Wounded Warrior drive and lunch-Oceanside

Sleep is over rated. 13 week old puppy labrador ensures i do not get any sleep. Took half day off to W&W car. See you all at C&C at 9.
JC

 

Got it. See you all bright and early!

 

I will see some of you at Cars and Coffee. This is going to be one of those memorable days in my life!

 

Just got back from the drive. I have to say that it was the most memorable event I've been to. It's hard to figure out where to start. First, my hat off to Pat and Sean. They both did an incredible job putting this together. If was flawless. Arriving on base and meeting all the young brave gentlemen who have risked their lives for all of us really brought things into perspective. Seeing all of them, each with their own issues, lined up waiting for us to arrive and seeing their wonderful smiles made me know right away that we were doing something good today. Something that was going to bring some happiness to this group that for the most part have been dealing with things I don't want to even imagine. The things these men have gone through and now will have to continue to deal with is humbling. I'm truly glad I was abłe to be a part of this today. You can be assured I won't miss an opportunity to do this again.

Thanks for the opportunity.

Jeff

 

Wow, wow, wow... I am speechless... what a fantastic day!

After 300 miles of total driving for me in one day, I would not hesitate to do again. Pat and Sean, you guys did a fantastic job putting this together for all of us. It was great seeing old faces and meeting new friends. Most important, it was a joy for us to be of services to those who served us. Count me in on the next gathering.

Thank you so much...

Haig

 

I hope someone posts some pics, sorry I missed it today everyone, but my alternator went out as I was pulling out of my driveway this morning.
I've got the car up on jack stands and pulling it to go have it re-built.
Rotten time for that to happen but I guess better than having it crap out mid day during the drive.

 

Jeff, I could not have said it better. Your post sums it up beautifully. I'm in tears reading this and looking at my photos of the day. It was an experience I will NEVER forget. Thanks to Pat and Sean for giving us this opportunity.
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What an outstanding day.....being a part of this was truly an honor for me.

Pat and Sean, truly great work on putting this together.

Count me in for the next event.

 

No words can describe how amazing today was. A HUGE thank you to Pat and Sean for a truly amazing event. I can't even express how honored I am to have been able to give a small token of appreciation to our US Marines wounded in combat. It was a pleasure to meet a lot of new faces and you can go ahead and just add my name to the next one because I am there.

I will be sending out pics soon. Please forward my contact info to any of the Marines who did not get it. Thank you again to everyone who came out! What a great day!

 

I just wanted to say thank you for inviting me into your group. I was so touched the moment we showed up at the Batallion HQ. Levi told me they could hear us coming 10 minutes before we should up. He said they were so excited knowing we were coming. It was his 32nd. birthday. WOW!
Thank you Pat and Sean! Fantastic job putting this together.
A day I will never forget! I can't wait for the next event.
Dave

 

I wanted to share my experience of the day with the Fchat Forum. I will leave out the Marine's name on this public forum to respect his privacy. This was an epic day. After I picked up my Warrior, I asked him if he liked going fast. He said Sir, I am an adrenalin junky, my kind of guy. You don't need to ask me twice. The thrill of getting on it, hard, in a Ferrari was better medicine than the thirteen drug cocktail he was on to combat his PTSD, anxiety, and traumatic brain injury. He said it was the first time he got jacked-up like that since combat. For the moment (actually momentS ), it erased his anxiety. These boys miss the action.

After lunch and the kick ass drive back to the base, my girlfriend and I hung out with a couple of the Marines. The four of us took a drive out to the Marine PX, it was the size of a large Walmart. Did a little shopping then went next door to Dunkin Donuts for coffee and donuts. After we got back, they gave us a tour of the $35 Million Wounded Warrior Battalion. These are no ordinary barracks! The rooms had two queen size beds, large built in desks & lockers in dark hardwood, large bathrooms, refrigerator & microwave, and, the two guys we were with each had their own private room. Upstairs had a nice lounge area with a 9' pool table, other areas had large flatscreen tv's and computers. Outside, we saw the gym & Physical Therapy building with a half size olympic pool and underwater treadmill. There was a large rockwall with self-retracting ropes so they could climb safely without a partner. What a great facility for our wounded heros to recuperate in. I for one am happy to see my tax dollars spent here.

The two Marines and I exchanged numbers and we are planning to get together again soon. On the agenda, a Bass fishing trip and later, we may rent one of the hotel rooms that they have down on the beach to hang out. My girlfriend wants to get her daughter to invite some of her sorority sisters from UCLA to come and hang out with these guys (I'll be there to chaperone ). My guy invited me back to the base to take a more in depth tour, and hopefully catch some exercises with loud explosions! I like that kind of stuff.

I brought a Ferrari duffle bag for him to help remember the day, he gave me his USMC Ka-Bar knife that he took to the sandbox on deployment, it touched me to my core.

I wanted to share this with Fchatters to inspire you to join the next rally. It was a profound and humbling experience I will never forget. Just ask anyone that was there.

A big Kudos and thanks to Pat and Sean for a job well done.

Bravo!
Stuart

 

What a great post...

 

Sean / Pat , outstanding job !

For all drivers that participated " well done " , it was rewarding to see the level of participation for a most definite great cause.

Events such as this " WW-D " , allow for reflection and perspective in sacrifices made by others.

Let us hold true to staying in touch with these young men and warriors and assist them in their transition.

 

Here is a picture leaving the resturant. It makes the perfect picture with the Marine flags on the street lights.
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A few pictures of the event.
This is how we roll!
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Just received this email back from Cody who rode with me. Says it all.

Good Afternoon Jeff,

I also had a great time meeting you as well as the other folks that came out yesterday.* It was certainly one*of*the better experiences I've had in awhile, and I'm sure most of the other guys would agree.* I was*discussing the day with a friend who also attended and we both agreed that we would really like to*pursue staying in touch with the group in the future possibly for tours or under the circumstances of a*simple lunch*get together.
I also just wanted to say that yesterday was really inspirational.* Being successful often seems daunting*and unreachable for so many people.* It was really good to have the opportunity to be surrounded by*successful people who were willing to share their stories and experiences.* Learning that there are people*our there that started off where I am and have become very successful doing precisely what I strive to do*basically just gives me more drive to see my goals through with all that much more persistence.* Again,*thank you for sacrificing your time.* You can find my contact information below.

~Cody

 

More photos of the day
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Our fearless leader Pat and helper Rhonda getting us checked in.
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