Posted on 07/20/2008 4:45:01 AM PDT by Tennessee_Bob
Girl inspired soldiers in Kosovo while she fought brain tumor
ALCOA - After battling a brain tumor and starting a support group for Army National Guard soldiers overseas, 8-year-old Hannah Lawson was able to meet soldiers whom she's inspired through her strength, resilience and bravery at the air base in Alcoa on Saturday.
Hannah was surrounded by her family and friends as they awaited the arrival of Black Hawk pilot David Creech and the Southern Comfort medical helicopter unit that recently returned home to East Tennessee from their station in Kosovo. A crowd of about 100 people gathered in support of Hannah and her mission.
Creech and his unit had adopted Hannah as their pen pal and began sending her e-mails on a regular basis in February.
He purchased a teddy bear in Kosovo, named him Soco - short for Southern Comfort - and began sending Hannah photos of him in various places around the base.
"They sent me pictures of Soco with soldiers in Kosovo and flying on a helicopter," Hannah said.
On Saturday afternoon, as a Black Hawk helicopter landed at the air base and the Southern Comfort unit climbed out, Hannah's family and friends waved American flags and cheered. With Soco in tow, Creech bent down on his knees, smiled at Hannah and embraced the 8-year-old in their first hug.
"People say that it's always better to see the world through a smile," Creech said to the crowd. "I wish we could all see it through Hannah's smile. She's always looking for the positive and looking to help others."
The young girl began a club called Army Angels to support soldiers and children overseas while in the hospital recovering from surgery that removed a stage 3 malignant brain tumor.
What began as a prayer list for the U.S. military has blossomed into a club that soldiers in the Southern Comfort unit call a motivation and inspiration to them all.
"So far, we've sent about 20 of the flat-rate boxes overseas to Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan, and we still have more to send," said Hannah's mother, Tracey Lawson, who credits the initial idea to Hannah's cousin, Staff Sgt. Brian Colberson.
Tracey Lawson said that there is no official club roster. People from all over the country have sent supplies and money in to support Army Angels.
"You know, when Hannah's mom told me that she was praying for the troops, I was overwhelmed to know that a 7-year-old girl with a brain tumor was concerned about others," Colberson said. "If that had been me, I would have been wondering why it happened to me."
Colberson claims to be no inspiration compared to his small cousin, but he supplied Hannah with a notebook to write down her club ideas and told her a few things soldiers and children overseas could use.
Hannah said the boxes are all filled with things she thinks the children need, like school supplies and jump ropes. Once received at the Army bases, the soldiers distribute the items to young people in the area.
On Saturday afternoon, the Southern Comfort unit gave Hannah a specially made flight suit and gave her a tour of the Black Hawk helicopter they arrived in.
Three other members of the Southern Comfort unit - Marshall Dutton, Kevin Hill and Timothy Belcher - thanked Hannah for taking the time to pray for them, noting that she helped all of them focus on what was really important.
"Your mom said we were a distraction for you during your treatment, but you were the same for us," Hill said. "While we were doing our job, you put a lot into perspective for us. You made us realize that our problems were small compared to what you were going through."
Hannah has been contacted by soldiers all over the world through e-mails and letters. Tracey Lawson estimates that they have received between 600 and 700 e-mails since Army Angels began.
Hannah also received a framed American flag that flew in battle in Afghanistan and a stuffed monkey from another group of soldiers overseas.
"Hannah once told me that she was glad she got cancer," Tracey said, tears filling her eyes. "She said she was glad because if she hadn't got cancer she wouldn't have thought to start Army Angels, and she wouldn't have met all of these people."
© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
Then, if you'd like, check out her site at http://www.caringbridge.org/cb/viewHome.do
Aw, what a truly amazing little girl she is...
That’s awesome
Great post
If children are our future Hannah’s proof that America is going to be fine for a long long time.
Prayers for this little girls good health and thanks for what she does for our troops !
Stay safe Bob !
Good news bump.
I remember the campaign recently here.
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The Original Helicopter War Template...
We are Soldiers Still: A Journey Back to the Battlefields of Vietnam
http://www.Freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2048066/posts
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This is quite a tear jerker. She’s so cute, and then you see her without the hat, and she’s just beautiful. Jack is so adorable. What a story.
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