To Bismarck with Love by shelle michaels

The love of a family far outreaches biological boundaries in many instances in life.

Often tragedy or unique circumstances are the cause for people reaching past perimeters giving love freely and openly to those that need it the most.

In the past year, I have watched an amazing group open and expand their family tree to branch out and touch the lives of so many. In return, they have grown and blossomed in that outreach.

The family support group for the A/1-188th ADA in Bismarck has provided new meaning of "family support".

It started with the deployment of their loved one ( s) back in December 2005.

The amazing love and strength that they have provided to each other through three situations of sons being killed-in-action, as well as several wounded- in -action. The ability to open up and provide comfort to those that they had never met before the deployment.

The ability to reach out and say, we are here, we are one family, we will be herethrough the good and the bad.

To reach out past the community boundaries to reach into the heart of another mom, on the other side of the state in a sitution also of losing her son, and providing the comfort and love to her. To reach out past the community boundary and assist a mom on the other side of the state -providing her the support she needs to get though her son's injury.

Not only do they give to themselves as a group collectively, but they give to a larger group around them. Opening up to the community and getting others involved for the support of their beloved soldier. Graciously accepting the care from others and understanding that the service members need the support from the nation collectively, not singly.

I have been blessed to watch this group florish and thrive through the good and the bad. I have been blessed to have them open their hearts also to me and allow me to provide the support to them and their soldiers through my networks available.

I am proud to say that this wonderful group is not just a bunch of people that get together once a month to go through a motion, I am proud to say that this group truly does provide the meaning to each other about what caring and loving past "boundaries" is all about.

And as I watched them again last night...... form a huddle with arms around each other like a real team and yell, "We are Family Support", I couldn't help but smile and tear up, knowing that they truly are a family and they truly make a difference in many people's lives. I know, as they have enriched my life by knowing them.

God Bless you - I love you all!

Shelle Michaels, APR
Soldiers' Angels
National Public Relations Director
Tri-State Regional Manager
2901 University Ave. STOP 7026
Grand Forks, ND 58202
(218) 779-7271
shellemichaels@msn.com