News

Appleton mother helping military families

	PROUD MOTHER: Jean Hollenhorst of Appleton holds a portrait of her son, Tony, who is with the 37th infantry moving on to Baghdad. She has started a support group for Fox Valley families who have members serving in the war against Iraq. (Rick Evans photo)

A member of Sacred Heart Parish in Appleton has taken steps to make sure parents, spouses and siblings of men and women serving in the war against Iraq need not feel alone in their anxiety for their loved ones' safety.

Jean Hollenhorst, a retired lieutenant colonel with the Army Reserve, started the Fox Valley support group for military families group after her son, Tony, and his infantry unit were deployed to Kuwait. He is now on the front lines in Iraq.

Around 20 people attended the first meeting, said Hollenhorst, and nearly 50 were at the most recent meeting in late March. The support group meets every other Monday evening at the Appleton Public Library.

"We are not political," Hollenhorst said. "Right now I am too busy worrying about my son, trying to keep myself together.... Nobody else truly realizes the fear that we go through everyday.... I wake up every day wondering if my son is going to be OK."

While specific National Guard and Army Reserve units have their own support groups, Hollenhorst said, the one she organized has families from all branches of the service.

Carita Suhonen of Appleton, a support group member, said they serve families who do not have access to the support groups that meet on military bases.

Suhonen's son is in Marine reconnaissance, "ahead of the front line," as she put it. She said the Appleton group has given her "a sense of ... community to know that there are other people out there going through the same thing."

Marlene Cops, a member of St. Joseph Parish, Appleton, concurred. Although her son is still at Fort Bragg, N.C., she said the group has shown her how people whose children are overseas are dealing with the situation. "I think if they can do it, so can I."

Feelings of anxiety and stress persist even though the messages coming from the military are "extremely patriotic, very patriotic," Hollenhorst said. "They are doing this for us. They don't want families to worry."

Suhonen said families are especially anxious because the war comes into their homes on TV. The support group gives them "a place where people will understand."

It is also a place where families can share ideas to help their loved ones and themselves. "It gives us something to do for them. Coming together as a group ... gets things going ... as opposed to just sitting around there and thinking about it," said Penny Stroik of St. Margaret Mary Parish in Neenah.

The support group has organized several projects:

• It is collecting much-needed supplies for the troops, including toilet paper, batteries of all sizes, baby wipes, sun screen, lip balm and "Joey Wipes" -- a bag filled with two bath towel size wipes. Troops need such supplies because showers are not readily available.

Stroik, whose daughter is in Iraq with an Army maintenance unit, suggested that people contribute old or new magazines.

She has asked grocery stores to put out boxes where people can bring periodicals and other donated supplies.

Hollenhorst said donations could be taken to the National Guard Armory in Appleton.

• It has started a fund at the Fox Cities Communities Credit Union for individuals and businesses who want to donate money to be used for buying and shipping supplies for service personnel from the area, Stroik said.

• Cops arranged for Hobby Lobby to make for support group members yellow bows with red, white and blue ribbons in the center for tying around trees and mailboxes or hanging on doors.

• The group, Hollenhorst said, has distributed blue star banners supplied by the American Legion to businesses on College Avenue in Appleton. The banners, used since World War II, indicate a family has a member in the military. They can also be used to show support, she said.

• The group plans to order "Support Our Troops" signs from the Legion to be placed on front lawns.

• Suhonen has made refrigerator magnets with her son's picture and military address on them for friends who want to write him. She showed group members how to make their own.

"We each do what we can," she said.

The group shares these and other ideas in its newsletter.

Hollenhorst said her work with the group has deepened her faith: "Although I am frightened -- very, very frightened -- I still have faith that my Tony will be OK. I think all of us have to have that to hang onto."

The Appleton military families' support group will meet from 7 to 8:30 p.m. April 7 at the Appleton Public Library.

More information about the group and its activities is available by calling Hollenhorst at (920)739-0571.