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Hello faithful friends and supporters!
May is the month named for the Greek goddess Maia, who was identified with the Roman goddess of fertility, however, it was April that proved to be fertile for Cypress Cares, for our golf tournament was a great success this year.
From the looks of it, we raised about $28,000 to be used for shipping our care packages which should carry us through the next 12 months. Hopefully after that, we see the numbers of deployed troops decrease significantly, and eventually the need for care packages will decrease with that.
We have many people to thank for the success of this event, including our planning team: Steve Squyres, Raquel Cunningham, Paul Marshall, Sue Zahn Lucas, Mark Lucas, Bill Keller, Jimmy Baughman and Larry Cunningham. Thanks to our big sponsors: Critical Path Resources, Early Companies, Halliburton and Weatherford. Lunch and dinner were provided by BNSF Railway and Chili's in Tomball, respectively. Other sponsors from this year's event are listed on our website.
We were blessed to have WWII Veteran Sam Ginsberg and US Army CPT Larkin O'Hern present to offer their thanks to those who played and worked the tournament. Sam got to ride around the course and had many golfers taking their pictures with the 102 years young Air Force Veteran. He remarked that he hadn't "received this much attention since I left the service!" CPT O'Hern proved to be inspiring to many, as his smile and wonderful attitude were contagious and reminded us of just how blessed our lives really are.
We thank both Sam and Larkin, plus the more than 50 Veterans and currently serving personnel that joined us for our big event, for their service.
We took the month of April off and held no box packing events, but goodies kept coming in. The Girl Scout cookies that have accumulated in the Cunningham house over the past two months will be shipped out in packages this month, along with any other goodies received in the next few weeks. Last year our Prince of Peace Catholic Church box packing proved to be our largest shipment ever, with over 400 packages shipped. We are looking forward to seeing what we can accomplish at the church this year on April 19. Sure hope you join in!
If you haven't heard of the Houston Fallen Warriors Memorial sponsored by the National Memorial Ladies then you need to check out their website. The memorial will be constructed in Cy-Champ Park at Cutten Road and Cypresswood Drive and will include commemorative plaques listing the names of each hero, their rank and their branch of service. Pavers are available for sponsorship for this memorial. More information can be found at their website, http://www.kiamonument.org.
Our next board meeting will be held on Wednesday, May 16 at 6:30 pm at Saint Aidan's Episcopal Church on Fry Rd. We will be electing new officers to our Board. Raquel will remain as the Executive Director for the organization, for now, handling all day-to-day activities, but the Board makes sure that all that is done is in the best interest of Cypress Cares and the troops we serve. The nominations for Board include:
Donna McCarty, Chairman
Lois Malone, Vice Chair
Tom Zahn, Treasurer
Terri Tank, Secretary
Raquel, Paul, Alicia and Dona (all currently holding these positions) will remain on as Advisors along with those who are already serving in an advisory/leadership role.
As we close out this issue of our newsletter, remember that May is also the month that we take the time to remember those who have served our country and passed before us. Take the time on Memorial Day, Monday, 28 May, to look up at a Flag, flying at half staff, and remember those who have made sacrifices on our behalf.
As always, thank you for your continued support.
The Cypress Cares Team |
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Volunteer Corner | |
Our spotlight volunteer this month is Emily Brooks, a junior at Concordia Lutheran School.
At Concordia, the students not only focuses on academics, but learn a strong work ethic while becoming leaders in Christ's service. This service is what drove Emily to work with Cypress Cares.
She says "I have the best family in the world. My parents and I enjoy each other's company and my little brother and I get along very well." How many teenage girls do you know that can say that?
She is captain of her varsity girl's basket ball team, a member of the National Honor Society, and member of the Student Council. Outside of school Kelly is equally as involved, serving as an active member of the National Charity League as well as volunteer every summer at Tomball Regional Hospital. Kelly hopes to attend The University of Texas at Austin and possibly study Sports Management.
Kelly chose to get involved with Cypress Cares in honor of her uncle, Captain Larkin O'Hern, in order to give as much back to the brave men and women of the United States military as she can. "They have sacrificed so much and this outreach on my part doesn't even compare to their struggle and selflessness."
Thank you Kelly for being involved with Cypress Cares! We're happy to have you on board! |
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Save the Date....upcoming events | |
MARK YOUR CALENDAR!!
May 16, 2012, 6:30PM
CC Board Meeting/Officer Electiions
Saint Aidan's Episcopal Church
Our first of three Board meetings for the year 2012. All who wish to attend are welcome to do so. Please let Raquel know ahead of time if you will be there.
May 19, 2012, 11:00AM
Box Packing
Prince of Peace Catholic Community
Join us for this big box packing event; everyone is welcome. Last year this event produced over 400 care packages for our troops and we're hoping for another great shipment this year. Check out our website for a list of suggested items to bring for our packages.
June 14, 2012, TBA
Box Packing
First Ladies of Bridgeland
This smaller, private box packing event will be the 4th one held by the First Ladies with Cypress Cares. We look forward to working with them again. One or two CC volunteers will be needed to assist with this. |
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Quick Links for our Website
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Feedback from the Frontlines....
the reason we serve! |  | |
Thank you Cypress Cares and all supporters!!! We are very thankful for all of your support. TF-85, Afghanistan!
J. Hardin
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Thank you for the support. We are leaving Afghanistan for Fort Hood soon. Please thank everyone for the support you provided us. We were successful because of your help.
SFC S. Williams
C Co. 2-227th AVN (DUSTOFF)
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As we pause and reflect this Memorial Day, I am dedicating this issue to the memory of several people.
First, to my uncle, SGT Charles D. Mattern,
B CO, 4TH ENG BN, 4TH INF DIV,
killed in action on July 25, 1967 in Vietnam.
And second, to my husband's paternal grandfather:
PFC J. Vern Cunningham,
329th Infantry Reg, 83rd Div, Ninth Army,
killed in actiion WWII, 1945.
FInally, to the three Cypress Cares package recipients whom we have lost over the past couple of years:
SGT Jeremy Dudley
SPC Brian Riley Jr
LT Dimitri delCastillo
We will never forget any of you, or your brothers in arms.
~ Raquel
Proud Sponsors of
Cypress Cares
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Freedom is Not Free
by Abigail Grosskopf, Cypress Ranch HS | |
A young woman's fist clenches tightly, holding the remote as each name scrolls slowly across the screen and leaves the reporters lips, her body jumping when hearing a name close to his, hoping this wouldn't be the day his name came up. A young girl peeks around the heavy red curtain while smoothing out her pink tutu, hoping to spot her father's face, hoping that today would be the day her daddy comes home. A father grasps the necklace around his neck, the necklace his son gave him, as the sound of shots ring out, hoping that one day he will make it home, away from the war and back into his family's arms. A man waits anxiously at the phone waiting for days to hear that his wife is still alive. A young man stares at the clock for just the right time to video chat his wife and kids back in America, even if only for a minute. A mother's blood goes cold as she opens the door to see two uniformed men with devastated looks on their faces. She hoped this day would never come.
"Personal Liberty", "Exemption from External Control", "Political or National Independence", these statements describe what freedom is in the eyes of our society today. But why is the word implying that it is free when it truly comes at the highest cost possible? On August 13, 2010, I was among many students at Cypress Ranch High School that was given the unexplainable honor to host and take part in the welcome home ceremony honoring the Texas National Guard's HCC-72nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team. When the busses pulled up the flag lined road, they were greeted by people of all ages waving flags and cheering for the return of these brave man and women. The ceremony continued in the auditorium of the school. At the end of the ceremony, the band played the Star Spangled Banned. As I looked around, I couldn't find a single dry eye. After the soldiers were dismissed, I couldn't help but notice a soldier crying, holding his twins closely to his chest. I shook his hand, thanking him for his service and he responded by telling me, "When I left, they were barely crawling and talking. Now they are running into my arms yelling my name!" At that moment, I realized that the true price of freedom is the selfless sacrifice made. It costs missing first steps, first words, birthdays and anniversaries. It costs not being able to always be there, worrying about things at home and being unwaveringly brave in the face of danger. These brave men and women do these things to keep our country safe. They do these thing for Freedom. And that Freedom is NOT free.
(Abigail's essay won Second Place/High School Level in our essay contest this year.) | |
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