My Week ~ With Eric Peters "No Veteran Walks Alone"

Monday evening, I had a privilege to meet Eric Peters on his trek through Illinois on his way to Santa Monica, California to bring awareness for PTSD and TBI.   

Wolfounds MC wrote:  "This is Eric Peters our Lil' Brother, he is an Afghanistan Veteran, US Army 101st Airborne Purple Heart Recipient. He left Pekin, IL on Monday and headed to Springfield, IL. I'm asking ALL my friends to please join him on his journey. If you can stop him and talk, walk with him, motor escort him, go to his page No Veteran Walks Alone and like it, go to his GOFUNDME.com page "No Veteran Walks Alone" and make a Donation. "

Although we have had a mild summer, Eric decided to walk from Pekin to Springfield during a heat advisory in the middle of the afternoon.  Fortunately, Smokie, followed him and picked him up when he started to vomit.  Eric happened to arrived during our hosting of the the pre-flight dinner for the Land of Lincoln Honor flight where, he had dinner along with his escort, Smokie and I did a hand off.  Here you see VFW 755 post commander, Sam Roman, presenting a check to Eric. 

I know from being his guide through the area that PTSD is real. On two occasions, there were loud noises (I think one from a power line pop in the heat) and Eric hit the ground as if in battle still. There are many like him and they walk among us. We need to understand them and love them.

He stayed the first night in my guest room.   I warned him that my little dog (cocker-border mix), Marley, would be afraid.  She is a rescue with PTSD of her own.  She is a good dog...just fearful.   He understood and allowed her time to hide from him. He seemed fascinated with my "Rosemary Zombie Girl" so I plugged her in for a demo.  I explained that she was supposed to lurch but that she was a defective floor model that was discounted.  I keep "Rosemary" at my back door staring out in case of an intruder. Any place else, like the attic, would ruin and dry-crack her rubber face.

The following morning, while Eric slept, I received a call about a man looking for him through our VFW.   Doug Jenkins, a Vietnam veteran from Madison, WI, came to meet Eric, who was still asleep.  Doug was in Chatham and apparently slept in his Jeep.  However, on discussion, I learned he was looking for another veteran, Bill Trow, who was on a "walk" in Illinois seeking awareness for the homeless veterans.  Bill was not answering Doug's emails or calls but he did have a blog.  I looked up his blog and learned from a recent posting that he was staying in a motel in Peru, IL.  As a result, I helped them find each other.  Here I am with Doug and the poster for his cause.  He would like ordinary people like me to get a grant to sponsor a homeless veteran.

I helped arrange media to meet with Eric on Tuesday.  

Here is a link to the podcast on WMAY:
 http://wmay.com/assets/podcasts/20140826bishopEricPeters.MP3

Here is a link to the podcast with Ray Lytle on WTAX:
http://wtax.com/podcasts/eric-peters-no-veteran-walks-alone/

I was impressed when Kirk Farrah saluted Eric at the end of the interview.  Kirk was an army captain so this was initiated in the opposite order.  Many enlisted feel that a salute is initiated by a lower to higher rank but once we are veterans it means respect.

 Here is a link to the interview on ABC's WICS:
www.wics.com/news/top-stories/stories/vid_18800.shtml

We had a full schedule but Governor Pat Quin invited us to lunch with only an hour's notice and the timing fit perfectly. Before we got there, I was asked his shoe size.  Note this was only an hour before our lunch date and during the interview with WICS taken at Camp Butler National Cemetery.  Governor presented him with a new pair (and socks) just like the ones he wears on his walk. He was given a tour and offered to stay the night.  I explained he'd be dropped off late because of the Honor Flight Homecoming at the airport.
 
Gov. Quinn meeting with Eric Peters Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2014, at the Executive Mansion in Springfield. Peters is doing a walk to California from New Jersey to raise PTSD and "TBI" awareness to help active soldiers and veterans. With them is Rose Connolly. The same eight photos in high resolution files can be seen at http://goo.gl/11TseS.

After the visit with the governor, I took him to the Springfield Vet Center. I explained that all his fund raising was good but that I needed to take him to the place where my son works.  I explained that this is a place that acts upon his cause with PTSD counseling with the utmost confidentiality.

Our schedule called fro a radio interview at 3PM and it was delayed til 4PM.  So I took him to see the State War Memorials and the Lincoln Tomb during that time.

History of Camp Butler.

 State Vietnam Memorial

 Here's one of the few taken of us together at the Vietnam Memorial on my camera's timer.

I know from being his guide through the area that PTSD is real. On two occasions, there were loud noises (I think one from a power line pop in the heat) and Eric hit the ground as if in battle still. There are many like him and they walk among us. We need to understand them and love them. I was going to take him to our "final of the season" retreat ceremony at the Lincoln Tomb but knew it was too much. 

Tuesday night I brought Eric to see the homecoming of the Land of Lincoln Honor Flight at the Abraham Lincoln Capitol Airport.  Here we are at the Abraham Lincoln Capitol Airport with members of the Patriot Guard before the veterans home coming.

After that he wanted me to pickup a friend, Nick, from the VFW to stay too since the governor's offer included a guest. It was after 10:30 PM when I dropped them off at the gate to the mansion.  After a few moments to check their guest list via intercom, they were let in.  They had some nice selfies with the stocked cooler.  They sat in every chair and sofa.   He told me that the security guards asked the right questions to test if he was real 101st airborne and passed with their code words. 
Top that for accommodations: https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10152376739207659

Wednesday he relaxed.  He called me to pick him up about 11AM.  Security at the mansion was kind enough to let the guys sleep in.  I took them to the VFW.  I stayed awhile until about 2PM and then I felt I needed a nap from light exhaustion from the day before.  I told Eric I'd be back after the music in the park from the carillon.   About 3PM there was a nasty thunderstorm.  I saw lightning strike a street light near Knights Action Park and saw glass shatter.  The carillon played tunes that Lincoln loved.  It only lasted about a half hour so I went back to the post and Eric was there.  He ordered us dinner from Osaka.

At one point  at a stop light near the Kumler Church, there was a man with a sign.  I looked at him and said, it makes you wonder how many of these men were veterans.  Eric then jumped out of my car at the stop light and ran to give money to the man holding a sign.  I pulled my car to the side for others to pass.  I missed the green light.  Ha.

Thursday I let him sleep in.  Although I almost wish I hadn't because it gets hotter as the day goes by.  I gave him breakfast and drove him to the elementary school on the south side of Chatham just along Route 4.  This is famous as part of the original Route 66.
Here is Eric's farewell video:
https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10152381941467659&comment_id=10152381944392659

Some parting photos:

My escort was relieved in Auburn, IL by a kind navy veteran named Steve Dengler.  BTW, Steve had a meeting and had time constraints. I did not use my air conditioner out of sympathy. (well maybe once) I now understand how others before me felt saying goodby.  Since I was relieved at the Caseys Store, I drove ahead to the Dairy Queen to watch as "Our Son" went by.  It was exciting.  Then he passed and I felt empty.  I got watery eyed and then came home.  He wishes we all could come with him but it would look like a "million man march".  We are with him in spirit - especially those that have donated to his cause and housed him.  It's a good thing Steve relieved me because my belly ached.  I need my toilet real bad.

He stayed the night with the Virden police officer's family on a cot I believe. He stayed with Zack Morgan pictured here so I know all is well. 
It stormed real hard about 7 or 8PM.  I hope they gave him traditional police breakfast of coffee and donuts.  Nah...energy drinks is the preferred drink for a walker going across the country.

Eric called me at 11:17 but I was sleeping.  Somebody must follow him as he leads.  If he is doing this walk for awareness, many others must be involved.  That is how the story of PTSD and TBI is spread.

Eric is only 23 years old and has seen more than most.  He keeps a young man's lifestyle.  By that I mean sleeping in during the best time of the day to travel and make contacts needed for his cause.  He looks great in his black T shirt image but light clothing would have been better in the heat.  God Speed!

I'm honored to be part of this. The reward is all mine. Salutes!

My Week

My Tuesday appointment with the electrician was  postponed till Thursday.  I took time out to photograph our sign.

I also took a picture of my corn.  Well the neighbors enjoy their squirrel feeder. The squirrels probably think they will be moving next season because they planted one in my yard.

In the evening I went to the retreat ceremony at the Lincoln Tomb.  The cannon didn't go off again.  They had to clear it after the ceremony.  I walked my dog as it was nice and nearly dark.   Marley stops for potential evening critters like rabbits or squirrels.  She stopped at one particular house and I couldn't help but notice a sign on the garage door.   It didn't look like anyone was home so I moved closer to read it.  It said, "clean up your yard and garage we're tired of looking at it".

Ya know, this evening, I was waiting for a school bus that had traffic stopped in both directions. There were many cars. Well, once we got the "all clear" and the bus departed and traffic commenced, then the teens walked back 1/4 of the block and crossed the street in traffic. Duh! Why didn't they cross under the safety of the bus?

Thursday morning, Bill fixed my electrical problem and I no longer need the extension cord going into my garage. He also fixed the connector on the air compressor.  I blew out all the grass and debris from the garage.   I would not recommend blowing dust out of the house as it will blow off the pilot on the water heater.

Thursday evening I went to Edwardsville for the annual Rocky Horror Picture Show at SIUE.  I recruited a cast from the audience and they were pretty good.  I have to say that close to 95% of that audience had to wear the infamous lipstick "V" for virgin on their forehead.  For such a large crowd to initiate with the virgin ritual, I passed out those candy sour cherry balls and then "bonned" them with my plastic bone -- a Halloween prop.   Then a quick lesson on the "Time Warp" and I declared them initiated.  I really like the Power Point presentation with the Rocky Rules of order and the script for the students to follow.  I told the curator of the event that the Power Point could be used in case I couldn't make it.  I had an interview with a reporter from the Alestel, the school paper.  She said she was from Springfield too.  We Hi-5'd.  Maybe it will be online later.  http://www.alestlelive.com/ . My glasses fogged up real bad coming out of the building air conditioning ant out to the humid heat.

Friday I helped at the Old State Capitol for our last of the season History Comes Alive.   I know have to look forward to my presentation of Belle Reynolds as part of Spirits of the Civil War at the Lincoln Tomb on September 6.  

   I cleaned my back porch. I bleached the ceiling with a sponge mop.   That ceiling was blackened with mildew stains. Then I mopped the floor. Then I hosed it down and I was real wet from that for sure. Then I took a nice cold shower. It took awhile to dry in this humidity.

I had been short of sewing needles can couldn't find them.  Ha, I found three of them in the bottom of my sock drawer.  I think they got there when I was moving furniture for the flooring last May.

Sunday I went to Mass with the Catholic War Veterans at Blessed Sacrament.  Afterward we had breakfast at D & J diner.  I got home just in time to change and hop on my motorcycle for a ride to Jacksonville for a Patriot Guard Memorial.  It was the anniversary of the death of Sgt Andrew Tobin, KIA.

I am the short one in the flag line in the middle hiding behind the flag.  Actually shielding myself from the hot sun.

Here is Katie starting the jar of sand.   Everyone was invited to take turns alternating "red white and blue" sand into a vase in his memory.

There were about 14 motorcycles there.  It was a hot one too - 95 degrees. You can imagine with this high humidity the the heat-index.

So I took my dog for a walk Sunday evening and found a quarter on the sidewalk. I looked around for more and sure enough, I found 2 more quarters. Then I walked around the block and there was a house that had free stuff on the curb. I got some garden hand tools. Great walk.

As hot as it is now, they say it will be a cold winter.  Well, I did get the energy to finish a few neck coolers.

My Week

Well months ago I pledged to volunteer at the State Fair for the Looking For Lincoln display.   I dreaded this back then thinking about the layers in a period dress, outside and in the month of August.  Well it was a lovely windy day.  In fact, I even saw some wearing jackets.

Thanks to one of our Metamorah Court House Dancers who took this picture of me at the state fair veterans parade.  On the following Sunday after Mass, a man told me he saw me in the parade.  He asked if I was in the Auxiliary.   I had to explain that one.

There was a Broo HaHa about the veterans parade on Sunday.    I can be seen in the video at about 1.20 mark on this video.
http://wics.com/news/top-stories/stories/vid_18595.shtml
Jim Sodoro was on TV complaining about the Parade Floats that got rained out for the Thursday Twilight Parade being in Sunday's veterans parade.   Personally, I agreed with Amy Bleathnick that the floats made the parade grander.  Besides, we've had non-veterans groups in that parade before.

My son took this picture below from the sky line of the Metamorah Courthouse Dancers.

Wednesday morning I took my Honda motorcycle to Capitol City Motorsports for repairs with the neighbor teen following me there for a ride back. 

I had lunch with my buddy and did my usual shopping at thrift stores.  I got a belt for the other Rose in our Soldiers Aid Society.  She was needing a good buckle.  I got a Fiscars brand scissors that is new in the package for under $4.  Always wanted one.
In the evening I went to our Amvets meeting.

I picked these up at Goodwill:  A belt for Rose Harmon that is period correct. and some wood boxes that just need the words sanded off.

Thursday I rode my Yamaha with the a group that was escorting Bruce Rauner, running for Governor, from the Prairie Capitol Convention Center to the state fair for Republican Day.  That's my Wheezer up front.
 

After waiting 2 hours staging, I had to find a potty real bad once we got to the fair.  I missed when they passed out tickets to enter the director's lawn but was assured they'd have a ticket for me at the gate.  Well my friends got in but I was turned away.  Finally found someone to vouch for me. 

I picked up a flask, bees wax, and a Jacobs Ladder toy at Conservation World for reenacting.  I also enjoyed some of AJ's homemade ice cream. 

 I got the same letters from USAA with American Legion, AMVETS, and VFW logo. Talk about selling you address lists....

I filled Wheezer after the Rauner ride because it had 98 miles on the tank. Usually I fill around 100 and that was close enough. Soooo 98.7 /1.23 gal = 80 mp.

Friday I helped with the beer sales at the state fair that benefits veterans.  On my break, I walked over to Conservation World area and got a wrought iron flag holder which will be good not only for my yard but also for reenacting.  Now for that 34 star flag.  I have a nylon one but cotton would be more authentic.

I started watching the HBO series about John Adams.
http://www.hbo.com/john-adams#/

My Week

I got returned mail from one of my adopted soldiers that had returned from overseas but I sent it out on 17 April and was forwarded to Ft Hood and returned.  Well, since I usually end my salutation with "Please feel free to share my letter with a comrade who may not be receiving any mail", I think I'll include it in my next mailing.

Tuesday evening I wore my Widow's Weeds to the Lincoln Tomb Retreat Ceremony.  I explained Victorian mourning to some of the visitors and they took pictures.  I got a little gift from Laura and Johnathan that they got on their vacation in thanks for my contributions to the Soldiers Aid Society.  Very touching.  I came home and had a waffle and wine.  Actually I had leftover batter from breakfast's waffle and didn't want to wait for morning breakfast.

Wednesday I went on my senior day thrift shop discount day trip.  I picked up some lace table cloths.  I also got another orphan for the presentation on Civil War orphans and widows.  This one has three different expressions on a turn-able face under that cotton bonnet: happy, sleeping, and crying.
I also got a wooden gun case.  I would like to get a bb gun for that rascally raccoon.

Thursday I went to the Old State Capitol to see General Grant and Secretary of State Stanton.  I fixed myself some white eggplants that were from my garden.  I had heard that they would be more tender if salted.  Well I did and it tasted good but very very salty.

Friday I helped with beer sales at the state fair.
  
Boy, Marley has become a little beggar lately. I'm eating at my recliner and she scratches me and the arm of the chair. I put fresh food in her bowl before I sat down.

I should have put the date stamp on this just taken (8/8/2014). Fall came early for this tree in my neighborhood.  I wonder if it died.  I'll be watching.

Sunday I read the first reading at Mass.  I walked the dog and then went to the State Fair on my motorcycle.  I met up with some of our Pekin AmVets riders.  Bob gave me a nice AmVets sweater that he'd been wanting to give me for about a month.  It didn't fit any of their folks up there.  Then our state comptroller recognized some of our women veterans.  In the past years, the comptroller honored the burial detail and reenactors.  Here I am with members of our Womens Overseas Service League.

 Hear I am with the "Miss County Fair" Queen: Summer Robins.

L-R: Gwen Diel, Rose Connolly, Grace Miller, Comptroller Judy Barr Topinka, Sue Carrol, and Linda Crites.

Before the fair's veterans parade, I tried to lift the Big Bud.  I wasn't very successful but it made for a great expression.

I also met our 16th president of the United States at the Illinois State Fair.  I think he likes me.  Nooooo, he's not super tall, I'm super short.  Note that he's stooping slightly and I'm chin up to meet half-way.

Mike and Dave said it looked like my motorcycle needed tires.  I thought it was the the fair mud/dust.  Sure I got tires on the Yamaha recently and maybe I thought the tires were newer than that.  However, I pulled my records when I got home and they were changed in 2007.  Yikes!  I rode my motorcycle home with the flags up because I knew that my American Flag was ready to retire.  I was so tired that I slept alot.

Monday I planned to cut my grass.  It rained unexpectedly when I woke up. However, I was able to get the job done after 4PM.  I stopped by the state fair since I could get in free for senior day for the first time.  I had a  free hearing test done by the Lions.  I'm just a little below the worry line.  "What?" Repetition coming soon to a conversation near you.  I wanted to check out the Looking For Lincoln exhibit which I will be manning during the fair.

My Week

Went to a nice presentation about Kenesaw Mountain during the Civil War at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum on Tuesday.  It was crowded and I had a rough time finding parking so I parked at my old reliable spot a block away where they once proposed the Korean Museum and is now vacant.

I just got the results from my bone density test on Wednesday. I'm still weak in my hip and lower area but it's improved 2.6 % from the last test.  I still need weight bearing exercise and calcium and my fosonex (sp) which just came in the mail Tuesday after not taking it for a month.  I took it Wednesday morning and will try to gradually get the weekly pill back on a Sunday morning schedule which I prefer.  I prefer this because the pill is weekly and on an empty stomach with just water for at least an hour.

Wednesday I went to my usual Goodwill discount day. Then I gave tours at the Iles house with another lady (I believe her name was Carol) who was also inexperienced. I met a man who knew some oral history about Iles and started to document his story on my laptop.  His name is William M Norris Sr USAF Vet fireman ‘58-63.  

Friday I went to Wisconsin.  This was twofold:  to visit my sister whom I hadn't seen in a long time and participate in the Civil War Reenactment know as "Muskets and Memories" in Boscobel, WI.  I stayed with my sister which was about a 40 minute drive.  I had brought 2 left boots for my period dress so my sister lent me her boots.  Jenna snapped this photo of my sister and I watching the battle.  It was very hot.  I really treasure this photo especially because I left my camera at home in the charger.

Not only did I see my sister, Patty, but I also bumped into my sister Gloria too.  Gloria was working behind the scenes at the Friday evening officer's private invitation dinner accompanied by Major John Rawlins.  This event was period evening dress only so Gloria and I could meet on the side.  I later saw her and her husband at the street ball and briefly Sunday morning.  However, we missed all three of us together.
 Pat and Dan gave me a ride to see the new calves on
their farm and low and behold the calves were in distress between two fences.  They slipped below the barbed wire near a creek  but there was a reenforcing fence at the road.  So the heard had to be called back to the creek and the mothers mooed for the calves to follow.  Wow!  That was an experience.  Then they caught a coon in a trap that had been disturbing the cat food.  I didn't hear the coon screaming in the trap but Patty couldn't sleep through it so you know what Dan had to do in the middle of the night.  I left with maple syrup, zucchini, kale and eggs.  I gave Patty and Dan my favorite facial scrub and a battery operated butterfly in a jar.

I got home just about 4PM on Monday afternoon after picking up Marley in Peoria and she was glad to see me.  Alan said she pulled his shade down.  I knew I would have to catch up on my emails so I turned on my laptop and had no internet.  I just got a refurbished Motorola Surfboard router/modem in June and it was kaput.  So I ran down to Best Buy and got a Zoom router/modem for $130.  I got that running just in time for the Monday night American Legion Meeting and the swearing in of officers.  I addressed the post that I had received a letter to attend the Veterans Assistance Commission quarterly meeting but that I was not officially the post representative at this meeting but that I did attend because I held the letter.  So guess what?