It always amazes me how many people have no idea what a Gold Star Mom is. Or Gold Star Wife, Dad, Brother, Son for that matter. Too be honest, I didn't either until about a year ago, when I met Becky Woods Johnson. Her story literally ripped through my heart, and is one that certainly will touch yours as well.
By definition, the term "Gold Star" is given to a family member who lost a loved one during military service. It originated during World War I. A bronze star would signify a family had a loved one that was serving, silver for when a family member was wounded during his/her service, and of course the Gold Star.... well, as Becky said, was a club you never wanted to be included in.
While we are busy with BBQ’s, campfires, picnics over this 3 day weekend, many mothers, brothers, sons, daughters, wives around us will be thinking of the sacrifice their family member has made for our country. And they all have a story to tell, if you just care enough to listen. Here is Becky’s story:
Her son, Gary Lee Woods, who (at the age of 24) was KIA in 2009 while defending our country’s freedom. Just prior to his deployment to Iraq, he bought a home for his new bride to reside in while he was gone. Once the news was received of the terrorist attack that took his life (along with the lives of four others stationed at Ft Carson), his widow returned home to her family in Kentucky and his home was boarded up and left with nothing but memories of what “might have been”. Lee’s mom (he went by his middle name) had kept a vision of someday claiming the home, renting it out to military families living near Ft Carson, and using the money to create college scholarships in her son’s memory. (Understandable because initially Lee had joined the military in order to get a college education. His mom, Becky, was a single parent at the time, and simply could not afford to send him to college.)
Becky, with the help of a Realtor, Karen Mordus, who she had actually met on FACEBOOK, finally secured a "Paid In Full" notice from the mortgage company. What she didn't realize at the time was her battle only just begun. Within days of getting her paid in full notice, she got a notice of tax sale from El Paso County, and she had less than 10 days to figure out to come up with the money to pay the back taxes. Through our company’s non-profit arm, the American Warrior Initiative, we were made aware of the situation, and donated the money needed to pay past due taxes for her. And still, other issues reared their ugly heads.
Click below to see the video recapping the event we held in July, 2016. surprising her with the news that a community was coming together to help her convert her dreams into reality:
The home renovation project is still not complete! Volunteers who stepped forward initially weren't able to participate due to scheduling conflicts or health. I am so hoping we can get this project done by the 4th of July, meaning we would be just under our 1 year anniversary of starting the project.
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