcoderfitz@aol.com |
| Homepage URL: | http://members.aol.com/vietwarmem/plaque.htm |
| Comments: | Thank you for continuing Jennie's legacy.
Ruth Coder Fitzgerald and the members and friends of the Vietnam War In Memory Memorial Plaque Project were honored to have Jennie's support in the accomplishment of the goal of the addition of a plaque at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial to provide year-round acknowledging and honoring postwar casualties of Vietnam whose names are not eligible for placement on the Wall. Jennie's last public appearance with the quilts was at the In Memory Plaque's unveiling ceremony July 8, 2004. A link to a page of photographs of the unveiling ceremony, including Jennie, is available through the In Memory Plaque Project gateway page, or directly at angelfire.com/oz/in_memory. Sincerely, Barry Fitzgerald, Web Site Administrator |
| Name: | Sharon Lynn Pifer |
| E-mail address: | sunshinegypsy87@aol.com |
| Comments: | I recently lost my husband to Agent Orange. He died 9/15/2004 the day after my 50th birthday. He was and always will be the love of my life. The official cause of death was heart attack. This of course was due to hypertension and diabetes. He was a Marine in Viet Nam 1966-1967. Landed there on his 18th birthday.He was a true Marine. Semper Fi (always faithful) We will never forget you or any of the others that fought so bravely for our freedom. Freedom isn't free.
Bradenton, Fla. |
| Name: | Judy Tharp |
| E-mail address: | judiththarp@hotmail.com |
| Comments: | I viewed the quilt displayed with the replica Wall that has been displayed here in Huntsville from the 4th to the 7th of November, 2004 and am impressed. I would like to submit a block in honor of my husband who died of on April 16, 1997 cancer from agent orange. He was at the TAC Fighter Wing command post at Phan Rang, Viet Nam from summer of 1966 to summer of 1967.
Huntsville, Texas |
| Name: | Linda Lee |
| E-mail address: | littletigerlee2@yahoo.com |
| Comments: | your site is absolutely wonderful. what jeannie has done is a blessing from God. MY husband was in the 507th engineers at longbinn, vietnam, 1967-1968. he is overwhelmed with agent orange diseases. after years of fighting the system, they have finally gave him 100% service connected disabled due to agent orange. the agent orange has ruined his life. thank you for hard work and sacrifice that went in to making this site. i am going to add my husband to your quilt. god bless you
Waco, Tx |
| Name: | P Manatt |
| E-mail address: | manattman@hotmail.com |
| Comments: | Thank you for your efforts. My Dad fought cancer twice before he died. My family will be submitting a quilt block this Thanksgiving. I think that is fitting. God bless America, our troops and our vets.
Iowa |
| Name: | Greg Barth SSG US ARMY Ret. |
| Comments: | Thank you for remembering. The 18 year olds that voted in this years election were not even born when we fought in Vietnam, My own children do not know who Hanoi Jane is, the subject came up with Sen Kerry's war protests in 1971. These same 18 year olds were only 6 or 7 when we went to war in the Middle East the first time. As Michael Savage says "We need more Patton, and less patent leather."
Odessa, Tx |
| Name: | Nancy Rogers |
| E-mail address: | nancy@ruralcom.net |
| Comments: |
For anyone out there interested in who has taken over for Jennie, I found them. Sheila & Henry Snyder, they cannot find the man who set up Jennies website, so they have made another one. They are taking over for Jennie. They seem to be wonderful and caring ppl. Here is their website: http://journals.aol.com/armrdangel/QUILTOFTEARS/ Check it out. Thanks for reading this! |