HOTH (Help On The HomeFront) UPDATE – WOUNDED WARRIOR CHRISTMAS

from Vicky Keller, SE Texas PGR HOTH Director

With your generosity, we raised $1200 for Staff Sergeant Hinojosa’s family.  Loretta and I took to shopping on Sunday evening.  My 14 year old daughter Emily came with us to ensure that our gifts would be up to snuff for the kids. Turns out with Emily’s help, we hit the ball right out of the ballpark, not once, not twice, but for each child!!! We came to find out after our arrival, that Bailee (9 year old girl) LOVES Hannah Montana and Billy Ray Cyrus - -we had bought her the combined CD! Score one for the home team.  We also did well by getting the 6 year old twins, Noah and Nathanial; Zebco 606 fishing poles, tackle boxes and camouflage walkie talkies.  Brandon is a diehard NASCAR and Monster Truck fan.  Yup, Emily and Radio Shack to the rescue – remote control Monster Toyota Tundra truck with extra batteries! We gave each child a $25 gift card in various tree ornaments which Joe and Billie Jean were going to hide until Christmas Eve. We also put together a “busy basket” so the kids would have something do to while on Christmas break – crayons, coloring books and puzzles. Monday evening, our house looked like Santa’s workshop- wrapping paper, ribbons, bows; gift tags were flying though the air.  Fortunately, we had an elf that kept the coffee pot going!

On Tuesday morning, Shawn Monroe, AW2 Program, Loretta Hamilton and I drove to Corpus Christi. We ran into a 4 car accident early on, which threw us off schedule slightly. We arrived at our destination around 12:30, and got to visit with Joe and Billie Jean.. Before the presents, we presented them with several Christmas cards – one from a PGR member, which caused Billie Jean to gasp, shake and cry, the other, was a Christmas card that had the $500 gift card which you all contributed to.  Billie Jean and Joe cried and whispered “that’s so much money” and looked to Shawn, Loretta and I in disbelief.  I said that this was from all of you and that we truly hoped it would help them have a Merry Christmas. After many hugs, thank yous and comforting, it came time to get the presents out of the truck.  Loretta and I had covered them with a sheet for the ride down, and when our American Hero and his wife walked with us, watched the sheet be lifted from the backseat, again there were gasps and tears.  It took all 5 of us about 6 trips to get the presents out of the truck, and all were placed in the dining room, as they were going to be hidden at another relative’s house.  Billie Jean and Joe could not say enough on how much they appreciated the Patriot Guard and both wished that they could thank each and every one of us. 

Billie Jean and Joe had to explain to us what had happened prior to our arrival.  In anticipation of our visit, they were running the vacuum, doing housecleaning and other things.  The kids questioned why they were cleaning in the middle of the week.  Billie Jean said that Santa’s elves were coming to scope things out for Christmas.  Bailee, said, being the typical 9 year old, doubted that there were elves, Santa, and did the “ah, yeah right Mom”.  Noah and Nathanial wanted to know if the elves were going to be at the house when they got home from school. Well, remember that “Busy Basket” – that was the giveaway that the elves really did stop by.  Bailee is now back to believing in Santa.  And yes, Billie Jean told me that all the kids were upset that the elves didn’t wait for them to come home, but it was explained that they had to get back to work.

To the members of the Southeast Texas PGR, not only from the Hinojosa family, but from Shawn Monroe, Loretta Hamilton and myself, you are truly an awesome group of people and the words “thank you” can not begin to express how much I appreciate your help in this project.  We couldn’t have done it without you! God Bless you, your families and from all of us, have a very Merry, Merry Christmas.

Vicky