Local Soldiers, Girl Scouts Display Best of Americans

Traveling around town is always an interesting experience.

Last Thursday, I had mixed emotions as I attended the deployment for a unit from the . Eric Friesl, an usher at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish, is a member of the Towson unit that deployed 88 men. This is Friesl’s fourth deployment.

Family, friends and parishioners are wishing him all the best.

“I’m glad I have the special skills and training needed that keeps my name on the ‘available for deployment’ list,” Friesl said.

His unit left from the Towson Armory, bound for six weeks of focused training at Fort Atterbury, IN. The training will be followed by a 12-month assignment in Egypt.

The Armory was abuzz with dignitaries, family and friends, all there to say farewell as the men departed on their dangerous mission. It seemed a bit strange seeing the men carrying their machine guns on their shoulder, across their back, or along their front. While it is recognized that soldiers deploy to a war zone and must use heavy weapons, it isn’t every day you see them carrying the weapon like a backpack or a baby. The guys admit they quickly learn that it is necessary to have hands on your weapon at all times—it becomes second nature when in a war zone.

Days after watching soldiers ship out for an unknown mission, I had the chance to see another great group of Americans display what makes this country great. On Saturday night, I was on hand as 16 Girl Scout Troops came together for one of their community events at St. Clements in Rosedale.

Their focus was Kami’s Jammies, a nonprofit organization that collects new pajamas that are distributed to children who must spend time in hospitals.  Watch for more details on this type of fundraising projects.  Congrats to Girl Scout Troop #1081 for hosting the event and for collecting 112 pairs of pajamas. 

At the event was Laila Lowery representing Kami’s Jammies, a program of the Casey Cares Foundation. Laila is a second grader who attends the Friends School. Laila has Sickle-Cell Anemia, a chronic condition, which causes severe pain when her blood cells form crescents in the blood or “sickle shapes” that cause pain as these clumps pass through her veins and arteries.

Many other symptoms impede normal childhood activity and development. As a frequent visitor to University Hospital, Laila understands the importance and influence receiving a gift of new jammies has for young children who face unpleasant hospital stays.

Lastly, since my , recent publicity along with book signings has made my face more recognizable.

Thank you to all who have taken the time to speak with me about my journey through both domestic violence and cancer. Yes, there have been tough times, but know that many positive things have happened along my life’s journey—perhaps that will have to be another book …  something like Anna’s Journey: The Rest of the Story! Would anyone be interested in things that are rather ordinary, fun, exciting, weird and otherwise filling in the blanks of my life?

And yes, the journey is continuing as I live through cancer reactions like Lymphedema on top of a rollercoaster ride as a newly published author.