Desert Messenger

November 18, 2020

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November 18, 2020 www.DesertMessenger.com 3 Operation Hero Comfort shutters after 15 years By Joanne Winer After many years as snowbirds coming to Quartzsite in the win- ters to get away from the snow and cold of Minnesota, Doc and Anita Carlson decided to make Quartzsite their permanent home. While back in Minnesota, they started sending Care packages to members of their family who were deployed by the military to places overseas when they were in harm's way. After their family members all came home safely they decided to keep up giving to the troops by start- ing a non-profit organization and Operation Hero Comfort was begun. I first met Doc and Anita when I sponsored the Travelling Vietnam Wall back in 2006. I went to the VFW to ask if they would be part of the event. Doc and his friend Joe Winslow volunteered right away and Doc volunteered Anita as well. After meeting her and working with her for this event we became close friends and always will be. I ended up volunteering for Operation Hero Comfort packaging boxes every two weeks for our adopted units. These packages were filled with items the troops were requesting; we sent one box of food items and one box of non-food like books DVDs, hygiene items etc. every two weeks. When Doc was still alive, one of our adopted units came home through Phoenix Sky Harbor Air- port. So Doc, Anita, their grand- daughter Bree and Joe Winslow went to the airport to greet them home. This is where they first met the Patriot Guard Riders from Phoenix, who were also there to protect the troops and their families from any protesters. They explained to Doc and the others that their or- ganization was started after sev- eral military funerals of those who had been killed overseas were dis- rupted by people who would go to military funerals and cause a lot of grief for the families by their horrid behavior and screaming remarks. The Riders would park their motor- cycles between the families and the protesters and form an honor guard between the protesters and the fam- ilies who were trying to bury their loved one. After Doc passed away in 2008, the funeral home in Tucson was going to send his ashes in the mail to Anita, who was very upset to think that she would have to standing line at the post office just to get his ashes. When a friend heard this, she called the Patriot Guard Riders and told them the situation. Their reac- tion at the time was "hell no." No vet- eran should be treated that way and their families should not either. So, they rode their bikes from Phoenix to Tucson and picked up the ashes and Doc rode behind the lead bike with the flag draped over him all the way to Quartzsite. They were met by a police escort of one car ahead and one behind through town to JR's RV Park where Anita received his ashes from the chaplain. The Patriot Guard Riders held a very nice cer- emony with friends and police. Anita also had some help several years ago from the Patriot Guard Riders when one of her tenants, a POW Korean War Veteran, died and his family wanted nothing to do with him. Anita called the Patriot Guard Riders and they came and were an honor guard for his funeral here. When Anita took the job offer in Phoenix and moved there, she and the board of directors voted to dis- band Operation Hero Comfort and donate everything to the Patriot Guard Riders, because their mis- sion was the same as ours—to help military deployed in harms way and their families as well back home. Anita contacted the State Captain of the Arizona Chapter of the Rid- ers- a National organization. His name is Bill "Wild Horse" Wooster and he was very excited to have this donation. He explained that their organization expanded their ser- vices so they could help more ser- vicemen and women as well as their families who need it. In a letter to Anita, he said he was thanking us from the hundreds of families they will be able to help. Last Christmas they provided 88 families with gift cards, gifts, and dinner delivered to their door. They also give out scholarships for education assistance for the sons and daughters and stepchildren of military families. He said they also support and sponsor service dog re- cipients, and have planted 25-foot flagpoles in veteran's yards. This organization also works with other service organizations for their projects and they have a free store for household goods for veterans in need. And they still stand between the protesters and families at funer- als. Quite an organization dedicated to the well being of our brave men and women and their families. We are honored to be able to help. It is with a lot of sadness that Ani- ta, Jen, and I cleaned out the ware- house these past few weeks. We will miss doing this very much. We would all like to thank all the people in Quartzsite who have supported Operation Hero Comfort all these years. And thank you to all the ven- dors and businesses who donated items every year for the Silent Auc- tion fundraiser. Also to everyone who has helped at the events. This has been a lot of work but it was a la- bor of love and we appreciate all the support we had from everyone who believed in what we were doing. We are just glad that we are now able to help again through the Pa- triot Guard Riders who do so much for the troops and military families. Left to right: Dave Shunick, Rich Wetenhall, Anita Carlson, Richard Trusty, Bill "Wild horse" Wooster, Joanne Winer. Jenna Carlson WE'RE BACK!! TRANSPONDER AUTO KEYS (Electronic Chip Keys) Jeep, Chrysler, Ford Chevrolet, Toyota & many more! Betty Crenshaw, Owner C & B LOCK & KEY 44 YEARS EXPERIENCE 928-927-6589 Mobile Service Only

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