Help on the way

Thursday I rose early while darkness still cloaked the base and donned my uniform to go out and provide encouragement to some very young men and women who are at this very moment reaching out to people devestated by hurricane Katrina. Work continues there, and Andrews people are right in the middle of it. I visited and prayed with some folks from one of my squadrons who volunteered to go forth into the midst of it all. Some are food service folks; there was even a mortuary support person. Brave, determined to make a difference, and young -- we sent them forth to represent our community and to help those who are beyond being able to just help themselves. Keesler AFB is testimony to what trained military professionals are able to do. They are still digging themselves out -- but already they are providing significant support to the people around them. And they are getting help from all over the Air Force. Some of our medical folks are there. Other bases have sent chaplain teams there to help people deal with the emotional trauma. READ more about it

This Sunday, our the worshipping community on base will take a collection that will specially earmarked for our brothers and sisters in arms at Keesler whose homes and possessions have been wiped out.

I am preparing for two significant events coming up for me personally. First my endorser, the representative of my church body who says yes - send Reedy, will visit with my chain of command. And secondly, I have been tasked with attending special training related to add to my counseling skills to hone them for a military environment later in September.

And Sunday, we remember 9-11. The horror, the heros, the cost, the struggle, and the call to honor those who serve and those who gave all. Pray for our airmen, our soldiers, our sailors, our marines, all who wear the uniform and go in harms way. Pray for safety and pray for peace.

Welcoming victims from Gulfport

Today a chaplain's assistant and I traveled to northern DC to the large veteran retirement facility operated just to the north of Capital Hill. There we assisted in offloading the 250 residents whose home was destroyed in Gulfport to their new home here in the DC area. I'll just say these were people whose determination to not let this tragedy get the best of them was readily apparent. Military personnel from many of the area bases were on hand to assist with the transition to new living quarters. It was a great privilege to be of assistance to these men and women who have served our nation in the past at some of its most profound moments such as WWII, Korea, and Vietnam.

Here is a quote from one of the people evacuted to us:

"There were strangers lined up, and they all clapped and greeted us and said, 'Welcome home!' And that's just what it was," she said. "So this is like coming home to friends and family, although we didn't even know them. They were wonderful, and they even prayed for us. So I'm very touched. It's just a heartfelt thing to think that you're part of something so great as all these service people together care about each other." (read full story)

On a side note, I have one member who attends the service I conduct who as on the USS Pennsylvania during the attack at Pearl Harbor on Dec 7.

Responding to Katrina

This is a picture of the commissary (grocery) at Keesler AFB in Biloxi. Hurricane Katrina has had a devestating impact. Air Mobility Command, to which I belong as part of the staff for the 89th Air Wing, has been put on alert to provide assistance. (read here)

Andrews personnel and facilities are being utilized right now for the relief efforts. 400 members of an Air Force retirement home will be housed temporarily here. (read more) In addition, several of our aircraft and crews are being utilized to assist with transport.

Today, I recieved a briefing to prepare me to serve aboard various medivac flights. Andrews is the reception point for every single serviceman or woman wounded in Iraq as they fly in from Europe. From Andrews they transition to the medical treatment facility where they will recieve their more extensive care. Not only are our chaplains assisting on board the flights, but providing pastoral care during their hospital stay here.

For those of my readers who are brothers and sisters in the LCMS, one of the chaplains at Keesler AFB in Biloxi, which was very hard hit by Katrina, is an LCMS chaplain. I have yet to hear how he is, though reports from Keesler say that while they have major damage, they survived without casualties. Interesting story here which I quote in part.

"For the first time since Hurricane Katrina forced them into shelters, 6,000 people at Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., ventured outside for a breath of fresh air. That was late in the day on Aug. 30, just after eating their first hot meal since the devastating hurricane nearly blew the base and that section of the Gulf Coast off the map."