Military Widows Hit the Open Road

[babylonsister]

Military Widows Hit the Open Road
Submitted by Chip on Wed, 2009-03-25 23:05.


Military Widows Hit the Open Road
Hoping That America Never Forgets, Young War Widows Take Up Cross-Country Crusade
By James Hill and Jaime Hennessey | ABCNews



The women of the American Widow Project, an online support network and nonprofit organization dedicated to unifying a new generation of widows, are far from traditional. They surf, skydive and now road-trip to honor their husbands, who died serving their country in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Widows Taryn Davis and Nicole Hart, both 23, will spend most of the next few months driving cross-country, sleeping in campgrounds and knocking on doors. They are traveling to military towns, offering understanding and hope to an ever-growing band of sisters.

"I really believe if we can lessen the pain and lessen the grief that just one widow can go through, then we are accomplishing our mission," Davis told ABC News correspondent Bob Woodruff.

Davis and Hart are traveling in a black RV custom-painted with the names of more than 4,000 of the fallen from Iraq and Afghanistan, including their husbands, Cpl. Michael Davis of San Marcos, Texas, and Sgt. David Hart of Lake View Terrace, Calif.

"We really just hope to, if anything, not have them disappear," Davis said.

Stacey Markham was one of the first women to find her husband's name, Sgt. Jonathan Markham, on the list. "It is amazing that everybody's name is up there," she said. "Wherever this RV is at, people will be reminded, not just, 'Oh, we lost another soldier today, but look at all these families that have suffered this loss."

more...

http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/node/41087

[A-Long-Little-Doggie]

1. I don't know what to say

My heart aches just thinking about what they are going through. I hope this brings peace to Taryn and Nicole and all the other widows they meet on this journey.

[babylonsister]

2. And all of 23 years of age. My heart aches, too. I hope

they can find some peace through sharing their struggles as widows with others. :(

[TorchTheWitch]

3. Saw this story on tv last night

I think it was on Nightline but I can't recall just which show it was. Very moving. Two very young ladies who have suffered so much but are using that suffering to do so much good bringing comfort to others who are suffering. It really brought tears to my eyes. I also loved the idea of puting the names of the dead on the bus... it's sort of like a mobile memorial.