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By Dan Eakin
Senior News Writer
Senior citizens are doing their part in helping to ease the burdens of soldiers, sailors and Marines wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan, and their families.
While some of the wounded are recovering at Walter Reid Medical Center in Washington, D.C., many of them are being treated at Brooke Army Medical Center (BAMC) in San Antonio, Texas.
Many are being brought in with severe burns and other injuries caused from exploding bombs. BAMC is known to have one of the best burn units in the nation.
Going off to war itself often places hardships on families. But when a military person gets wounded in wartime, the hardships are multiplied.
Several military personnel being treated at BAMC have been joined by family members who come to aid nurses in the treatment of their loved one, and who also come to provide moral support.
Lt. Col. Grant Olbrich explained that, while the military and U.S. government spends enormous amounts to pay for transportation and housing for the families to come and be with their wounded loved one, much more help is still needed.
That is where volunteers with the Soldier and Family Assistance Center (SFAC) come in.
SFAC is located on the second floor of the Powless Guest House, just across the street from BAMC on the military property.
The government pays for transportation to and housing at the guesthouse for families of the wounded.
But there are many other needs. Some material, some financial and some emotional.
The volunteers, made up largely of senior citizens, help meet those needs.
"Most of our volunteers are in their 50s, 60s and even late 70s," said Judith Markelz, who is the only paid staffer.
"However, Judith often does the work of five, 10 or even 20 people," said Barbara Ellas, who is 78 and one of the oldest volunteers at the center.
Suhanna (Suki) Mills is the wife of Michael Mills who was burned over 30 percent of his body and had broken bones after being blown high into the air by an IED (Improvised Explosion Device) in Iraq on June 14.
She, their son Aaron, 15, and daughter, Kenzie, have been staying at the guest house much of the summer to be near their husband and father. They spend a lot of time at the SFAC.
Speaking of Markelz, Suki Mills said, "Most people here call her mom."
Markelz, who is paid by Army Community Service, and the volunteers work diligently to see that the needs of the families and wounded service men are met.
Both Markelz and Ellas are wives of retired colonels and some of the other volunteers are also wives of retired service men.
Ellas also noted that quilting clubs, in different parts of the United States, have been making high quality quilts and sending them to the wounded soldiers.
The quilts have flags or other patriotic symbols, and often have something like, "You are an American hero" embroidered somewhere on the quilt.
She said the quilt clubs are composed largely of senior citizens.
The SFAC officially opened on Dec. 3, 2003 after the operators of the guesthouse donated a large meeting room on the second floor to serve as a center.
Markelz said, "The Soldier and Family Assistance Center provides a friendly, comfortable environment in which to take a break, watch a movie on our big-screen TV, check e-mail or use the Internet, select a book or magazine to read, make a phone call or just grab a cup of coffee."
For some of the wounded soldiers and their families, the center almost serves as a home away from home.
Specialist Chris Lively of Tucson, Arizona, was hit by two IEDs within 15 minutes of each other north of Baghdad on July 30. Fortunately he had studied lip-reading for a previous security job, because the blast caused him
to lose his hearing.
He now uses a cane and comes to the SFAC frequently, not so much for the snacks, treats, TV, etc., but because of the warmth he feels from "mom" and the volunteers.
He has a beautiful wife and five beautiful children back in Arizona. Although he misses his family tremendously, he said he decided it was best for his wife and family to stay in Arizona rather than coming to San Antonio. He hopes to get a two-week convalescent leave soon.
"People often ask what they can do to help these people who are now in such difficult situation," Markelz said.
She said donations of money, sent to the center, are the best way to help because the money can be used to buy Wal-Mart gift cards, phone cards and other items to help the families.
Donations should be mailed to: Army Community Service, 2010 Stanley Road, Ste. 95, Fort Sam Houston, Tx. 78234-5095, Attention: Judith.
Also, she said, other donations needed are bottled water, disposable cameras, baked goods, individually-wrapped snacks, pens, pencils and music CDs.
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