Wednesday, August 4, 2010

THE WISH HAS COME TRUE ! ! !

We're still speechless from the outpouring of love and generosity for our
dear Marky on Friday the 30th of July.....and all the countless hours leading up to the BIG DAY !

How to describe such an event:...... cant be done --

However, Friday morning, the whole family took Marky out for an early birthday (sat the 31st was his BD). While we were out playing, the Wish
Granters transformed our backyard into a "command post" !

THE JEEP IS SOOOO AWESOME !

On the west end of the yard is a "bunker" with piled up sand-bags to "take cover" behind ! There is a medic tent with a real army cot and a medic's bag with bandages and cool stuff in it for the "wounded".

The middle of the yard is our old play set that was transformed into another bunker with camouflage netting and ammo crates full of "faux" army grenades ready for launching !

THE JEEP is strategically placed in the North-East corner of the yard to hold off any insurgents that may dare enter the premises !

It has been improvised with a solar powered battery that enables the headlights to work and a bunch of other cool stuff. The steering wheel turns/ as do the tires. The Jeep is lifted slightly on permanent jacks to allow the wheels to turn !

Its all "kid-friendly" modified and weather proofed for war conditions of any kind !

Crates of cool army stuff were brought in complete with uniforms, hats, grenades, weapons of war, army packs, "brain buckets" (metal helmets), even military issue decks of cards to play with while they await "orders" from the "Chief" !

As we entered the backyard and saw at least a hundred people there waiting in the sweltering heat, Marky's jaw dropped ! We were ushered to the center of the yard.

Capt Adamson called the group to attention and signaled the color guard to "present the colors" . The solemn crowd reverently watched as the Hill AFB soldiers respectfully payed tribute to our flag and the freedoms that it represents. The national anthem was played as well. What a thrill !

Capt. Adamson then turned to Marky and read the "Oath of Enlistment" to him as Marky repeated all the covenants back ! The Capt then had Marky sign the document and present him with a Captains Beret to don !

There was hardly a dry eye.

There were tons of soldiers dressed in full uniform . Three Colonels, Captains, Seargents, a whole platoon of guys were there to pay homage to our "Little Warrior" !

Channel 4 and 5 were there to cover the story (which was aired). The Salt Lake Tribune put him on the FRONT PAGE ! Reporter Robert Kirby, whom i am a big fan of, covered the event and wrote a huge spread that was printed on Saturday ! ( you can check it out on-line) ! What an honor !

The Make-a-Wish foundation spared no detail for this little warrior!

We are SO grateful for all the time and love that went into creating this dream for Marky ! Thank you Thank you Thank you !

Love, Lynette



3 comments:

kennethcrocheron said...

Of course now there is a contingent of black Suburbans and Suits with dark sunglasses parked down the street. The phones are tapped and I think I saw a Spook in the Howell's back yard with a telescope looking over the fence.

Anonymous said...

Here is the Flickr link to the Utah National Guard's photos of Marky's Make-a-Wish event:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/utahnationalguard/sets/72157624568773381/

What an amazing day.
1LT Ryan Sutherland

Markys mom said...

Dear Lt Sutherland, Sir.

I couldnt get the link to launch...then I tried to just google the flickr address thing and that didnt work for me either...

got any ideas, sir?

Marks mom ...p.s. THANKS FOR ALL YOU DO